What kind of plinth should I choose?

Part 1 of this topic: what dimensions should I chose?

Which dimensions of plinth, pedestal or base should I chose?

By asking our clients the below questions we are able to find out what your requirements are:

1. What will be exhibited on top of the display plinth

2. How will the plinths be used, to what purpose?

3. Where, in what environment will the pedestal be used?

4. How many plinths do you require?

To advice on length and width of a display plinth we will mainly look at WHAT will be displayed on top of the plinth.

To advice on the height of the pedestal we will mainly look at WHERE the plinth will be displayed and what the PURPOSE of it will be.  

And… to make it even easier, one has an effect on the other :)

 

Length x Width

1. What will be exhibited on top of the display plinth

Your product, artwork, floral display or other objects obviously will need to be securely supported by a plinth. To achieve this, we’ll need to consider the size of the base (or foot) of the displayed object. Consider a round flower pot with a 40cm diameter. In that case it’s not recommend using a 40cm width plinth. What is important is the footprint of the base of the flower pot. Many vases, pots or art objects have a smaller footprint than the rest of the shape as seen on the photo. Besides it is aesthetically pleasing if a bit of space remains at the edges.

   

Moreover, consider a product display or product presentation at a trade fair, trade exhibition, trade expo (such as NEC Birmingham, Olympia London, Excel London or Harrogate International Centre). In that case it would be important to know how many products you’d like to display. Also in this case it’s nicer to have some space at the edges of the plinth.

 

How do you decide on length x width?

 

Smaller than 30 x 30cm

Many art objects will find their place on a plinth of 20 x 20cm. A small object or a product with a small footprint will look elegant on a small pedestal.

 

A pedestal of 30 x 30cm width: our most popular dimension!

A base or column measuring 30 x 30 x 100cm is our most popular selling or hire plinth.

The dimensions of 30 x 30cm often appear to be ideal because

• Many floral displays fit nicely on this
• The plinth offers sufficient space for an artwork, floral display or product and at the same time is not too large to fit in most spaces.

 

A plinth of 35 x 35cm up to 45 x 45cm

Some items require larger display space. We often see this with product presentations at trade fairs. Or at art exhibitions where larger objects require to be displayed.

   

Larger plinths with branded stickers from Solits | Larger plinths with a glass display case from Solits

 

A plinth larger than 45 x 45cm

Some items just won’t fit on a small display space. In that case we can even use plinths with dimensions 60 x 60cm or larger. And while this is being typed we are looking at an order of 7 meters length (!).

For us a plinth is something that supports and elevates the objects or products that require to be displayed.

Larger displays manufactured by Solits

 

 

Height

2. How will the plinths be used, to what purpose?

Are you using the plinth for a product presentation during a trade exhibition, at home for a floral display or to exhibit a work of art? Do you want to draw attention to the specific object or do you want to create an atmospheric image?

All this can be considered when deciding on the height of the pedestal.

Every object has an ideal viewing angle: one object may be better displayed when you look at it from above (certain artworks for instance), other objects are best viewed at a 45-degree angle, or even viewed from the side. And certain objects are better viewed when you look at them from below. We can adjust the height of the pedestal to your requirements.

 

Roughly speaking we can recommend the following heights:

 

A plinth shorter than one meter:

We advise a plinth measuring between 40 and 95cm when objects are very long or when they require to be viewed from the top. And when a plinth is being used as a side table we would even recommend smaller heights like 30 or 45cm. It can be useful in that case to add caster wheels.

It may be possible that you’d like to pay around with heights within your display. In that case you can vary by adding plinths of 30 or 60cm

   

Granite plinths for art at Solits

Cardboard plinths for Deliflor at Solits

Mooring post plinths for rat at Solits

 

A plinth of 1 meter: our best-selling height!

We’d recommend a one meter plinth if you or your clients can easily touch or handle the items on display. Think of leaflets or give away items. One meter is often at people’s hip height and will give you a viewing angle of 45 degrees. This is also a great height for a vase of flowers.

Examples of one meter plinths:

         

Glass plinth with flowers by Solits

White plinth with Buddha statue by Solits

Granite pedestal with art in a garden by Solits

Mooring post plinth with flower pot.

 

A plinth of 1.10 or 1.20m

To exhibit a product just a bit more in view, for instance with a small product, art object or to see details better we advise a height of 1110 or 120cm. These are samples of plinths of 1.10m and 1.20m:

       

Black exhibition plinth with a protective case at Solits

White pedestal for Magnum ice-creams at Solits

Granite pedestal plinth for art at Solits.

 

 

A taller plinth of 1.40m or higher.

When you place two plant pots with a floral or plant display on a plinth of 140cm you will get a very beautiful and stately design at the entrance of a hall or venue. Or possibly you would like to exhibit something on the front of the plinths, such as a brand or your logo.

Examples of extra tall plinths:

        

Black exhibition plinth with a screen by Solits

Solts plinths at the entrance of Nottet at Wateringen in The Netherlands

Exhibition display plinths Solits UK

 

3. In what environment, venue or space are the plinths displayed.

If you have a large living room or space with long white walls, then two rugged mooring post pedestals will give a stylish interior design. In a smaller space or living room we would advise a smaller dimension of 1 meter.

Possible you have a table or another piece of furniture nearby which is also about one meter high. In that case it maybe more suited to give the plinths nearby a different height than the furniture. This will give you more playful lines in your interior design.

   

White planter plinths at a home by Solits

Oakwood pedestals for art at home by Solits

 

4. How many plinths do you require?

When you are considering the height of the plinths you should also take into consideration the number of plinths that you require. Nowadays people often opt for two plinths in their interior design. For a calming effect, we would recommend keeping both plinths at the same height. Our Top tip: three plinths at exactly the same height, as can be seen here on the photo from Mosconi will create a surprising playful effect.

For product presentations, the variation in heights will give a more efficient use of the space, as can be see on the picture here. The plinths are displayed in front of each other and still all the products can be viewed well thanks to the variations on height.

 

   

Three Oakwood plinths as a unit by Solits                 (fotoMANN+HUMMEL, Werner Kuhnle)

 

In a next blog about this topic, part 2: what material should I choose?

Would you like more advice or information on how to display your product on a plinth? Call us on 02072672421 or email: info@plinths.co.uk.