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I have never lived in a house with pot shelves and do not know what to put on them, They are along one living room wall about 10 feet up and along the kitchenwall as well. I dont want something that is going to be a nightmare to clean. Got any ideas?

Pot shelves???

I think she means those decorative niches that some houses have near the ceiling.

ErnaMarie, Welcome to the message boards. I had some in one house and had them covered with drywall so that you couldn't see them because I agree with you, they are big dust catchers.

Gracie, that's what I figured. Indeed those lofty ledges are a bear to dust. Posting a pic would help with suggestions, but typically the areas are quite large and high up requiring few but large scale items to draw the eye. Scale and color that compliments your room style and scheme are recommended. Focusing light onto this area is important to. Some items you might consider could be:
GARDEN LEDGES (typically faux greenery mixtures with or without flowers)
POTTERY
FRAMED ART OR DECORATIVE PLATES ON EASELS
ANTIQUE TOYS OR TOOLS
LARGE SCULPTURES
LARGE STATUARY (ie. garden type)
A COLLECTION (ex. Clocks, lanterns, nutcrackers or santa's during Christmas, large bird houses or bird cages, etc.)
LARGE SCALE MODELS such as sailboats
LARGE SIGNS ON STANDS
HATS ON STANDS (vary heights)
DECORATIVE BOXES OR CHEST
COPPERWARE (in a kitchen)
TOPIARIES (vary heights, shapes, colors)
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (use stands where needed)
ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE (finials, pediments, capitals, window frames, Sunbursts, etc.)
COOKIE JARS in a kitchen
STANDING WHEELS (vary styles and sizes slightly overlapping)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

Froo Froo has great ideas. I have those same shelves and they are a bear to keep clean. They get dusty and kind of oily feeling. I never thought about having drywall put in but I love that idea!

Some people frame them out and add doors for storage.

I have seen plates, pots, artifical plants and other collectibles on the shelves that go around near the ceiling. Do any of you with the high shelves line them with waxed paper? I do and it is so easy to throw away the waxed paper and put a new sheet down when cleaning. Up high the waxed paper does not show. I use it for the top of my refrigerator also.