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Designer FAQs: Living Room Storage, Bookcases, and Display Cabinets
I see lots of different storage furniture choices. Which should I choose? How do I decide how much storage I need?
Choosing the right storage furniture depends on two things: the size of your space, and how much you need to store.
In general, we like cabinets or chests of drawers for smaller spaces like studio living rooms or hallways. In these, you can stow things like linens, board games, or anything else you want out of sight.
On the flip side, if you have a big room but not a lot to stash in your cabinets, we say that’s a great reason to curate a display of new décor. In this case, opt for a tall bookcase to show off your collections.
It’s always a good idea to have an idea of how your furniture will fit in your space before you buy it. For a quick preview, try our visualization tools. Depending on how you’re shopping, we have virtual preview options that use either our EA inHome® app or your desktop device’s webcam.
You have some big shelving, some smaller cabinets. How do I know what I choose will fit in my space?
We sort our living room storage into two categories:
- Bookcases, often with open shelves or glass doors, are storage options with a vertical configuration. Because of their height, they have a grand look.
- Cabinets or chests, characterized by glass or wood doors, are short and can be wide or narrow, with one pair of doors or several groupings.
We always recommend measuring your space before you make a selection. Measure for height, width, and depth to ensure the shelving or cabinet you love will not only fit in your space, but also fit the items you want to put inside—that means looking at the distance between shelves.
If you need help measuring, click here to make an appointment with a designer. They can come to your home and measure at no cost to you!
How can I add more storage to my living room? What’s the difference between a storage and display cabinet?
The short truth: It’s in the doors. Here’s what we mean:
- When clients ask us for a storage cabinet, most times, they don’t want to see what’s inside. It’s our cue to select an option like our Eveline three-drawer chest. With wood doors or drawers, you can truly stow whatever you need out of sight, from board games to DVDs and more.
- When clients ask for display cabinets, they often have something in mind they want to show off—family photos, antiques, or souvenirs from their travels. In this case, we suggest cabinets with glass doors to create an elevated look worthy of personal treasures. One of our favorite examples is our beautiful Dorset display cabinet.
- Last but not least, there are open shelves. Often, these are used as bookcases—for, of course, books—but we also select options like our Brielle bookcase as a more modern alternative to display cabinets with glass doors.
I want shelves worthy of an Instagram #shelfie. How do I make open shelves look amazing?
We love a great basket or box! Open shelves are a great place to make your storage solutions look like décor. Start with our storage baskets, or take a look at our available boxes here.
After you’re set on storage, you can explore other décor options like faux florals and decorative accents to complete your collection.
One thing to note—make sure you measure the depth and height of the baskets you choose against the inside of your shelves. Interior sizing is often slightly smaller than exterior height and depth, and you want to make sure your décor will fit the way you envision it.
My living room is also my home office—do you have any storage that works for both?
The customizable storage you’ll find in our modular collections like Villa, Continental, Callum, and Faraday Classic are designed with modern spaces like yours in mind.
Working with a designer, you can create a modular storage solution that suits both work and play, utilizing pieces like bookcases, cabinets, and even desks to create the setup that works for you. You’ll be able to choose from open or closed storage, as well as customize your wood finish, plus your storage furniture can be configured to fit your space perfectly.
Why should I invest in Ethan Allen furniture for my living room storage?
We’re proud to value quality as highly as we value style. Our wood furniture is made with durable materials and time-honored techniques that ensure your storage pieces are worthy of being passed down—just like the Ethan Allen you grew up with. Pieces with moving parts like door hinges and drawers are built with mechanisms designed to last for years of smooth operation.
When storage furniture features metal or glass, we rely on sturdy materials like steel and tempered glass. For the pieces that need them, no matter what material they’re made of, we add levelers to our cabinets to compensate for tile or uneven floors. We test our furniture for load bearing and stability, and we provide tip restraint kits for tall cabinets and bookcases.
Do you have more questions? Visit a Design Center or click Designer Chat—we’re happy to help!
