Not Just for Eating – 24 Decorative Plates That Transcend the Table and Serve Style All Around the Home

For gallery walls, mantel displays, and even holiday tablescapes, these decorative plates are artful objects worthy of attention

a set of three images of traditional interiors with plates hanging from the walls
(Image credit: Tori Sikkema. Sarah Brown Interiors / Judith Marilyn. Oho Interiors / Tori Sikkema. Sarah Brown Interiors)

Decorative plates have long existed as staple features of character-rich interiors. Not only have they been used as special occasion dinnerware, stored in safekeeping until celebration calls, but they’ve even adorned walls, creating mural-like designs that bring dimension to interior schemes.

Decorative plates are in the midst of a renaissance – made evident to us in our recent tour of designer Sarah Brown’s Harlem Project. Hanging on the walls of this home's dining room is an assortment of colorful, decorative plates. Arranged effortlessly, each plate enhances not only the wall itself, but the characterful aesthetic of the entire room, too.

As interior design trends take a turn for tradition, decorative plates are back in view, ready to enhance our homes in more ways than one. If you're eager to adopt the trend to decorate with plates – on your walls, your shelves, or your tabletops – then shop our curated selection of decorative designs, below.


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Devin Toolen
Style Editor

Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.