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Shadow Boxes Get a Sophisticated Spin
Not just for knickknacks and cutesy collections, shadow boxes can elegantly integrate with your decor
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
I fondly remember my childhood shadow box. It was filled with little trinkets and tchotchkes I'd collected from family beach trips or received as gifts, and I treasured every one. But while I still love the shadow box idea, I'm looking for a more elegant, cohesive approach these days. Here are 12 fresh shadow box treatments perfect for an adult space.
A simple heart cut from the pages of a book creates a striking display that's all the more poignant for its simplicity.
Even something as humble as bottle caps can look artful and chic when massed together in a shadow box.
What a great way to preserve ticket stubs and other paper memorabilia — much better than my current method of shoving them into a box and hoping I'll get around to organizing them one day.
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| Modular shadow boxes, each painted a bright color, give kids plenty of room to display their favorite things and help to preserve floor space. |
Here, an inside-out shadow box approach makes a beautiful, textural display for a simply hung garment. The lack of glass creates a rustic feel.
Framing a pair of necklaces in twin-frame shadow boxes elevates them to art status.
by Robin Muto
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Tiny shells in an orderly grid give this shadow box graphic appeal. It's a new take on piling them in a glass lamp base or tumbling them into a bowl.
by Pour Toujours
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Frame wine and champagne corks from special occasions in their own shadow boxes rather than piling them into a bowl.
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| Sometimes limiting a collection to a coherent theme can keep it from looking kitschy. This old crate–turned–shadow box showcases a series of sculptural shells. |
Transcribing a classic recipe on the back wall and arranging a few artful groupings of dishware and decorative finds have transformed this shelf into an oversize shadow box.
How clever is this? Fronted with glass, a suitcase lid makes for a delightful display.
Chunky box-style frames, minus their glass, become cute, cottage-style display spaces.
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Comments
bevlaw Fab ideas :)
11 months ago · Like
olldbobbi It seems like everyone is always giving me "trinkets" - small, apple or pear shaped candles, a Senor Frog bottle opener, even a small plastic airplane. I found a great divided shadow box at the flea market and, although it's still not full, it makes a great home for my treasures. And it makes me smile every time I see it!
11 months ago · Like
Audrey Hennefer I used shadow-box frames to display some sea shells for wall art.. 
11 months ago · Like
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Quirk Street I did an ikea hack of prant storage boxes to make shadow box wall storage for our bathroom update. It's a great storage solution for a small room. 
11 months ago · Like
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frenchdecor My child was studying insects, so I glued them on white paper then later put into the box frames. For 4 years we have them (two butterflies and a dragonfly) in perfect condition.
11 months ago · Like
clyon My 5 yo daughter and I did this tissue paper project to hang in her bedroom. The picture is not great, but it's a colorful (and handmade) addition to her room. 
11 months ago · Like
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Ideabook published on July 28, 2012.
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