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Image via Edyta Szyszlo

There's something charmingly off-kilter about a collection of mismatched plates. And it's actually a good green alternative to buying a new set of dishes (and discarding your old ones). With a little thought, design savvy, and perhaps an extra dish or two you pick up from a relative or thrift store, you can turn your mismatched plates and dishes collection into a colorful, memorable table or wall display. Use all shapes, sizes and patterns, but look for a common color or color palette to unify and build on your collection.

See more of our favorite mismatched plates photos below the jump...

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Image via eHow

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Image via Nestled In

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Image via Daily Mail

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Image via BoatShedChic

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Image via Hostess

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Image via EcoSalon

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Image via ReCoverGirl