15 Ways To Store Plates On A Shelf

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You put a lot of effort into choosing plates that work with your style. Why should they spend most of their time hidden away in a cabinet? Open shelving is all the rage in today's kitchens. While this is great for showing off your favorite dishes, its potential often goes unmet. Don't think of open shelving as just storage for your dishes. Think of it as a chance to show off your creativity by coming up with new and original ways to store your plates.

Whether you have built-in open shelves or you've just removed the doors on your kitchen cabinet for open shelving, you can achieve functional and stylish plate storage. We've put together 15 ways to store your plates on shelves, including ideas for both displaying and hiding them. By mixing up several different methods, you can bring interest and contrast to the otherwise solely utilitarian function of shelves.

Make your storage more decorative by applying removable wallpaper behind your shelves. Unexpected wallpapering is a trendy way to give your home personality. Choose a pattern that coordinates with your plate design. Stacks of plates will look more decorative with an interesting pattern behind them. The end result will look more like an intentional display than a way to keep your plates organized. This is also a quick and inexpensive way to update your kitchen.

Instead of stacking up your mugs on the shelf beside your plates, free up space to store your plates by hanging cup hooks from the bottom of your shelf. This allows you to organize your overflowing mug collection and leaves more storage space for your plates. You can stack your plates underneath the cups and save your shelf space for items that can't be hung. 

You can provide each plate with its own space by installing a plate rack. They're available custom-built or ready-made. This method doesn't allow as many plates as stacking them does, but it will enable easier access. It's a great option if you don't have many dishes, or if you have a few special pieces you want to protect. 

Bring some extra holiday cheer to your plate storage by adding in seasonal decorations. Bottle brush Christmas trees fit in perfectly between your plates and are available in every color. Nestle your plates among greenery garlands and lights for extra sparkle. Add a vase with tinsel and holiday balls for an easy way to bring a holiday theme to an otherwise overlooked area of your home.

Instead of stacking up sets of identical plates, use mismatched ones with colorful patterns. You can create an interesting effect by layering plates of alternating colors. They'll create a pretty visual display. Add some additional pieces that coordinate in between your stacks of plates for added appeal. This method works great if your have dishes such as Fiestaware that come in vibrant coordinating and contrasting colors.

Don't limit yourself to storing plates on your shelf. You can create a plate wall above your shelves or on other empty wall spaces. Do this above your highest shelf for the most space, but you can also do it in between shelves to highlight your favorite plate designs. You can buy plate hangers that are specifically designed for to hold plates securely. 

It's usually not safe to stack up your plates using all of the space between shelves. If someone tries to grab a plate near the bottom, they may accidentally knock over the entire stack and shatter it. Using shelf risers can reduce this risk. These are available in wire, wood, or plastic. You can stack some plates underneath the added shelf and others on top of it. This allows you to create smaller stacks that are easier to access. 

If your kitchen island has a built-in shallow shelf, you can use it to display your large platters. These types of shelves let you make use of unused space to store bulky items. For islands that don't have a plate rack, you may be able to add one in. You can install a shallow shelf on the back, unised side of your island. Trim it out around the edges and add a dowel to hold your dishes.

Instead of stacking your plates directly on your open shelves, put them in a basket or container first. You can stack them horizontally or vertically, depending on the size and shape of your container. When it's time to set the table, you can simply pull down the container and take it to the table. Use rustic baskets for a traditional look or a sleek metal or glass container for a more modern look. This will also hide your plates if your kids insist on using mismatched ones you don't particularly want to display.

If you have a lot of one particular type of plate, such as oyster plates or several of a rare pattern that you love, group them together in one display or on one shelf. For instance, if you collect blue and white china, put all of your plates upright on a several ledge shelves. This is a fun idea for a collection you can build over time.

China cabinets come and go in popularity, so you can always find a good deal on a used one. They're large pieces of furniture that can take up a lot of space, so they're not for everyone. Traditional ones are dark and heavy, which is another reason people get rid of them. However, if you're willing to put in some effort, you can transform a cheap thrift store find into a plate storage center that fits in perfectly with your style. 

Turn unused wall space into a recessed plate display. This works particularly well in awkward spaces that won't accommodate shelves well. For instance, if you have a narrow strip of wall space but hanging a shelf would interfere with the room's traffic flow, you can recess the shelf to add space without anything sticking out. There is usually up to 2 feet of space between studs in every wall. This space isn't going to be big enough for large displays, but it will work well for narrow plate displays. 

Instead of, or in addition to, an open shelf, hang a wall mounted plate display rack. These allow you to feature colorful or interesting dishes to their full potential. A wall mounted plate rack won't hold as many plates as a stacking them on a shelf but it's a great place to keep odd-shaped or oversized plates that you want to show off or that you do't use that often.

If you have a window seat or banquette in your kitchen, take advantage of the unused space below it to store your plates. You can either create an open shelving system under the window seat or you can use the space inside for hidden storage. Measure the space so your shelving options won't interfer with people using the banquette. You don't want your kids to break your plates every time the slide up to the table for dinner. Since this will be harder to access that a typical shelf, use it to store plates you don't use very often.

For kitchens that have a more modern feel, floating glass shelves can be a great option for storing plates. If you have a large window with a lackluster view, you can use these shelves to store plates in the window. This will bring visual interest to the area without blocking all of your light. It also allows you to eek out extra space if you have a small kitchen or a lot of plates. This option also works great with glassware, since light will pass through.