15 Plate Display Ideas That Turn Dishes into Decor

By Jessica Bennett
Updated February 24, 2021
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Credit: Werner Straube
Plates can be an inexpensive and colorful way to decorate. Employ plate racks, open shelves, wall hangers, and more to showcase your favorite dishes or treasured chinaware so you can enjoy it every day. Use these plate display ideas to bring your dishes out of the cupboard and into view.
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Open Shelf Plate Display

Credit: Robert Brinson

Take advantage of open kitchen shelving to organize plates in a pretty and practical display. Arrange everyday dishes in neat stacks, and stand a few decorative plates and platters up against the wall to put their designs in view. A collection of antique and floral-patterned plates bring color and texture to open shelves in this farmhouse-style kitchen.

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Classic Plate Rack

Credit: Marshall Johnson

Store dishes at-the-ready with a classic plate rack. Built into an open cabinet directly above the dishwasher, this storage solution simplifies after-dinner cleanup. Vertical slots keep plates organized, while open shelves above provide space for mugs, bowls, and other large pieces.

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Kitchen Island Plate Racks

Credit: Laura Moss

Built-in plate racks add a display area for dishware to this kitchen island. The shallow shelves turn a blank space into handy storage for decorative and special-occasion plates. The island's contrasting gray shelves make the blue-and-white dishes pop.

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Cabinet Plate Display Ideas

Credit: David Tsay

Take advantage of glass-front cabinets to display treasured pieces of china. This built-in hutch showcases plates, glassware, and accessories behind multi-pane glass doors. The lowest shelf serves as a bar and cocktail serving area.

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Repeating Color

Credit: Werner Straube

Get creative with plate display ideas to make up for a lack of cabinet space. A set of open shelves installed across a blank stretch of wall can boost storage space while adding character to your kitchen. These bracketed shelves hold a set of blue-patterned china, which serves as a pretty decorative accent against the beaded-board walls.

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Plate Display Shelves

Credit: Edmund Barr

A high shelf can provide out-of-the-way storage for dishware. This plate display idea takes advantage of the empty wall space above a corner banquette. The open shelf stores a collection of plates and serving pieces that adds character to the small breakfast nook.

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Colorful Plate Collection

Credit: Heather Thomas

Look to plate display ideas that will complement your collection's color scheme. For brightly-hued dishes, try presenting them against a neutral background that doesn't compete with the colors. Painted in a muted gray, this open cabinet provides a subtle backdrop for a cheerful rainbow of dishware.

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Patterned Plate Display

Credit: Dustin Halleck

Have leftover wallpaper or fabric? Use it to cover the interior walls of a cupboard to highlight plates and other dishware with a fun pattern. For extra impact, remove doors to convert basic cabinets to open shelves and keep the pattern in view.

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Open Plate Rack

Credit: Michael Partenio

An open plate rack provides a charming way to showcase favorite dishes while maintaining easy access. Designed to look like a freestanding hutch, this blue cabinet displays a collection of simple white plates. Drawers below can stash flatware, table linens, and other essentials.

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Plate Wall Display

Credit: Gordon Beall

Turn dinnerware into wall decor by hanging plates with similar colors and designs in a cohesive display. Plate hangers ($3, Michaels) are inexpensive and readily available in hardware or craft stores. Clip the hooks onto collectible plates and platters to hang them up in an attractive vignette.

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Plate Shelf Decor

Credit: Robert Brinson

Use plates to complement other decorative accents on open shelving. In this recessed niche, plates, platters, and cutting boards bring depth and scale to an arrangement of ironstone and small kitchen accessories. The back wall is coated in a dark hue to make the light-colored pieces stand out.

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Cabinet Organization Ideas for Plates

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Within cabinetry, employ plate display ideas that maximize organization. Simple risers can add another level to shelves, allowing you to more easily stack dishes of different shapes and sizes. This helps eliminate wasted space without creating a towering stack of plates that's too heavy to access.

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Decorative Plate Display Ideas

Credit: John Granen

Gather a collection of similar styles for a plate display with maximum impact. Here, rich wood sets off the lustrous green of these plates. The repeating colors and nature-inspired motifs create a striking display.

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Colorful Plate Wall

Credit: Heather Anne Thomas

Plates are an eye-catching and inexpensive way to add color to an otherwise neutral room. Try grouping brilliantly colored plates together for a bold statement. Think outside the kitchen and apply this plate idea in a bedroom, living room, or dining space.

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Wall-Mount Plate Rack

Credit: Steven McDonald

A wall-mounted plate rack becomes a work of art when filled with color-coordinated pieces of simple china. Place dishes you use often on the rack to make it as practical as it is beautiful. A simple design keeps the focus on the plates.

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