Coupla thoughts -- first, it seems like it might be a good idea to stop the incoming flow of stuff that needs display -- maybe explain to your family that you have enough/are decluttering?  One way to do that gently is to direct them to something ELSE that you would like, when it comes time for them to get you something -- so maybe say you're now into Hello Kitty gummies, or whatever (something consumable that won't take up display space!) or gift cards towards getting rid of your mortgage, or whatever actually fits your life.  It took me years but I was eventually able to convince my mom that just because I once told her "I like snowflakes" did not mean that I wanted EVERY.POSSIBLE.ITEM that could be made with a snowflake decoration or motif...

Second thought is a trick I learned while sharing a 400-square-foot cabin with a partner -- high shelves, maybe 12-18" from the ceiling -- great for extra storage -- both "hidden away" and "accessible" at the same time.  For a room where "decor" (o man I really wanted to write "decore" a la Erika Shupe!) doesn't matter, like perhaps a laundry room or office, those high shelves can hold boxes of stuff, essentially extra closet space.  For a "decorated" room (please note that I don't have this concept in my life, so please pardon any faux pas in referencing it) it would be great for display items that are big enough to be seen from across the room.  

Of course there is the dusting, etc., to deal with if "stuff" is put in the line of sight but out of easy reach, but that's a different topic.  I'm assuming you really want these things and thus are willing to dust or whatever as needed -- otherwise I would refer back to my first thought above and encourage actual decluttering as in getting rid of stuff.  Take pictures of everything -- pictures don't take up much space, even if you print them out and put them into a physical scrapbook or photo album -- and then declutter the actual items -- sell the things that have collectible value, give to other family members, whatever.

Wow, did not mean for this to be such an essay!  Can you tell it's my focus at the moment as well?  

I think a glass front cabinet would work, I personally wouldn't mind a variety of things in one in my own house. I might group like items together on the same shelves or something like that. It would keep everything on display but still kind of "put away".

Shelves are definitely a good idea too! 

@church_of_dog something in what you posted rattled around in my brain about my own issue (ceramics) and shot out with - hey you have that space above the cabinets in the kitchen.  As in the cabinets in the apartment stop and are empty on top all the way to the ceiling.  I could use that for some of the boxed items for display (which would then keep it out of the cat crawl/knock off zone),  Granted this means I have to sort through it now.  

Just now, clueliss said:

@church_of_dog something in what you posted rattled around in my brain about my own issue (ceramics) and shot out with - hey you have that space above the cabinets in the kitchen.  As in the cabinets in the apartment stop and are empty on top all the way to the ceiling.  I could use that for some of the boxed items for display (which would then keep it out of the cat crawl/knock off zone),  Granted this means I have to sort through it now.  

I used to have that - but our cabinets go all the way to the ceilings now.  Which I've learned to love as we have high ceilings so I have tons of storage for stuff I don't use that often and not having to dust up there is awesome.  

20 minutes ago, clueliss said:

@church_of_dog something in what you posted rattled around in my brain about my own issue (ceramics) and shot out with - hey you have that space above the cabinets in the kitchen.  As in the cabinets in the apartment stop and are empty on top all the way to the ceiling.  I could use that for some of the boxed items for display (which would then keep it out of the cat crawl/knock off zone),  Granted this means I have to sort through it now.  

Yes, part of my favoring the high shelves is also the no-cat zone, for breakables in particular.  Although I have also envisioned making a kitty corridor up there that is designed just for them!  I guess I'll have to pick one or the other, though, lol

I think most of those items would be fine grouped together in a cabinet, as long as you maintain symmetry!  A stuffed animal to the left on this shelf, alongside a couple of figurines and maybe a few books (which you could stand something on), and then another stuffed guy on the right on a lower shelf, alongside a Hello Kitty thingy and maybe a couple of books standing upright here. Perhaps there would be room for a few family photos placed here and there in a balanced manner.  I guess you might have to purge a bit but, overall it would work because it would be your Cohesive Cabinet of Things You Don't Need/Have Been Gifted.

I hope you aren't too blown away by my obvious expertise in this area.  

This is my mum's. Waaay too cluttered imho (I have offered help, in the past I even acted on it, but she starts screaming every time I say it). I doesn't look too bad though.  It's mainly china but there are other things mixed.

You can get all kinds of glass front cabinets from IKEA.  Most of their stuff is fairly inexpensive, and if you hated it you could re-purpose it or sell it.  Also maybe look into their Expedit line.  You could put similar things in each cube so they would be grouped together.  They come in all different sizes. I'm not great at this sort of thing either, but that's probably what I would do.  Good luck!

15 hours ago, laPapessaGiovanna said:

This is my mum's. Waaay too cluttered imho (I have offered help, in the past I even acted on it, but she starts screaming every time I say it). I doesn't look too bad though.  It's mainly china but there are other things mixed.

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OMG, @laPapessaGiovanna, your mother's china cabinet is an identical twin of the one my grandmother had.  It must be a Southern European homemaker thing.   You display your good china, silver, and tchotchkes where EVERYONE can see them.

3 hours ago, AreteJo said:

OMG, @laPapessaGiovanna, your mother's china cabinet is an identical twin of the one my grandmother had.  It must be a Southern European homemaker thing.   You display your good china, silver, and tchotchkes where EVERYONE can see them.

 and heaven forbids that you use  something that's stored there for serving coffee/tea/whatever every day!  Things inside there must be used twice a year at most!

Christmas, Easter, and if/when the Pope visits.