A blank wall can be transformed into a room focal point with a stylish display of decorative plates. I pulled a few of my favorite plates from my hidden dishware collection and used them as cheap wall décor. By using decorative plates I already owned, the only expense I had was for the purchase of a few plate hangers.
Choose the Wall Location
A wall niche is an ideal location for hanging decorative plates. If a wall niche is not available, choose a location on the wall that is not close to opening doors or other moving furniture pieces that could potentially knock a display plate off the wall.
Vary Plate Sizes
Using different plate sizes will make the wall décor more interesting, but don’t overcrowd the wall location with plates. One large center plate with six to eight smaller plates surrounding it is aesthetically pleasing.
Mix and Match Plate Design
The decorative plates used to create cheap wall décor do not have to be in the same pattern. As long as the design is simple and the plates share a common color, mix and match the plate patterns.
Paper Test
I wanted to avoid putting unnecessary holes in my wall, so before hanging the plates I did a paper test. Trace each plate onto a piece of paper and cut out the shape. Test various plate arrangements with the paper cut outs on the floor or dinning table until a pleasing arrangement is found. A symmetrical layout works well for a bold, bright plate pattern, while an asymmetrical layout will make a plain, subdued plate pattern more noticeable.
When a display pattern is found, use small pieces of painter’s tape to adhere the paper cut outs on the wall. This will make attaching the plate hangers to the wall fool-proof.
Decorative Plate Hangers
Plate hangers come in all sizes and range from types that are invisible after a plate is placed on them to the type that are seen and add a decorative element to a plate display. Plate hangers are inexpensive and can be purchased at most any retail store. For fool-proof plate hanging, place the nails for the plate hangers directly through the paper templates hanging on the wall. After the plate hangers have been mounted, the paper templates are easily removed from the wall.
The decorative plates received at wedding showers or that have been passed down from grandma can be used to create cheap wall décor. Use various plate sizes and patterns make paper templates of each plate and play with the design until the look is just right, then mount the plates on the wall with cheap plate hangers.
