In the Hallway & On the Walls Museum

 

 

As the hallways serve as passage to many rooms, floor space is not an option. But the walls can.

In the Hallway(s)

Ledges

                                                      

The under-estimated hall and hallways. Traffic alone fills up these places.
People, pets and other assorted pedestrians run amuck down these passages.
So why not make them pause for a moment and reflect on the family history.
If you have the space for a chair or two, what a delightful place to take
a moment to gaze upon the interesting artifacts that belong to your family only. 
A mere glance of a memory is quite satisfying as you pass by.

Display ledges are necessary for Hall Wall Museums. They come in a variety of solid hardwoods and lightweight high-density resins.
Two depths are available and they have raised edges, keeping the items from falling off. Some
have plate groves. Other styles are corner and
quilt rack shelves.

Torison boxes, “floating” shelves, are fixed and have
no visible hardware  to mar clean lines for a
modern look. Ledges can be arranged in virtually any pattern on a wall and need to be anchored into the wall studs for sufficient support.
 

As you arrange the items on the ledges be cognitive of subject matter and sizes of objects. Placed the ledges high enough for comfortable viewing and so nobody conks their head on it or flying arms and hands don’t knock the precious heirlooms off. For arrangement examples, view online ledge manufacturer websites to get layout ideas.

Hallway lighting is paramount for successful display. View
online the many lighting companies. They provide
images of different types of fixtures. Track lighting is
fine but make sure it is not overpowering. Sconces & picture gallery lights work well also. Which ever way you fashion
your collections using the hallways or hall walls, you will be
surprised at how much space there is to display memorabilia. Now
this area in the home can be called Your Family Museum.

On the Walls

Shadow Boxes

What a great way to tell a story! Shadow Boxes are vignettes of a concise reminiscent account, description, or episode, evoking strong images, memories, and feelings. For example, with just a few artifacts belonging to an ancestor you can tell a lovely anecdote focusing on a time in their life.           

Many manufacturers of shadow boxes can be found & purchased online. The sites give full descriptions on sizes, styles, finishes, glass & lighting, even per request a lock and key. Shadow Boxes can also be made-to-order.
 

The content of your heirlooms and artifacts dictates the size of the box. When arranging the items, be circumspect of the thickness of the objects. You do not want the boxes to be so deep they protrude from the wall, especially in a hallway. If a deep box is needed, a handyman or carpenter can install the shadow box into the wall. This would also be an opportunity to install electrical connection for lighted boxes.  
 

When arranging Shadow boxes, do them the same way you would when grouping photographs. Be attentive to size, the horizontal and vertical structures of the boxes, and the dimensions – length, width, height – of the wall you are hanging the boxes on. If there are several boxes telling the story, arrange them in a comprehensible manner so the observer will be able to understand the story you are telling.

           

Be circumspect when creating the shadow box. You want to capture the essence of the person’s character. Selecting the choicest and most essential artifacts and photographs of the ancestor will result in honoring that special person and time. What fun you will have as well as a great feeling for preserving the family heirlooms in Your Shadow Box Family Museum.

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