Friends, once again I’m excited to share the newest layer of English country house style in our home, and I hope it inspires you! As many of you know, blue & white transferware is a favorite around here, and the collection has slowly grown over the years.
A Growing Blue & White Transferware Collection
Recently, I was re-listening to a favorite podcast where Marian Parsons (aka Miss Mustard Seed) was talking about her ironstone collection. Her point wasn’t a new one – that collections have more impact when grouped. This got me thinking about these lovely platters I had scattered about the house. While I did enjoy them in many rooms, I wondered what they would look like all together…
Old World Inspiration from an English Country Kitchen
Enter one of my favorite inspiration images. This photograph from the book entitled: The Country Decorator by Miranda Innes has captured my admiration time and again.
This little corner of a kitchen has loads of rustic old world charm, higgledy-piggledy quirk, and refined elegance at the same time. The blue & white gets me, of course. This was also my first introduction to the antique meat drainer platters. They are the platters in the picture that appear flat and have perforations. Long ago these strainers would be placed in the bottom of a pan under the meat to allow the fat to drain. Such cool history! I began hunting one of these beauties…
Our Kitchen Wall, Before & After
Just for fun, here is a “before” of our kitchen wall before we fully remodeled.
Here is a look at the next phase where we painted the cabinetry.
How We Hung the Decorative Plates
And here’s how it looks today! Matt helped me hang my platter collection one evening after dinner. My goal was to have some semblance of order since it was a statement design, but not to be too rigid, as the quirk is part of the charm. We began with the largest, most eye-catching platter in the center and an equally large one centered just beneath. Then we just built out from there.
What Is a Plate Wall?
A plate wall is simply a collection of plates, platters, and chargers hung together as art instead of tucked away in a cupboard. A piece that seems rather quiet on its own can bring lovely color & pattern when gathered with others. What a pretty way to enjoy your favorite china every day!
Of course, this idea isn’t new. English kitchens have displayed china this way for centuries. Plate racks and open dressers served much the same purpose, keeping useful pieces close at hand while making their shapes and patterns part of the room.
As we’ve already seen with this collection, pretty pieces have so much more impact when they’re grouped together. Blue & white transferware is a classic cottage choice, but you could also use ironstone, creamware, majolica, or hand-painted plates. Several types can live quite happily together within a gentle color palette. That slightly higgledy-piggledy look is part of the old-world charm!
Are Plate Walls Still in Style?
Yes, plate walls are still in style! They’ve made a lovely return alongside English country and cottage decorating. All that color, character & collected charm feels right at home in a warm, lived-in room.
I’ve never thought of a plate wall as a passing trend. People have collected china for generations, and hanging it on the wall is simply a beautiful way to enjoy those treasures. Patterns change, and arrangements can be formal or relaxed, but the idea has lasting charm.
A plate collection is also wonderful for an awkward wall where framed art doesn’t feel quite right. Try one along a staircase, above a kitchen counter, over a bed, or centered above a sideboard. A few plates can fill a narrow spot beautifully. A larger collection might become the main feature in the room.
Perhaps best of all, a plate wall can cost very little compared with artwork of the same size. Begin with a few favorite pieces, then add to your arrangement over time. There’s no hurry ~ a slowly gathered collection often feels much more personal.
Choosing Plates for a Cottage Plate Wall
One of the easiest ways to help a mixed plate collection feel connected is to stay within a single color family. Blue & white works especially well because so many patterns look lovely together. The scenes, borders, and shades of blue can all be different, while the shared palette ties everything together.
Now, bring in a variety of sizes and shapes. A row of matching round plates can feel a little stiff. Large platters mixed with smaller plates, oval pieces, and octagonal shapes give your eye room to wander. If you happen to find one of those wonderful perforated meat drainer platters, it brings an especially interesting bit of history & texture!
Odd numbers often look natural, particularly in a smaller grouping. Choose one anchor piece, usually the largest platter or the one that catches your eye first. Then arrange the other pieces around it. Your anchor doesn’t need to sit exactly in the center, but it should give the collection a visual starting point.
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns. Florals and landscapes can sit beside simple plates or pieces with pretty borders, as long as the colors relate. That gentle mismatch gives a cottage plate wall its collected, homey feeling. Perfection certainly isn’t the goal here!
Check the condition of each plate, especially if it’s an older piece. Crazing and small chips on the back usually won’t matter once the plate is hanging. A crack running through the piece is more concerning, and the plate may not be safe to hang.
Most importantly, choose pieces you truly enjoy instead of searching for a perfectly matched set. It’s fine to leave a gap or two. You can always fill those spaces when just the right little treasure comes along!
How to Hang a Plate Wall
Before making any holes, lay the full arrangement on the floor or across a bed. Begin with your largest piece, then experiment with the smaller plates around it. When the layout feels right, take a photograph. You can use that little picture as a guide when it’s time to move everything onto the wall.
You can also trace each plate onto paper and cut out the shapes. Tape these paper templates to the wall to test the placement & spacing. This is especially helpful with a larger display because you can move everything around without making unnecessary holes.
Hang the largest or most eye-catching piece near the center first. This will anchor the arrangement. From there, work outward with the medium and smaller pieces, paying attention to the shapes and colors as you go. Both sides don’t need to match. A little irregularity keeps the collection from feeling stiff.
Aim for gaps of about two to three inches between the plates. They don’t need to be measured perfectly, but the spacing should feel comfortable and intentional. Let the outer edge of the grouping create a loose shape instead of pressing every piece into a hard rectangle. This is where that charming higgledy-piggledy feeling comes into play!
There are several good ways to secure plates:
- Adhesive disc hangers hold well and stay hidden behind the plate.
- Spring wire plate hangers work nicely for lighter pieces.
- Heavy platters need a proper plate hook fastened into a wall anchor or stud.
Choose a hanger that’s suitable for the size and weight of each piece. Be sure to follow the directions for your particular hanger, especially when using adhesive discs.
If your plate wall hangs above a counter, sideboard, or chair, check that the lowest row clears everything beneath it. You certainly don’t want a chair back bumping one of your pretty plates!
Now, step back often while you work. An arrangement can look balanced up close and feel completely different from across the room. If something seems off, move a plate and have another look. Sometimes one small adjustment helps the whole collection settle into place. It may take a little experimenting, but that’s part of the fun!
If you’re renting, or you simply don’t want holes in the wall, you still have some lovely options! Sturdy adhesive hooks work well for lighter plates, as long as you follow the weight guidelines & prepare the wall carefully. A leaning plate rack is another pretty way to display a collection. You might also arrange a few favorite pieces along a shelf. Each one gives you that charming, collected cottage look without using nails.
Before choosing the final spot, picture how you use the room each day. Keep your most treasured pieces away from a door that swings hard or a chair that gets lots of use. A quiet little corner can help protect them while still letting you enjoy all that color & character. Give the plates a gentle dusting now and then, and check that everything still feels secure ~ a little care will keep your plate wall lovely for years!
Where to Find Plates Without Spending a Fortune
You don’t need an enormous budget to begin a plate wall. Thrift stores, antique malls & booths, estate sales, and church sales are all wonderful places to look. Watch for single plates and odd platters tucked beneath stacks of dishes. Those overlooked pieces may be just what your collected cottage wall needs.
Single plates are often quite affordable because many shoppers want complete sets. Thankfully, a plate wall doesn’t mind if a piece has no matching companions! One pretty plate, a lone saucer, or an unusual platter can be perfect when you begin looking at it as art.
If you’re searching for a particular pattern or one of the harder-to-find meat drainer platters, eBay and Etsy can be helpful. Search by the pattern name if you know it. Then compare the shape, color & condition with the pieces already in your collection.
You might also have family china sitting unused in a cupboard. A plate wall lets you bring those special pieces out where you can enjoy them instead of saving them for an occasion that rarely comes.
Most of all, buy slowly. Let your collection grow over several months, or even longer. A group gathered one piece at a time develops character & tells a much more interesting story. You don’t need to fill every gap right away. Finding that next charming plate is half the fun!
Filling In the Gaps ~ Slowly
As you can see, I did find one of those cool old meat strainer platters! They are harder to find than the regular octagonal platters. There are a few gaps in the collection, but that is great with me. I can take my time finding just the perfect pieces to fill in. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and are inspired as I was to gather a favorite collection and display it as a group.
Warmly,
Rachel
