Make craft easy to see and you’ll have a beautiful display
Welcome to the world of ginger jars, colorful and full of life! Odds are you’ve meandered through a market or antique shop, and been stopped right in your tracks by the elegant lines of these beauties. Covered with floral sutra debossed pattern, plain bold color……in any case these potpourri containers add a pinch of Orientalism to wherever they are. But to organize multiple jars in one display? That takes it up a notch. Weaving a tapestry or directing an orchestra, a properly engineered ginger jar tableau requires a touch of creativity and dash of imagination.

But the many faces of these jars — Sizes, colors, and patterns — are also worth talking about. Mix one large and unadorned white jar with several smaller ones, richly patterned. Imagine a giant, cobalt blue vessel standing by jars all dotted with cherry blossoms. Now that’s contrast….let dramatic effect crown your display. Don’t stick too rigidly to one kind of thing — variety is the stuff that dreams are made of.
If you have a large collection, consider grouping them according to either color or pattern. This will create miniature islands of excitement within your display. Picture it: blues on one side reds on the other mixing together in the middle. It s on a level with inviting Monet and Van Gogh to the same party and being witness to magic taking place. Different patterns, when matched with color uniformity, make for a visual rally. Your guests will want to stay put for a while, to have their eyes wander around and their hearts say Please tell me more!
Also play with heights. Think of ginger jars as a choir. Some stand tall and sing soprano, others sit sweetly bass-like on the surface. Let some jars be on risers or piled up with books. Make the eye take a journey, through heights ascending and descending. This not only sets up a sense of nature ensemble, it also has the feel of a symphony in full flight. The jars seem to be telling tales: of epic voyages and the merest sighs.
Now for your environment. Where does your future masterpiece live? On a sideboard, perhaps? Or maybe it graces the mantel, or hides away in a little side-alcove? Where they live, the light is important. A strand of sunlight can kiss the colours, making them pop like never before. Beware overexposure, as too much sun may mean more failure show then flourish. The golden mean is all that matters – it’s like tightrope walking without a net. A great spot turns a nice showing into an inspired one.
Complement the jars with touches of greenery or cloth. Place a fat fern over there, or lay a soft cloth underneath. This is no mere decoration; it is creating an ideal world for your jars. Suppose a jar makes you think of a silent sea; then pull in a sea-green cloth to act as the shore. This adds dimension and background, moving your exhibit from being more than a mere bunch of stuff to a story.
The Keys to Making an Attractive Display with Ginger Jars
The harmony is often achieved Ginger jars – an unrecognized worker who can wear any expressive guise. You know the type, you’ll find them in every size, shape and color. They are the unsought painters of atmosphere. For any room, their versatility in shape and color adds the magic touch of a fairy tale. Now step back let’s learn how cloths of different dyes can turn your home into a world of design wonders.
Imaging this: You are setting the table, making a scene out of it all. The table’s centerpiece can make or break your whole experience. So why not try a collection of jars in different sizes? Large jars speak up. Small jars gentl whisper. Imagine each jar as a note in the great symphony, each note contributing towards its overall sensation. Big jars can talk back, armed with feelings guaranteed to form the center of attention. Think excitement, think grandeur. They are like those super heroes who live life bigger than life!
Then, on comes this cast of small jars. They can slip into corners and provide a foreshadowing context. They are like bringing your diminutive yet key sidekicks. With these smaller delights, you can add nuance, delicacy and detail to the bold statement of larger jars. Picture it as a conversation between an old father and a young child.
And throw away any idea of matching everything up. Life is too short to be repetitive! Mixing textures, colors or being eclectic can really make your setting sing – a kaleidoscope of notes. A shiny deep blue jar next to a matte white one might seem risky, but they reflect the yin and yang of life. Beauty isn’t about being symmetrical; it’s all in the play of interests.
One Sunday I invited a friend into my home. What’s all this? my friend asked when he reached me.
I winked at him and said, It’s art. There are no rules for art!
But of course, what makes the system work is the space. High ceiling? You’ll need taller vessels, and they better earn their keep. Cosy little corners? Short and squat might just be the ticket. It’s a matter of filling the space without killing it off the map.
We can say the space is a blank canvas, the jars are brushes. Different heights will lend movement, like flames leaping in a fireplace–each at its own apex but all doing a lively ballet together. Posit them on a shelf, center them on the table. Let them breathe and speak. The dialogue they engender has its own beauty.
And while you’re at it, imagine what a certain emotional ambiance might be like. Want your guests to feel cozy? Feels of comfort and warmth can be mirrored with warm-toned jars. Got a summer fling you’re hyping up? Guests will soak in sunny vibes all the way from red to orange with some bright, vibrant shades.