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I don’t know about you, but I just love a bold wall statement. One of my favorite ways to add color and interest to a room is by hanging plates on the walls. Not only is it an unexpected look, but the combinations and possibilities are endless. Creating an intentional and meaningful home atmosphere is so important to me, and l love to display family pieces in ways that feels special. It makes me so happy to be be reminded of special ladies in my family every time I see these collections. Why hang generic art on your walls when you can create something with personality and meaning? Let’s inject some charm into your room with a feature plate wall, shall we?
Because I come from a long line of china affincianados, I’ve inherited quite a collection of dishware. So much in fact, that I had to start getting creative with my storage. It all started with a hand-painted vanity set from my great-aunt. Forget-Me-Nots were her favorite flower, and she had so many different coordinating dishes as well. However, the colors weren’t quite right for my bedroom, so I needed to figure out another way to display them. With so many irregular shapes and sizes, I knew standard plate hangers wouldn’t work. By accident I stumbled across Flatiron Plate Discs, which are made in England. Apparently the English love to display their china as well!
I love that the discs can be cut to fit different shaped pieces- I even hung a porcelain powder box lid! The discs are simple to adhere, and I’ve never had an accident. However, with very heavy or precious pieces, I stick to wire plate hangers, just in case. Here’s the very first plate wall I ever made:
Prep Plates To Hang
The most important step before you adhere your discs is to make sure the plates are very clean. Give them a good washing with dish soap and then let them air dry completely. Before I adhere the plate disc, I also swab the back with a little rubbing alcohol and let that evaporate. Then, just follow the directions on the plate disc. Simple! Any dishes that may need additional support can be hung with a wire plate hanger. These are easy to find in most big box stores, but I order them in bulk from Amazon.
Configure Your Plate Wall Arrangement
Next you’ll want to decide how to arrange your plate wall. There’s no right or wrong way to do this! It can be as organic or as symmetrical as you’d like. I tend to stick to similar color palettes, but mixing colors, shapes, and sizes can be equally beautiful. The important thing is to surround yourself with meaningful pieces that remind you of special people, places, and events. After all, isn’t that what makes a house truly feel like home?
Once you’ve decided on your basic configuration, you can start adding them to the wall. I tend to start in the middle and ‘build out’ so ensure the finished look is centered. My blue and white plate display keeps growing, so there is really no rhyme or reason for each new addition. Eventually it will crawl over the doorway, creating quite a feature wall!
As I’ve collected more pieces, the wall has slowly grown around this doorway. Here’s how the wall looks from my living room:
You don’t need to hang large numbers of plates on the walls for a collected look. Even a single piece can really add charm. I hung my great-grandmother’s asparagus dish in my foyer. I just love how interesting it makes this small wall look.
Not Just For Plates! Other Pieces To Try
Ceramics also aren’t the only thing you can hang on the walls; silver and brass also look great. Here are a few examples of silver plated pieces I’ve used over the years. Yes, I know they’re tarnished. I intentionally leave them that was so they look less formal in our country home. It’s definitely a personal preference, and it drives my mom a little bit crazy. In fact, she offers to polish them almost every time she visits!
Here’s a large brass tea tray I use above my entertainment center. It adds dimension behind my ginger jar collection and warms up the color palette a bit.
The kitchen or dining room are the most obvious places to hang plates, but don’t be afraid to try them as a feature in other rooms. I even have a small collection in my utility room! Unconventional, yes. But it makes me so happy every time I walk in!
There are countless small touches that help create a layered and meaningful home, and plate displays are just one of them. Rethinking the purpose of everyday items is one of my favorite ways to inject personality and charm into a room. In fact, it can really help you love your home even more! I hope you’ll take some time to think about new ways to use and display precious momentos around your own home. Happy nesting!
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