Material:
Since your display cases will be holding valuable and sentimental collectibles, it's important that the material used is durable and practical. When it comes to display cases, home decorator Jessica Davis says tempered glass is one of the best options for the shelves and exterior walls. It provides full viewing of all sides of the collectible item, and also allows light from the display case to freely move from top to bottom of the case itself. Framing of the case is normally wood for traditional and classic looks, but metal is also quite common and can be highly stylish and elegant.
Size:
Display cases should be large, but not overly obtrusive in the room they are placed in. You also want to make sure the display case shelves can be adjusted to the right height apart from each other for porcelain dolls, vases, trophies, or other tall collectibles to be kept. Full height display cases are normally around 72" tall, but it's not uncommon to find grand Victorian type display units that reach 80" or more. On the other hand, desktop display cases can be found in 24" to 36" heights on average.
Aesthetic:
You can find a display case for every aesthetic in your home. Traditional and classic styles are framed in wood and will fit into a wide range of home decors including French country, elegant Victorian, contemporary, rustic and more while metal framed display cases are much more suited for modern, industrial, or minimalistic aesthetics. Interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins suggests going with a display case that fits into the room rather than stands out from it to help blend the whole space together.
Color:
According to Suzanne Kasler, display cases can be used to help shift the color palette in the room and provide a gentle yet bold contrast. Wood tones can be found in everything from pale white pine to deep dark mahogany, while metal framing can be almost any color imaginable although gold, silver, black, and white are the most common. Glass colors can also vary from crystal clear to frosted, clouded, or smoked to help add a touch of shading to the area.