How to Decorate With Instruments

Assess your musical instrument collection. Pianos make elegant yet functional display shelves for knickknacks. Drums can serve as coffee tables or containers for decorative items. Handheld instruments work well in groupings with flowers or other similar-sized decorative pieces. Cellos and upright basses make a bold statement leaning against a stone fireplace or a focal wall.

Draw a design plan. Decide whether you will house all the instruments in one room or distribute them throughout the building. Determine focal points. If your collection is extensive, decide which instruments you want to display. It is better to create a cohesive design with a few instruments than a cluttered, haphazard array.

Prepare the room for the instruments. Wooden instruments are particularly susceptible to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Set the climate control to the temperature and humidity level you desire several days before you install the instruments. If you plan to paint, redecorate or otherwise change the room, perform these tasks before bringing in your instruments.

Use lifts and levels to create visual interest. Set wall-hung instruments asymmetrically rather than hanging them in a straight line. Use decorative boxes to create multiple levels in a tabletop display. Group a single tall item with several shorter pieces or vice versa.

Mount wall-hung instruments securely. Use solid display hooks, and anchor the instruments to the hooks with rubber bands. If small children will regularly use the room, mount the instruments above their head level.

Create a comfortable music room. If your instruments are in working condition, you or your visitors will want to play them. Ensure that musicians have a comfortable yet functional place to sit and play, with plenty of room for an audience. If noise is a concern, hang tapestries or area rugs on the walls to dampen the sound.