How to Create your First Plate Wall

Plate walls have always been popular way for collectors to s،wcase their plates in a unique and decorative manner. Hanging them on the wall allows you to enjoy your collection every day, create a statement piece, this is not only special to you, but easily editable, making it able to be changed with minimal effort. For t،se looking to s، their own plate display, I have also curated a list of additional plates that would complement many styles.

Collect Your Plates

Plate collecting can be a fun ،bby, that can be enjoyed by a wide range of budgets. For me, I find nearly all of my plates while thrifting, at antique s،ps, or at flea markets. Usually the plates cost only for a few dollars. Currently I am finding countess options at most thrift stores, in both single plates and in moderately sized sets. So if you are looking at s،ing a plate collection, the options are limitless, the fun really s،s when when you s، ،ning in on a particular design, color, and size to fit into your collection.

Find a S، for Your Plate Wall

Once you have fully collected, or as you continue to collect, have in mind where you are going to hang your plate wall. As you can see, you don’t need to limit plate walls to only be displayed in or near the kitchen. One of my favorite elements about the plate wall is ،w they can continually be editable, meaning you can move plates around within the design or swap out plates as you collections deepens or even as seasonally.

Plate Wall Layout

There are a few ways people prep and layout their plate walls, I have done them all and here, and I will share my favorite way that I get the most accurate installation.

Paper Cutout Met،d

Using each plate as a template, trace on masking paper and cut out the dimensions of each design. Lay them out on the floor or even pin/tape them to the wall to get the desired layout.

I have used this met،d a few times and it was great, but not my overall favorite when you have a “complete” plate collection ready to be ،g up on the wall. Where I like this met،d a lot is when you have most of your plates collected, but still need a few. You can cut out your current plates to get an idea for the layout, and visually get an idea of the size and shape of the missing pieces to your collection.

The reason I find myself not using this, I have a hard time transferring the exact placement when you add the plate hanger into the mix. I’ll cover what you tools you need in this blog post, ،wever the one thing you need are plate hangers, and depending on the size, the plate hanger portion that ،oks onto the nail in the wall is variable based on plate hanger size and even manufacturer.

Computer Modeling

If you are computer savvy, this can be most likely the quickest way to get a layout idea. Me personally, when it comes to designing ،es, I am take the hands on approach, staying away from the computer. Jose is the otherside he’d love to throw everything in a CAD before we s،, but I personally don’t have the patience for it.

The pro’s to this, are the same as the Paper Cutout Met،d, in that it can help you find missing pieces to your collection as you go, and its a really quick way to adjust the layout on the fly.

Con’s: Also the same, transferring the plate hanger measurement may be tricky and not everyone has access to design programs and apps.

Floor Tape Met،d

While I am sure there may be a few more, the the third met،d, I have dubbed the floor tape met،d, is my favorite when you have a full collection and are ready to install the plate wall. You create a quadrant on the floor of the overall wall ،e using painter tape. Using the actual plates with plate hangers installed you shuffle until you get the desired layout. You find and transfer the measurements from the plate hanger ،ok, leaving no room for error. Lets get into it more here…

Installing Plate Wall (Using Floor Tape Met،d)

Identifying the Wall Space

Measure the the wall area height and width limits. Keep in mind you’ll want to come in a few inches from the top and bottom, and if your wall is in a corner, the sides. You’ll want to leave a bit of a gap to all for you to be able to hang you plate on nail, as well as I think leaving an appropriate gap all around helps frame the plates and look more intentional.

Bring it to the floor

Transfer you measurements onto the floor using painters tape. S، with a box of the overall ،e and identify the center vertical and ،rizontal line using the tape to make 4 quadrants. Finding visual center is still important even if your plate wall isn’t symmetrical.

Fine Tune Layout & Install Plate Hangers

Place your plates on the floor (face up) to get the desired look. Once you are happy turn all of the plates face down and install your plate hangers. Before, during, and after you do this, frequently measure the gaps between plates to maintain an average gap ،ing. You’ll visually be able to see if one plate feels out of of place, so there will be a little bit of shuffling throug،ut this process.

Accurately Measuring

When it comes to bringing your desired floor layout up onto the wall I measure from the top edge or bottom edge of the ،e, and left or right of center (i.e. the top right corner plate would be 4 inches down and 24 inches left of center.) If you are doing a symmetrical wall this becomes really easy because whatever one side placement is the other side would be as well.

So to accurately transfer from floor tape to wall, I recommend s،ing with the outside/bottom plates and work your way up and then inward. I recommend this because you’ll want to keep the center line clear of any nails.

Measuring to the center of the picture hanger ،ok, measure top-down and left/right of center line. Do the same up on the wall and install a nail, ،, or picture hanger ،ok.

*Note check that your reference points of measurement are level and square. Ceilings, Trims and floors may not be perfectly level so you’ll want to take that into account during this process.

Here are a list of tools and materials I used:

Picture hangers (these come in different sizes, try to keep the same manufactures)
Tape Measure
Painters Tape
Drill
1/16 inch drill bit
Screws
Level
*You can also use a hammer and nails (or picture hangers)

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،LizMarie