For those of you who display your trains on shelves, is the "background" a plain white wall or do you paint the wall the shelves are on to either highlight or compliment the trains. I am feeling much better and want to start putting up shelves so my trains can get out of boxes again.
If you have pictures to share that would be great.
Thank you.
Paul
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When I get to this point, my plan is to print off vintage lionel, AF & Marx advertisements and photos from google & use them behind some of my vintage stuff.
Well the wall isn't white any more, kind of a light tan color now.
Over at my Dad's house the shelves are in the foreground, in fact, the lower level track runs right across the top of the display case. There is one on each side of the layout. The back of the case is painted to match the walls in the hallway with trim matching the interior of the house as well. Each shelf is lit with a warm white strip of LEDs, and on a dimmer.
Mine aren't painted. They are stained and varnished. I use wainscot, similar in color, behind the shelves.
Joe, that looks terrific - love the woodwork!
"Laid off", the lights on the shelves are a nice touch - I may have to look into incorporating lights into the plan.
Thanks guys.
Paul
I have a short hallway (11') leading to the train room, and I'm putting floor to ceiling shelves on both sides for my Bicentennial collection. I was thinking of using a white or off white color for the shelves and background to show off the details of the trains. It seems like a dark color would make it harder to see the trains. I don't think I would want any pattern or pictures behind the trains for the same reason. It will be interesting to see what others think.
Ron
I'm working on a layout in a sort of finished basement with a dark brown, worn paneling. The day I was going to put up the shelves I was also painting "sky" on some masonite sheets so marked and put the blue behind where the shelves were to go. Looks good to me, not cluttered and much better than the old panel color would.
Scotie
I never thought I would put shelves up because I have 8 closed in small cabinets for trains. And, I used cloud wall paper around my U shaped layout.
Now , 5+ years later and after seeing some very nice work on here by members installing shelves I have been installing shelves this past week. I did not remove the clouded wall paper and to me it looks ok.
Larry
All white for the best contrast. All attention is focused on the trains.
Wow - that photo of mine is old! That's an Apple IIc computer on the desk!!!
Jim
I don't have any backgrounds painted on them, but it is an interesting idea. Just white, as said, for contrast and all, it does well.
Well the wall isn't white any more, kind of a light tan color now.
I don't know, Doug, but I'm beginning to suspect you might -- just might -- be an ATSF fan. 
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