Displaying state plates on your wall is a cool way to show off your collection and let others know where you've traveled. Others choose to use patterned plates or cascade a set of particular colors. If you ask us, we like to employ a little bit of humor with our vintage plates (which always gives the company a good laugh).
The shape of round plates also makes them easier to hang in a salon style grouping (without having to worry if they're even). If you don't like the look of an entire wall of plates, incorporate one or two into a grouping of art which will add additional texture and balance.
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(Images: 1. Beth Zeigler, 2. Allison and Bo's Bantam Roost, 3. Style Dish: Updated Takes on Hanging Plates, 4. Inspiration: Hodgepodge Chic, 5. Before and After: Plates, 6. House Call: Tonya & Bryan's Vintage Mix)
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I bought a bunch of really inexpensive white plates for a project I worked on and hung them on a white wall... it made a pretty big statement for low budget addition...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lsven/3256742866/in/set-72157606547440016/
My grandparents used to have one of those camper plates! I love it! lol
When I was younger, I thought plates on the wall was kinda "Grandma"...
...but now, I collect vintage plates that were given as gifts to passengers on cruises - all I need to do is hang them!
Here's a great resource for plate hangers that aren't the spring-loaded ones that can often chip and damage plates:
http://www.shoestringacres.com/triangle.htm
Oooo @LSVENdesign that's beautiful! I did something similar with a set of white china I inherited. I had no budget of art when I moved into my apartment.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1682767&l=7e9e5357b2&id=500186656
I am liking this look more and more. I love when a crisp color palette is used - like blue and white Blue Willow china.
Also a great way to display family china that you may only use once or twice a year (or never!).
I just did a Blue Willow round-up at Sparker:
http://sparkerblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/blue-willow-in-sparker-shop.html
I'm with bepsf: "Grandma... but I may change" ! But I still think hanging plates is a risky business.
I hate plates that are alone in the middle of a wall, or too spaced for me to see them as a single decorative statement. "Camper plates" are a no-no. A huge one.
But I may be converted to a whole panel like the one on the last photo...
I have plates, platters and trivets hung in my kitchen without irony...mostly from my hometown in Illinois or where mmy husband was born in the Azores.
As the daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter of some accomplished china painters, I really have more of them than I know what to do with. As a result, I tend to use plate rails more than anything, that way I can change them out and wash them easily (and I HATE the way those sprung plate holders scrape the edges)
decorating with plates on the wall?: i'm for it!
these aren't really plates, per se, but as a former new yorker, i am slowly collecting these plate sized ceramic tiles and plan to display them on one wall in a large grouping. the south ferry one is my favorite: http://www.newyorkfirst.com/gifts/7048.html
Thanks for the tip on the hangers, bepsf.
I ordered these English plate hangers and they have worked out great! They stick on the back and won't damage your plates... plus they're easy to remove and very inexpensive (but still super sturdy!) http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-English-Hanger-Disc-3-Diameter/dp/B000TAQKEG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311882913&sr=8-2