Hang It Up

Hang It Up !

Suspending items a good storage, display option

There are a number of interesting ways to display and feature your accessories and treasures. Let's look at hanging items up for storage and display in decorative and unique ways. Like with the use of shelving, hanging items is not only a way to display them but is also a way to make good use of space. By displaying items you might otherwise have to store in a closet or cupboard, you are saving your storage space for more necessary items. These ideas work in small spaces but can also be used for purely decorative purposes.

Hobbies

I am a musician and play guitar, therefore, the guitar is a large item that I would normally have to find a storage space for. I usually play it at the cottage and finding storage space for such a large item is not an easy task. As well, out of site means out of mind and I tend not to pick the guitar up as frequently if it's not in easy reach.

To alleviate these concerns, my husband created a unique guitar hanger that not only looks good but keeps my guitar at the ready whenever I get the urge to play. The hanger is made out of wood in the shape of a guitar and allows the guitar to hang perfectly safely and out of harm's way. I think it looks great hanging on the wall because it is a part of who I am. This is a simple but effective display option that works well for me. I have yet to decide if I'm going to paint the hanger or leave it plain. I'll keep you posted.
Another dilemma was addressed at the cottage using a similar idea. We were always tripping over our canoe paddles and lacked a good storage solution until my husband, once again, got the idea to create a simple wooden display on which we can hang the oars as part of our decor. It is in the shape of a canoe and has two wooden dowels from which each oar is suspended. I did paint this hanger with simple craft paints to add some color to the display. Again, the oars are at the ready and look great hanging in a cottage decor. They are also protected from being stepped on or broken.

Needless to say, you can use similar ideas to hang odd-sized objects in your home, whether it be a bicycle or a tuba!

(FYI: The little light switch cover in the shape of a rowboat was actually a wooden picture frame that I fashioned to work as a switch cover. I used craft paints to add some color.)

In the kitchen

I've said it before; hanging pots and pans saves on storage space and I think, looks great in the kitchen. At home I've hung my pots from simple cup hooks suspended underneath the wall cupboards. At the cottage, we fashioned a pot hanger out of a part of a ceiling light fixture (of all things!). The light fixture had a circular black steel structure from which a shallow bowl-shaped glass shade was suspended. We picked it up at a garage sale years ago for the cottage for around $10. We ended up using the shade alone as a ceiling fixture because the additional accoutrement was a little over the top. The black metal decorative ring did, however, work great as a pot hanger, which we use every day. The pot hanger is also a display for my vintage egg beater collection. This is a good lesson in using items for uses other than what they were intended for and it worked beautifully.

Photographs

Creating a hanging linear photograph display is a great way to display your favorite photos in a gallery-style fashion. Basically, this idea uses a horizontal hanger (almost looks like a small curtain rod) attached to the wall from which photos in frames are suspended. You can purchase picture-hanging kits like this from places like Ikea and frame shops but it's so much more fun to make your own.

Like I said, use a short decorative curtain rod or towel bar that fits in with your decor. Use whatever you like to suspend the frames with; like fishing line (for an invisible, almost 'floating' look), decorative chain, rope, ribbon or what have you. You want to hang three to five photos across for maximum interest. They can be varying sizes but keep the tops of each frame in line with the others. Use small eyelet hooks at the backs of the wooden frames (one on each top corner) from which to tie your chain, ribbon etc. (If the frames are not made of wood, you might be able to attach them to the stringers with hot glue if the frames are not too heavy.)

Don't stop there. Consider using other interesting items in place of the towel bar, like boat paddles, hockey sticks etc. To create a focal wall, stagger three hangers over the sofa in an interesting display. To create a small vignette, use one hanger over a decorative table or desk. The possibilities are endless and the overall effect can be quite stunning. It's great if you have lots of photographs and not enough tabletop space to display them. Rotate the photographs every six months so that you have a continuous evolving display.

To save space and to create drama, the best solution is to go 'up.' Vertical displays can be an easy way to show off your possessions without taking up floor space. You've seen my old ladder display in the past wherein I use an old stepladder to display items like bird decoys and like items. This idea also works for plants (inside or out), books (as a moveable library), CDs or whatever you have too much of that needs somewhere to be. A stepladder is more fun to look at than a basic bookshelf and is moveable when empty. It can be easily stored away if not needed as well. Old ladders are hard to find so if you come across one, grab it. If you like this idea but can't find a vintage ladder, purchase a new wooden ladder and paint it or distress it yourself until it suits your space.

A single ladder (one that you'd lean against a wall to use) can be used to suspend items like magazines or towels in the bathroom. You can purchase decorative 'ladders' intended for this type of display for a reasonable price in stores that carry like items. However, if you can find a vintage single ladder that has a bit of wear and tear, grab it

NOTE: The comments contained on this web site are for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.