The Trick Chris Loves Julia Enjoy Using That Takes Plate Wall Decor To The Next Level

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Wall decor often exists in the form of a perfect gallery wall or accent wall that features stunning framed artwork or canvases. However, this traditional wall decor is so predictable that many homeowners have begun thinking outside of the box when it comes to showcasing art on their walls. The home decor DIY duo behind the Chris Loves Julia blog shared a great example of this. The bloggers took to Instagram to post about a stunning plate decor setup that features beautiful decorative plates lined up on shelving attached to the wall. An overhead picture light installed above the plates is what really takes this wall decor to the next level, as it illuminates the plates beautifully. 

It's worth noting that the decorative plate display was installed on the wall of a dining room. This means that the light draws attention to the plates during dimly lit dinners, and really helps the dining room make a statement. If you have decorative plates on your wall or were thinking of adding a few, consider installing an overhead picture light to elevate the look and make the display look far more high-end.

If you would like to recreate this plate wall decor, you will need to start by installing your shelving. The bloggers used the Faria Plate Rack sold by Interior Home Scapes for a hefty $1,249. To keep this project budget-friendly, consider using the $59.99 MyGift Plate Display Rack instead. If you do not already have your own vintage decorative plate collection on hand, you can search second-hand stores to find pretty plates to place on the rack. You could also snag brand new plates, such as the Glowworm Dinner Plates for $35.91. The final and most important component is the picture light. This is necessary because this spot clearly needs light. The light @chrislovesjulia used is the $749 Visual Comfort & Co. Picture Light.

Thankfully, there are quite a few budget-friendly alternatives you can opt for instead if you don't want to fork out as much money for the light. For example, the affordable Lightbiz Picture Light is priced at only $32.99. It features an overhead lighting design similar to the one shown in the video, but for a much lower price. Keep in mind that you can either recreate the exact plate wall decor setup shown in the video or make changes to your liking. For example, you could switch things up by attaching the plates directly to the wall rather than displaying them on a rack. To pull this off, hang the plates from the wall with plate hangers in your desired pattern.