How to Make a Plate Wall Look Good

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Your good china—maybe it was a wedding gift, maybe you thrifted your dream pattern—is a point of pride, only taken out for holiday dinners and for the most important of guests. Those fancy plates are usually tucked away in a cabinet until that special occasion. Seems like a waste of such beautiful plates, no? Luckily, some of our favorite designers have a solution: plate walls. You hang your favorite art, photos, and even tapestries, so why not your dinnerware?

"Depending on what you use and how you place them, they can become their own sort of pattern or 3D print effect on a wall," says JJ Martin, founder of LaDouble J. "Yes, you could absolutely do all one pattern on a wall, but what I love is when there is differentiation." To guide us through how to create a plate wall, we tapped Martin, interior designer Heidi Caillier, and style icon Lucinda Chambers to provide expert advice.

Plate walls were big with quintessential housewives in the 1950s and '60s, and the design feature has been coming back in a big way. And while vintage chinoiserie plates aren't everyone's style, you can hang any plate on the wall in order to make an impact.

"I think they are such an inexpensive way of doing a wall," says Chambers. "If you can't afford the art that you want, which, who can. They're really great to frame a doorway, you know? Or any area that's a little bit dull and bleak. You put a line of plates around and suddenly you've got, you know, a vista."

And while this feature wall may seem like a no-brainer to a professional designer, it can feel daunting to the rest of us who are trying this for the first time. But don't worry, all three designers have ample advice to share. "It's about doing the right mix," says interior designer Heidi Caillier. "I think plates work really well in a home where there is also artwork, tapestries, prints, etc. I do not think you need to decide between one or the other."

What Kind of Plates are Best for Hanging?

For both Martin and Caillier, the sky is the limit when it comes to deciding which plates are right to hang. Caillier prefers Majolica and Delft style plates that have intricate patterns and subdued colors. Martin, on the other hand, prefers smaller dessert plates as opposed to large dinner plates. "I also like ones that have unusual shape," Martin explains. "You can play around and mix what you have; oftentimes we have old plates from family members, which adds a beautiful, personal memento to the decor."

The only important factor when choosing plates to hang is the depth. Flatter plates are easier to hang securely than deeper plates (like flat pasta bowls).

Dessert Plates, Set of 6

Put A Spell On You Dessert Plate (set of 4)

Buds Hand-Painted Serving Platter

Blue and White Dinner Plates, Set of 10

How to Make a Plate Wall Like a Designer

Do: Find a Common Theme

"A lot of matching prints with plates is the same way one would match clothing or prints throughout the home, which means usually trying to play with scale and utilize one kind of overarching theme," says Martin. "You might want to try and stick to a similar kind of hand in terms of the way in which the plates are designed, or color palette. When it pleases your eye, when you're getting a strong response in the body that this is working, go for it!"

Don't: Hang Plates Too Close Together

For Caillier, the best way to hang a set of plates, whether they match or not, is to give them room to breathe. Similarly to how to space out a gallery wall, it's important to leave space between the plates. "Make the layout feel eclectic," she says. "For a mismatched set, a loose hanging pattern versus a grid can make all the difference. Highlight the differences between the pieces."

Do: Embrace Imperfections

"If you're nervous about having them look perfect," says Martin, "opting for a more organic or random arrangement has its appeal and relieves you from having to 'map' the layout out so strictly."

What Should I Use to Hang Plates Safely?

Invisible English Disc Adhesive Medium Plate Hangers

Hillman 122052 Plate Hanger, 8-11 Inch, Brass

Wall Plate Hanger Display Holder

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