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How To Hang Plates on the Wall (The Best Plate Hangers & More!)

Updated: by Kris Jarrett

Want to know how to hang plates on the wall? I’m sharing my tips & tricks and the plate hangers that I used to get the job done right!

For months I kept my beautiful new plates sitting in a cabinet where they weren’t used or seen. And the big bare wall in my dining room? It stayed bare. Because honestly the whole idea of designing and hanging a decorative plate wall intimidated me. But last month I finally did it  – I hauled my plates out of the cabinet and hung them up on our dining room wall:

It turned out to be one of my favorite dining room wall decor ideas! The trickiest part was figuring out the how-tos of hanging the plates so I thought I’d share what worked best for me, what’s worked for others, and why you may want to choose one method of hanging plates over the other (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here}):

Step 1: Figure Out How You Want to Arrange Your Plates

Take all the plates that you’re thinking about using in your plate wall and lay them out on the floor. If you space constraints for the wall that they’ll be hanging on, it helps to put some painter’s tape on the floor to mark the max width and height that you have to work with. Arrange and rearrange until you figure out a design that you love!

All of my plates are from Juliska – the ones with the printed scenes are from their Country Estate collection in Flint color that you can find {here}. I also have two of {these dinner plates} from their Berry & Thread collection, and multiple different sized plates from their Jardins du Monde collection {here}. The center platter is the Jardins du Monde grande charger that is no longer available but can sometimes be found on eBay {here}.

Step 2: Trace Each Plate on Paper

I wanted to see the arrangement up on the wall before nailing in 20+ hangers and realizing that I should have shifted it up or down or changed some plates around so I traced the plates on kraft paper and cut each of them out. Once each plate was cut out, I drew both a horizontal and vertical line through the center of each paper plate, which helped me line them up evenly on the wall using a level (I wish I was a girl who could just wing it and not worry if things don’t line up quite right but I know myself enough to know that it would bug me if the arrangement was visibly “off”…).

Step 3: Tape Your Templates to the Wall

Once I had my plate templates arranged and level on the wall, I taped them to the wall with LOTS of tape to make sure they wouldn’t fall down overnight (I was doing my hanging the next day). And then when I was getting my girls their breakfast the next morning, I heard a rustling in the dining room and found them in a heap on the floor. Nooo! I had used Delicate Surfaces painter’s tape and it didn’t hold. Ugh. Lesson learned. I redid the arrangement but this time used regular painter’s tape and put a tiny nail through the center of each plate just to be extra sure we didn’t have a repeat incident.

Step 4: Figure Out the Best Plate Hangers for You and Hang Them Up!

My original plan was to hang my plates using {these} Disc Hangers, which are adhesive discs that you adhere to the back of your plates. The advantages of the Disc Hangers are that they allow your plates to hang flat against the wall and they are invisible once you hang them. Unfortunately, I realized that most of my plates have a raised pattern on the back – definitely not a good surface for adhering a flat Disc Hanger.

The other disadvantages of the Disc Hangers are that you can’t easily remove them to use the plates – I wanted to be able to take some of the platters off of my wall if needed to use them for serving food at parties every now and then and the Disc Hangers wouldn’t allow me to do them. Also, according to the reviews some people have had issues with their plates fall off the wall when using them. But there are others who have used them with beautiful results (and no broken plates!) such as Emily of Timeless Paper who used them to hang this gorgeous plate wall over her bed (don’t you love it?!):

Since the Disc Hangers weren’t going to work for me, I ended up hanging my plates using Tripar’s white vinyl coated plate hangers found {here}. Beware that they do “run small” – my 9″ plates did not fit the 7″-9″ hanger size – I had to use the 10″-14″ size.

Since they are vinyl coated, they won’t scratch the plates like plain wire hangers can and I love that when you use this type of plate hanger, you can easily remove the plates from the wall and use them. The key to working with these hangers is to bend the top of the hanger so that your plate will lay flat on the wall once hung. The best way to do this is to first attach the plate hanger to the plate and lie the plate on a flat surface. The top of the hanger should (barely) touch the flat surface that your plate is lying on. If it doesn’t, take the hanger off the plate, bend it, and place it back on to see if it’s where you need it to be.

Once all of your plates have hangers, it’s time to get them up on the wall! I used {these OOK picture hooks} – hook your OOK hook onto the wire hanger that is attached to your plate and measure the distance from the top of the plate down to where the nail will go into the OOK hook. Transfer this measurement to your plate template and gently tap the OOK hook nail in just a bit.

Then remove the template from the wall, put the nail through the OOK hook, and hammer it in at the same spot that you tapped it into moments ago. Now hang your plate!

Repeat.

It’s definitely my favorite thing about our dining room – you can take a tour to check the entire space out including a bunch of fun “before” and “after” pics (it wasn’t too pretty when we moved in!) {here}!

Categories: Decorating Tips Tags: wall art

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How to hang plates on a wall – an expert guide

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(Image credit: Emma Sims-Hilditch)

Hanging plates on a wall is a little trickier than hanging pictures. First, there's their fragility, their varying shapes and sizes, and, of course, weights. However, a plate wall can be extraordinarily beautiful, individual and can make for a wonderful accent feature in a room.

See: Home makeover ideas – simple ways to transform your home

'The selection of art is an intensely personal and often costly process,' says Emma Sims Hilditch, founder and creative director of Sims Hilditch, who is something of a plate wall expert. 'For those looking for a more economical and slightly different way to fill a blank space in a room, then a plate wall is a great solution and is easier to do than you might think.'  

Below, Emma demonstrates the simple process in easy steps – including her tips for getting the process just right.

How to hang plates on a wall

(Image credit: Emma Sims-Hilditch)

'When choosing the plates, try to select a range of sizes and a variety of origins,' says Emma. 'Plates which carry meaning or a message are great additions to the design as they help it to become a meaningful part of the home.'

Follow her instructions below – and see Emma's video on hanging plates for more tips.

See: 5 tips for displaying china – plate wall inspiration, plus more ways to create a beautiful arrangement

1. Measure the wall

'Use a tape measure to work out the dimensions of the plate wall first and arrange the plates accordingly on the floor,' says Emma.

It's useful to mark with pencil or tape the central point of the plate wall. This is where you will hang your first plate. It can also be helpful to use low-tack masking tape to mark out the boundaries of the plate display on the wall – and to repeat the exercise on a table or the floor to ensure the plate display you are planning will fit comfortably into it.

2. Measure your plate arrangement

'Draw a rough sketch of where the plates will be positioned and record the measurements on paper,' says Emma.

Use this as a guide to arrange the plates on the table or floor within your taped boundaries – and adjust it until you are happy with it. 

'Once the plates are arranged, measure the distance to the top of each plate starting from the highest point down, with the topmost plate being ‘0’. Then mark these measurements on the wall,' says Emma.

3. Create templates of the plates

Draw around each plate on to separate pieces of paper and cut them out to create templates. Stick each template to the wall in the arrangement you have planned on the floor. Now stand back and adjust the arrangement until you are happy with it.

'Try to stick to the measurements as a guide at this stage, but remember that this is an artistic process which may be deviated from slightly to add creative flair!' says Emma.

See: Cottage decorating ideas – charming ways to get a characterful look

4.

Clean the plates

'Before hanging, clean the back of each plate where an adhesive disk with a hook will be applied.' 

Ensure you clean the front of the plates, too, so that your display isn't marred by fingerprints.

5. Prepare the plates for hanging

'Prepare the disk (‘The Original Invisible Plate Hanger ’) by applying water to the back and rubbing it with your finger for five to 10 minutes. Stick it on the underside of the plate and leave it for 24 hours to bond.

'Once the plates are ready, find the center point on the wall and use the measurements/templates previously recorded to place a hook point where each plate will be positioned, before finally hanging them according to the design.'

6. Hang plates with Command Strips

Hanging plates with Command Strips means that you don't need nails or screws and you can remove or rearrange the plate display without damaging the wall. However, it does mean that the bottom of the plates needs to be flat to the wall – and plates with a lip underneath won't be able to be displayed with Command Strips – although Command Hooks should work if the plate has a hole for you to be able to attach to the hook with string threaded through it.

Assuming you can use them, clean the back of the plates thoroughly, stick the adhesive strip to the wall and another to the plate then press together until you are happy they are attached.

7. How to hang plates with plate hangers

Plate hangers grip the rim of the plates in three or four places and have a clasp at the back of the plate that you can hook over a nail. The important part of this process – other than getting the nail firmly into the wall – is to ensure the plate hangers you choose are the right size: too small and the plates are in danger of falling. 

See: Interior design tips – decorating secrets for the world's top experts

The downside to plate hangers? You can see the grips from the front of the plate, so be ready to touch them up with paint – or even nail varnish – that matches the color of your plates so that they blend away.

Founded in 2009, the Sims Hilditch design practice has become one of the most trusted and respected in the industry. Its couture approach combines interior architecture, interior design and procurement management within one concept-to-completion, fully bespoke service. Creative Founder, Emma Sims-Hilditch is passionate about her belief that good design can transform not only how people live but also how they feel. 

how to beautifully hang a decorative plate on the wall on the mount

Wall plates in the interior are one of the favorite tricks of decorators. They look stylish, original, fit into any design and are a great alternative to traditional decor like paintings and posters. We tell you how to hang the plates beautifully and fix them well on the wall.

Choosing plates

First of all, you should think about which plates you are going to use as decoration. There are three options:

  1. Ordinary crockery, such as dinnerware. If it is of high quality and attractive, then it may well serve as an interior decoration.
  2. Special decorative plates. They are distinguished by an unusual design, often drawings or photographs are printed on them. They can be purchased at specialized decor stores or brought from travel.
  3. Handmade plates. Any plate with a neutral background can be painted with acrylics or decorated with decoupage - this is a great way to express yourself.

To make the plates on the wall fit well into the interior, choose the theme of drawings or decor for the room.

Where to place the plates

Their location also depends on the room.

In the living room, the best place is above the head of the sofa, where decor begs to be. But if you want to see your plates more often, then it is better to place them above the TV, mantelpiece or other central points of the living room.

In the interior of the bedroom and children's room, wall plates are placed above the head of the bed or on the opposite wall.

There is usually little free space on the walls in the kitchen, but you can still find a corner for plates. If you have a dining table here, then the decor will look good above it. No less appropriate, it will look over a sideboard or a low cabinet with kitchen utensils. The main thing is not to place the plates in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen apron, where they will regularly get dirty.

How to hang decorative plates on the wall?

There are 4 main ways to fix a plate on a wall.

Secrets of matching with other interior details

Now that we figured out how to hang the plates on the wall, it's time to think about what they will look good with. Armament following designer recommendations:

Our dishes can be both wall decor and serve their intended purpose. Stylish plates will give your home a personality and fill it with an inimitable Provencal atmosphere. Order decor from us and get bonus points that can be used to pay up to 50% of your next purchase!

Go to the section WARE

How to arrange decorative ceramic plates in the interior: 15 beautiful ways

The easiest way to beautifully place the plates on the wall is to create a geometric figure out of them. Rhombuses, squares, circles, ovals from plates look great in spacious rooms where there is no other decor on the walls except for a ceramic installation. True, such huge plate figures are not suitable for Scandinavian interiors - they will violate the concept of a restrained style.

2. Symmetry

For classic interiors, symmetrical arrangement of plates is perfect. Two identical plate compositions can be hung on opposite walls, on the sides of furniture or around the perimeter of a mirror. Regardless of which item will be the centerpiece, it is important that the plates are placed at the same distance from it. If the plates have a small pattern, it is better to hang them closer to the center point, plain dishes or plates with a large pattern - higher and further from the center.

3. Vertical

For interiors in the style of minimalism, hanging decorative plates strictly in a row is a good decor option. For such an accent, only three or four items will be enough, which will not take up much space on the wall, but at the same time they will play a decorative role no worse than voluminous installations. If you want the interior to become more contrasting and dynamic, hang plates of different diameters in descending order.

4. Wave

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Large wall surfaces that are not crowded with furniture can be decorated with an undulating composition of decorative plates - it will create the illusion of a lack of boundaries, due to which the room will seem larger than it really is. On a dark background, waves from light plates with delicate painting look spectacular, on the walls decorated in pastel shades, multi-colored plates with large patterns will play a more interesting decorative role.

5. Free flight

On a small section of a free wall, for example in the gap between windows, plates can be hung in any order. So that they do not dissonate with each other, choose one connecting element for them: if the plates are combined with each other in shape or color, the chaotic decor will turn into a spectacular and unusual one. Another plus of such decoration is the ability to modify it at any time, because you can always replace one plate with another without violating the composition.

6. Collage

Do you need something extraordinary? Make a collage of decorative plates on a wrought iron stand. To get a really interesting composition, combine plates of the same size but different shapes, or use bright plates, but the same configuration.

Do you have a fireplace in your living room with an empty wall above it? Create an organic arched composition of plates there. By the same principle, any piece of furniture can be distinguished, be it a TV or a mirror, which look rustic and boring without decorative reinforcement.

8. Original figure

Would you like to hang a whole service on the wall? Create an interesting shape out of it, such as a snowflake, cloud or star. True, for its design, accurate calculations are needed. To get the desired result, first think over a sketch of the installation, put it on paper, make markings on the wall according to the scheme, place cardboard patterns of plates on it and evaluate the composition. Did you like what happened? Then feel free to change the cardboard for ceramics and enjoy the result!

9. Painting

If you are still at the stage of choosing a wall decor, pay attention to the sets of plates, which, when laid out in a certain order, form a plot depicting a beautiful landscape or an original abstraction. This option will be a godsend for those who love both paintings and plates, but there is not enough space for all this.

10. Doorway

The walls of your interior are already decorated with wall decor, and the space around the door looks lifeless? Decorate it with plates, placing them symmetrically on the sides of the doorway, so it will become visually wider. So that the plate decoration does not weigh down the interior, choose elegant models that echo in color and pattern with other decorative elements and textiles.

11. Cornice above the window

If there are no curtains on the windows, and the empty gap between the ceiling and the window opening is very striking, create a cornice there from decorative plates. But do not use too voluminous compositions - just a few plates placed in one horizontal row will hide the gaping void and mask the transition between walls and ceiling, due to which the room will appear higher.

Photo: ballarddesigns.com

12. Headboard

In the bedroom, few people welcome plates as wall decor, believing that there is no place for dishes in this room. However, as practice shows, even here the plate decor looks spectacular. Empty space above the head of the bed - use it to place a small composition of plates, they will make the room more comfortable. Plates above the head of the bed in the nursery look no less interesting - they, for example, can be used to zone sleeping places in a room with two children.

13. Entrance hall

Do you have a small hallway with no room for decor? Use plates there too. Place them on a free section of the wall closer to the front door - the plate composition will instantly fill a boring room with an atmosphere of hospitality and home comfort, but it will not take up a single centimeter of valuable space.

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