Prue Leith, of 'The Great British Baking Show,' Has Been Using Vertical Storage as Art in Her English Country Home Since 1999 – Now, It's Going Mainstream

Some tableware is too beautiful to be tucked away. We've all been there – you choose months picking the perfect hand-painted plates for your dream tablescape, and then they end up sequestered behind a cabinet for most of the year. Prue Leith's dining nook holds the secret to ensuring this never happens to you again.

A gorgeous 1999 photograph of the Great British Baking Show host's home in Chastleton, Oxfordshire, features gorgeous wooden cabinets stacked to the top with stunning china, turning the designs into artworks in her home. It's the perfect combination of vertical storage and aesthetic addition. Given that Prue's property is a sprawling 16th-century former rectory and farmhouse, the rustic yet elevated design fits right in. Luckily though, whether you live in a rustic manor or tiny city apartment, her technique can still work.

To explore the best way to style a display cabinet like Prue's, we will begin with a peek into her '90s dining area. Then, Homes & Gardens has curated an edit of our favorite dinnerware and shelves for recreating her look in a modern home. We also interviewed the New York-based interior designer, Nina Lichtenstein, for her advice on using your vertical storage as art.

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Recreate Prue's Look at Home

Even 27 years later, Prue's look is just as charming. That's because it's a timeless choice that is only growing more popular as homeowners seek more characterful design. It's emerging as a major design trend for 2026.

'Decorating a wall with plates or bowls is a charming design move that blends functionality with artistry,' explains designer Nina Lichtenstein. 'This technique, once reserved for traditional dining rooms, has seen a modern revival, popping up in kitchens, hallways, and even bedrooms, where texture, color, and character are welcome on any blank surface. Whether you’re working with heirloom porcelain or handmade ceramics, wall-mounted dishes offer a layered, collected look that instantly draws the eye.'

So, what's the best way to store and display decorative plates, as we see in Prue's home? Nina advises: 'The key to decorating with bowls and plates is composition. Instead of a rigid grid, opt for an organic arrangement that mimics the flow of nature. A loose cluster with varying distances and gentle curves can feel both intentional and effortless. Start with a central anchor piece and build outward, varying sizes and depths as you go. If you’re working with all white or neutral ceramics, play with layout and height for interest. If your dishes are colorful, try grouping similar tones together to create subtle ombre effects or alternating warm and cool hues for contrast.'

The beauty of Prue's look is that it's an incredibly versatile way to use your shelving and display your plates. Nina says: 'Hand-thrown pottery, vintage transferware, and artisanal glazed ceramics all make striking wall decor. Bowls with bold interiors offer a pop of pattern or color, especially when hung at eye level where their depth can be appreciated. Plates with scalloped edges, painted motifs, or textured surfaces add richness and shadow, making them ideal for walls that need subtle movement.'

Furthermore, this idea doesn't need to be reserved for your dining area. Nina suggests: 'While kitchens and dining rooms are natural fits, plates and bowls work beautifully in unexpected spaces, too. A hallway can come alive with a vertical stack of dishes in gradient shades. In a living room, an arrangement of oversized white plates above a sofa can soften the space and replace traditional framed art. Even a powder room benefits from a trio of small, intricately patterned plates above a towel hook or next to a mirror.'

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