How To Make Erin Napier's Vintage Design Tip Work For Any Room In The Home

Interior designer and co-host of HGTV's "Home Town," Erin Napier, is an influential figure in grandmillennial home design. She's known for blending antiques and modern pieces to create spaces that feel cozy yet curated. If you appreciate a modest mix of modern and vintage that adds Southern charm to a space, you might want to learn how to decorate your home like HGTV's Erin Napier. Here's her simple vintage design tip that instantly warms up any room in your home: use plates.

On a Season 3 episode of "Home Town Takeover," Napier takes the vintage route for her clients by dressing a gorgeous accent wall in their dining room with a charming collection of vintage plates. They are arranged with framed art, all of which lies graciously over powder-blue wallpaper. While it certainly brightens up their dining space, a timeless decor detail like this can bring dimension to any room in your home, making it look put-together and warm. Think plates adorning a staircase wall, decorating open shelves in the kitchen, or nestling neatly atop entryway consoles on vintage doilies repurposed around the house.

Decorative plates hold historical significance. Hand-painted dishware once embellished parlor walls in palaces and noble estates from the ancient world onwards. Today, they can be a way to make any modern space feel humble and cozy, while also looking intentionally curated. This style trick complements a rustic setting, but it also works when you blend vintage plates with new decor for a modern yet lived-in feel.

You might take a classic approach and employ decorative plates in the dining room alongside gilded-framed paintings, as HGTV host Erin Napier did. This idea works best when layered, such as mounting plates on top of dainty vintage wallpaper for an elegant, classic look. Add plates to a gallery wall arrangement of artwork and mirrors to instantly add dimension and homestyle charm. It serves as a stunning focal point that can liven up any dull wall, no matter which room of the house it's in.

If you're using wallpaper as a backdrop, you'll want to consider an overall palette that will either contrast or complement its color scheme and pattern. For warmth and texture that isn't overwhelming, mix solid and patterned plates together in the same display. Consider incorporating metals, such as plates with gold or copper accents, to add a touch of luxury. Want to shake things up? Try blending different elements, such as wall sconces and a mix of plate designs, for a maximalist approach. Or you can pair natural items like rose-filled shadow boxes, plants, and wicker baskets with vintage plates for a modern farmhouse or cottagecore style arrangement.