4 Popular Diploma Display Ideas for Graduates

Written by Mark Rogers

After 4 (or 5) long years and countless hours invested in learning, studying and working towards graduation, it all comes to fruition the moment you hold your college or university diploma in your hands.

That diploma will serve as a memory of all your hard work for years to come so it would make sense that you not only want to take care of it but also want it displayed proudly.

That means no rolling it up or filing it away!

We put together 4 of the best diploma display ideas to showcase your accomplishment whether you have it up in your office, living room, on your work desk or hanging on the wall.

How to Display Your Diploma

Before you decide where you want to put your diploma on display, it's important to make sure it's protected.

These can be done in a few ways:

• Using a High Quality Diploma frame
• Laminated Plaque
• Pressed Glass Frame

It goes without saying that protecting your degree document is very important. All of the methods above protect the diploma from elements such as moisture. They also keep the certificate from morphing by making sure it is flat and pressed.

If you choose to frame your diploma, it is important to know how to mount the diploma inside the frame correctly so that it is not damaged. Excellent mounting tips are explained in our guide Photograph Mounting Techniques. If you’re not sure if a wood or metal frame is going to showcase your achievement best, find tips on how to choose just the right diploma frame or mat here: How to Choose a Diploma Frame.

Learn how to create a super fly “hover” effect by pressing your diploma between two pieces of glass or acrylic with our advanced customization options in our Build-A-Frame ordering section. See more on that in our blog Secret Framing Tricks.

When it comes to displaying your diploma, it's not just about what it is displayed in but where it is displayed. Do you want it as the solo piece on your mantle? Do you want it to be the centerpiece around other accomplishments?

4 Popular Diploma Display Ideas

Hang It

Hanging your diploma is a great idea if you’re limited in the amount of counter or desk space. It’s also one of the more versatile ways you can display your diploma because of the amount of room (usually) that your wall will have.

You can hang your diploma by itself, pair it with a favorite piece of art that you have as part of your existing wall decor or you could even create custom printouts of your favorite photos with friends or from events at your school.

Place it On Your Office or Work Desk

This is probably the most popular place for displaying your degree certificate. Depending on the size of your desk or workspace, it might get a little tricky, but as with anything, less clutter is better. The table top you choose can be one in another part of the office if your primary work desk is small.

You won’t need to add a lot of secondary decor for desk displays due to space; a nice pen holder may do the trick. Also, try to keep your diploma away from any other large items on your desk like a computer monitor. You want it to stand out!

Put It Against a Wall

One of the simplest ways to display your diploma is to put it on a shelf or mantle that is connect to or backs up against a wall. This works great if you have a mantle in your living room or a bookshelf in your house or office. With either of these, you can add decor as you see fit. Complementing your diploma with a few books is a nice add-on.

Showcase it with Other Achievements

This diploma display idea is a bit more flexible and can be used either on the wall or desk depending on your available space.

If you have multiple certificates and they are all laminated or framed, you can try hanging them in a single column with your latest diploma at the top.

As we mentioned, the accomplishments or achievements could be anything you want.

Hopefully, you’ve found some inspiration and ideas for showing off that diploma you’ve worked so hard for. If one of these don’t work for your style, don’t be afraid to get creative!