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Jamie loves writing about DIY projects, decorating on a budget, craft ideas, and creative ways to reuse and upcycle products.

How to Use Plates as Wall Décor

Using dinner plates as wall décor has become very popular these days. Not only do the plates make great wall décor, they are inexpensive too. You are most likely to find lots of different plates at places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other thrift stores and I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find the perfect ones to suit your style. You can even purchase pretty dinner plates at Dollar Stores. Below are many different grouping ideas. Some are grouped by certain colors, some are grouped together in multiple popping colors, and some even have wording added to them. I absolutely love the look of plate walls because they really add a dramatic and beautiful touch to a room. The best thing I love about decorating with plates is it is so inexpensive to achieve such beautiful displays.

If you would like to do your own plate arrangement on the wall, you can use traditional metal plate hangers or you can use the invisible disc kind. These are a newer type that can hang the plates without showing any of the metal hardware. It appears that many of these arrangements may have been hung using the invisible disc plate hangers or something similar.

decorating-with-plates-using-plates-to-decorate-your-walls — Remodelista

Use Shades of Color and Create a Mosaic Look

In the photo above, I love all the different shades of blue! I found this beautiful group of plates at Remodelista. This is a such a great way to add color to a plain white wall. This group also contains smaller plates and saucers so it has a kind of mosaic look. All of the plates really do compliment each other so well.

Add Text With Paint, Stencils, or Stickers

Look at these plates found at Gaita Interiors. Some of these plates are vintage and I really am impressed with the wording on them. You can add words to plates by either painting them on using stencils or you can either purchase or cut your own vinyl words and stick them on. You can probably even do some sort of a rub on transfer to apply the words.

Group Plates to Frame a Doorway

At Goodwill Blog I found this plate grouping on both sides of the doorway. I think the white plates look great on the colored wall. Instead of just a scattering of plates on this one, both sides are matched up which really helps to frame the door.

Mix Square and Round Plates

The Nesting Place shared this beautiful plate wall. Plates are even pretty on the living area walls. I like the look of this group of plates above the couch. It looks like they have mixed some square plates with round plates. So beautiful and inviting for a living area.

Express an Eclectic Sense of Style

Manolo for the Home shared this collection. I love the eclectic style of these plates in this group. This looks like it truly could have been someone's plate collection. The turtle plate stands out to me. I haven't seen many turtle plates lately. Well, come to think of it, I haven't seen any of those plates lately. They are all unique, yet go together so well. This just goes to show, plates go with plates, no matter what the individual design—at least on the wall anyway.

Frame a Headboard (Safely)

I love this dramatic wall framing this headboard that I found at Screaming Meme, but I have to admit the first thought that came to my mind was, OUCH! I hope those are anchored well (I am sure they are). Even in a bedroom, plates on the wall look stunning. It looks like she may have put the big one in the center and then kind of worked around that one. She also matched up the plates and designs on both sides. The positioning of the plates frame the headboard and makes it look even more grand.

Create a Vertical Design With a Small Plate Collage

Do you have a narrow wall space that you do not know what to do with? Look what I found at BeeBee.Grace. Grouping smaller plates together in a vertical design really does wonders. I love how it makes that small space POP! It looks like she may have a few sets of two that match and then some other single ones but she grouped them together in a sort of plate collage... I love this!

Arrange Matching Plates in a Uniform Design

How grand is this? This is actually a wall in the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica and apparently has been a source of inspiration for many designers out there. I wonder if this is where the whole plate wall as a design trend got started? I LOVE this... it's a uniform design with matching plates on all sides. It's like a huge kaleidoscope of plates on a wall. It's absolutely stunning!

Add Pops of Color

It's Great to be Home via Apartment Therapy is the source of this whimsical plate collection. What a nice pop of color on the wall. I like how this group of plates just flows across the wall, almost like a breeze of plates. Different sizes and different patterns make this so fabulous. I love that orange plate. How is that for a pop of color?

Create a Cozy Border

I found this serving plate "border" at Good Bones Great Prices. This is so creative and different. Large white serving plates, some oval and some square, are hung around this enclosed booth area. I think it looks very cozy. The plates are a dramatic touch but it doesn't take away from the cozy feel.

Pull Colors Together

Here is another whimsical group of wall plates from Apartment Therapy. The bright colors look great, especially the big flowery one in the middle. It kind of pulls all the colors together. I like the way they are positioned on the wall too. It is smaller than some of the other displays but it's just enough to bring some color to the wall.

Create Contrast With White

With the dark blue walls, the design really pops! It's an even design but with different white plates. They go together great. You could do a design like this in any room of your house and it would look stunning! I found this plate wall at Chateau de Lu.

Make a Statement

Look what I found at Sharon at Home via Threadbanger. These plates also feature words, but form together to make the sentence "These are a few of my favorite things". I love it! You could do your own saying on your plate group.

Group Different Sizes Together

This image, found on Curbly, displays another eclectic grouping of plates of different sizes. I like the way the plates are placed in a sort of circle on the way with some little pops of color here and there.

Draw Attention to Colored Walls

I found this plate wall at 1001 Things to Love. The more I see plates on colored walls, the more I'm realizing how the colored walls and plates really compliment each other. This one again is just a scattering of different plates and it really looks nice in the dining room.

Display a Serving Plate

I love the look of this white plate grouping with the big serving plate in the middle. If the wall was darker it would pop even more but I do love the light taupe color of this wall. I like how the grouping of plates is arranged in between the hanging chandeliers—it looks fabulous! This lovely plate wall was found at Cottage and Vine.

Add Ribbons for an Extra Touch

This plate wall is a little different with ribbons tied to hang them from the wall. You could use any color of ribbon you want to do this. The ribbon is a really nice touch.

Decorate for the Holidays

Here's another one from BH&G. This is a holiday décor idea using a plate grouping. I think it would look good on the wall all year around. What do you think? What a beautiful décor idea for the holidays.

What do you think about hanging plates on walls?

Melody on May 30, 2018:

Nice one there. I love decorating. I can't wait to try this one out

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on November 01, 2012:

billybuc- Holy COW! How did I miss that hub??! I've always thought about using pallets to build things... especially since it seems people are always trying to get rid of them.... Yet, another great hub of yours I have missed!! Will have to go find it.. Thank you so much for dropping by!

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on November 01, 2012:

Nothing new from you so thought I'd take a look at this one, and I'm glad I did. What a cool idea; the arrangements are really impressive. It reminded me of the hub I did about building things with used pallets...some of the greatest things can be made from everyday items. I'm glad I stopped by, Jamie!

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on August 08, 2012:

carol7777- Hi, its great to see you again! I have become obsessed with plates on the walls I think. I have seen so many amazing and beautiful plate walls online and they inspired me so much that I have started my own plate wall :) Thank you for sharing this, I really appreciate it!

carol stanley from Arizona on August 07, 2012:

Hi Jamie: thought this was so clever I am going to share. Than you for sharing.

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on July 31, 2012:

Doborah, thank you! I'm so happy that you enjoyed the hub.. thank you for stopping by :)

Deborah on July 30, 2012:

Hello, Jamie!

Well done. Such a nicely written article and I love the images - especially the one from Manolo for the Home. That one really inspires me!

Thanks!

deborah

http://rainbootsbumberchutes.blogspot.com/

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on January 16, 2012:

Cindy, thank you! Yes, I agree. The plate wall décor is very clever. I don't think I ever could have thought of that or at least I wouldn't have thought a group of plates would look so good together on the wall. I'm currently working on a hub about embroidery hoop wall art.. be sure to keep an eye out for it. I bet you would like that too.

Cindy Murdoch from Texas on January 15, 2012:

Wow! I have used plates before for decorating but never that many at once! Surprisingly, I really liked them. I was going to try to pick a favorite, but I couldn't! I liked so many of them, and found most to be quite ingenious. You did a lot of work putting all this together. Great job!

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on January 15, 2012:

twinent: Thank you so much! I appreciate you stopping by :)

twinent on January 14, 2012:

Fabulous ideas! Really enjoyed reading this hub.

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on December 19, 2011:

Thank you Random, I didn't have any idea that plates on walls had gotten so popular until I started looking around. I have some plates hanging on my wall in a rack but nothing like this.. I can't wait until I can do my own plate wall. Time to start collecting plates!

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 18, 2011:

Thanks for sharing these awesome décor ideas! I love how you included so many photos. Great variety of color combinations and arrangements.

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on December 18, 2011:

NotSoPerfect: Thank you for stopping by and I'm so glad you liked these :) I know what you mean, who thought plates could be so pretty on a wall?!

NotSoPerfect from United States on December 17, 2011:

This was such as interesting hub to read. The pictures made it extra special. Thanks for writing about this; it's given me a lot of ideas for decorating my house! Voting up and interesting.

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on December 17, 2011:

Thank you, Little Light! Glad you like these :)

Lilly May Rose from Australia on December 17, 2011:

Wow. These are fantastic ideas. I love the concept - especially the JOY display. Just beautiful.

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on December 17, 2011:

KoffeeKlatch, Hello there! I'm so glad that you liked this hub and I really appreciate the compliment on my writing. Sometimes I feel like my head is full of jelly, I've been writing so much lately. Thank you for stopping by :)

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on December 17, 2011:

Phoebe, I know what you mean about worrying about the plates falling. It crossed my mind a time or two. I guess we just have to make sure and get sturdy plate holders. Thanks for stopping by!

Jamie Brock (author) from Texas on December 17, 2011:

missolive, thank you for stopping by and for the votes! I really appreciate it :0)

Susan Hazelton from Sunny Florida on December 17, 2011:

Nice hub - well written and put together. I love the pictures and ideas. I especially like the one that writes out "These are a few of my favorite things".

Phoebe Pike on December 17, 2011:

I'd be worried they would get knocked off the wall... even though they look awesome.

Marisa Hammond Olivares from Texas on December 17, 2011:

Very nice hub. Cute ideas! I'm glad you included all these great pictures. Lots of favorites - can't decide which design and pattern I like best.

Thank you for sharing.

Voted up and across!