There is a wonderful British tradition of collecting plates.
My mom did this by buying one from every beach resort we ever visited on vacation, preserving memories in a way that had far more impact than choosing a postcard.
Once at home, these plates were duly added to the rickety rows that crawled up the living room wall.
She later joined the Cymbal Club, which put out a Dickens-inspired monthly series, and it all got a little out of hand.
Like generations of women who displayed their “best china” on the sideboard, she cherished her collection, considering it more classy than prints or paintings hung on the wall.
I meanwhile, like many others, thought hanging plates was a bit tacky and old fashioned.
But how the tables turned.
At the moment I can boast of my own collection of decorative plates, and I am far from alone, because the display of your chic dishes has become the latest trend in the interior.
A touch of elegance: Actress Gwyneth Paltrow displays £6,500 worth of Hermes plates, bowls and dishes at her design house
Feeling unkempt: £15,000 color-coded crockery decorates an impressive crockery that is Kris Jenner’s pride and joy.
Kris Jenner leaves the hotel on September 11, 2021 in New York.
Just take a look at Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner’s stunning “dishware room” filled with £15,000 worth of colorful crockery, including a Gucci teapot with matching cups.
Or Gwyneth Paltrow’s dedicated wall of plates, whose shelves are crammed with blue and white Hermes items worth around £6,500.
Whether they get used to it or not doesn’t really matter. It’s all about aesthetics.
It started during the first lockdown with “table design,” the art of great table setting, as many of us looked for inventive ways to take our minds off the news of doom.
Spending so much time at home has given us a different perspective on household items that we usually take for granted.
Everything is lit up: a striking effect on a wall at the Homewood Hotel near Bath
It was just a small step to get the plates off the table and put them in a place of honor on our walls.
In addition, plates can be inexpensive and incredibly beautiful – small ready-made works of art are available everywhere.
Add to that popular period dramas like Bridgerton, in which we indulge in a newfound love for all things print and calico, and that’s how trends are set. So move across the gallery wall – where several paintings hang close together – it’s all about the plate wall.
Part of the appeal is that the plates come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, meaning that no matter your taste or space requirements, you can find something to suit. You can hang them in rows, columns or groups – grouped by size, color or pattern – on any wall of your choice.
Gourmet cuisine: Chinoiserie decorates this stylish room
Personally, I love the idea of placing them in an unexpected place, like the downstairs toilet or even the shower! And while the likes of Gwynnie can afford to spend thousands on garnishing dishes, this trend is eminently achievable for people on any budget.
Now that the market for antique china is at an all-time low, there’s no need to spend hundreds of pounds on designer dinnerware because the thrift store is full of plates and saucers – the more flowered and gilded, the better.
On the High Street, Anthropologie regularly sells all sorts of decadent dishes, Emma Bridgewater has made a whole business of fun polka dot earthenware pots – or check out Eleanor Bowmer’s china cake plates at John Lewis.
Wallpaper is not needed: a riot of colors over the side table
But if you want something a little more couture, then some of my favorite looks include the work of Canadian artist Maggie Hall, who adds provocative statements to pretty second-hand finds.
Meanwhile, Royal Copenhagen’s serene blue and white sets are classic and timeless, while Bordallo Pinheiro’s whimsical cabbage and artichoke dishes are just plain fun.
However, my absolute obsession is the Italian design studio Fornasetti.
And since 2005, a year after I became the editor-in-chief of ELLE Decoration, I was lucky enough to receive a plate with a limited edition annual calendar from this brand as a gift.
Exquisite: Mila London Health and Beauty Shop
Each is decorated in a unique style for their respective year, but always done in the house’s signature black and white tones with a touch of gold.
These are works of art that ended up in porcelain by chance, continuing a tradition started over 50 years ago by the founder of the brand, Piero Fornasetti.
The first plate I received I hung on the wall above my desk. I had never had anything like this before and I thought it was exquisite.
A year later, a couple of plates were just as pleasing. But as time went on, the display became a problem, not least because they had to be rearranged regularly to keep symmetry a constant factor.
Sweet Dreams: Home Goods Store with Delicious Side Dishes
Now I’m trying to find the perfect place for them at home.
After all, such plates are not hidden to anyone.
So, if you have some beautiful plates that are invisible in the cupboard, why not mark them on the wall instead, or, if the room allows, on a special open chest of drawers.
You’ll have a lot more fun with them – and you can always take one off the wall if an extra guest pops in for dinner!