Rethinking plates as wall decoration

I give you some examples that prove you don't have to have plastic covered furniture and doilies on everything to have a plate collection. Vintage patterns look fresh when placed against an unexpected backdrop and multiple eras united by a color palette add visual interest. And best of all, plates can be an inexpensive option for tricking out a bare wall. Take a look here:

photo via Design Sponge

photo from Domino Magazine

photo via Design Sponge

photo from Marie Claire Maison

photo from Anthropologie — check out that GORGEOUS wall color too!

And let us not forget this fantastic example from my painted cabinet post.

So how do we get started with our own collection? It's easy, and even better is that it certainly doesn't need to cost a lot! First and foremost, a good thrift store crawl generally produces a lot of hang-worthy specimens. I've also found that places like HomeGoods and/or TJ Maxx can be great resources for unique one-off plate purchases.

If you're the shop at home type, Ebay is your most obvious resource, as my search for "vintage china plate" will attest. And let's not forget Etsy! Personally, I love Trixie Delicious who hails from New Zealand. She sells what she describes as "vandalized art", vintage dinnerware that she hand paints with words — some featuring mature language. Each one is unique. Great stuff. I've been contemplating her Seven Deadly Sins plates for my kitchen for some time now: