How to Arrange Decorative Plates

Using plates to decorate is a clever and versatile idea. Decorating with plates can bring family heirlooms out of storage or clear out some cupboard space in the kitchen. "Plates are a great way to add color to an otherwise neutral room." A lot of options are available for hanging plates on a wall using plate hangers or a ledge. Plates on a wall can add dimension and depth to a room in a way that many other accessories can't. Plates can also be displayed using plate stands in a hutch, above the cupboards or on a shelf. Although the logical place to display plates is in a dining or kitchen area, they can also be displayed in bedrooms, bathrooms or hallways. The possibilities are endless, so please read on for a few ideas.

Things You'll Need

• Plate stands
• Plate hangers
• Nails
• Hammer
• Measuring tape
• Level

Instructions

Decide Where and How Many Plates You Have To Display

1. Take inventory of the amount of plates you have and where you'd like them placed. Do you have an entire collection of 25 similar plates? Or maybe you're using various plates from mismatched sets in your kitchen and storage. Would you like them to be hung on a wall, displayed in a hutch or above cabinetry?

2. 

   If you want the plates displayed on a wall, and all of your plates are the same size and color, a patterned display is your best option. If your style is somewhat contemporary, a 2x2 or 3x3 pattern will work--basically anything with clean, straight lines. If your style is more traditional, then a rectangle, circle or diamond shape might be more appropriate.

3. 

   If your plates are various sizes and colors, a whimsical, clustered pattern adds interest to a room.

Displaying Plates on a Wall

1. Wall hangings should almost always be hung at eye level and in the case of a plate display, the same rule applies. If you have a very large display, simply have the center of the display at eye level or slightly higher.

2. Arrange your display on the floor or table before putting nails in the wall.

3. Measure outward from the center of the display. Draw a diagram that includes a description of each plate and measurements from the center plate.

Using Plate Stands

1. 

   Organize your plates in groupings of 3 to 5 based on coordinating colors.

2. Start to place the groupings on the shelves or cabinetry. Replace some plates with others, add plates to the display and take plates away until you have the right combination that is pleasing to the eye.

3. 

   Other ideas for shelf and cabinetry display: paint the interior of the shelves to make the plates stand out, or place them on a shelf above the window to incorporate into a window treatement.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens