There’s a certain magic in turning the everyday into art. Plates, objects designed to be gathered around, celebrated, and used, can also make the most striking feature when displayed on your wall. More than decoration, a plate wall tells a story of timeless design, family traditions, and the beauty of craftsmanship.
Spode brand ambassador and interior designer, Jack Kinsey, brought this idea to life in his home, styling our Heritage Green Italian plates into a stunning wall display. The effect is elegant yet effortless: rich green tones creating impact, while Spode’s intricate Italianate design hints of history.
To help you achieve the same look, Jack shares his creativity and guidance on how to create a plate wall that feels both curated and personal.
Where Tradition Meets Modern Style
The beauty of a plate wall lies in its ability to bridge past and present. Our Heritage Green Italian collection is the perfect example. The pattern, originally launched in 1816 in blue, has been reintroduced in deep, contemporary green for the first time since 1833. When displayed on a wall, it becomes more than tableware: it’s a design statement, a nod to heritage that feels strikingly fresh.
Tips for Creating a Plate Wall
Choose Your Plates: Choose plates designs that resonate with you. Perhaps they’re heirlooms passed down, or perhaps they’re pieces you’ve collected. For a cohesive, striking look, Jack suggests beginning with one collection, like Heritage Green Italian, and letting it set the tone.
Play with Placement: Before anything goes on the wall, arrange your plates on the floor. Step back, reshuffle, and experiment with different shapes and layouts.
Add a Focal Point: Jack styled his wall with a DIY mirror at the centre, framed with delicate shells. It created a stunning focal point around which the plates could radiate, adding dimension and personality. A central piece like this makes the display feel intentional.
Measure and Hang with Confidence: Once you’ve decided on your layout, lightly mark the wall. Like Jack, use adhesive discs made for ceramics, which are secure, yet discreet. Always test with one plate first to ensure stability. Simply wet the back of the disc and stick to your plate, then use this to hang it on the wall with a nail.
Let It Evolve: A plate wall doesn’t have to be finished in one afternoon. Add to it over time as you collect new pieces. This gives your wall life and narrative, growing with you and your home.
Styling the Look
When Jack styled his plate wall, he chose to place it above a sideboard, dressing this with complementary accessories - two shell lamps and a shell serving bowl he filled with beautiful bouncy hydrangeas. The result was elegant, modern, and calming, allowing the plate wall to take centrestage. It also provided the perfect backdrop for a stylish Heritage Green Italian afternoon tea setting.
Make Your Wall a Work of Art
A plate wall is more than decoration, it’s a way of weaving heritage into your home, celebrating the beauty of design, and adding a touch of the unexpected. With the timeless elegance of Spode’s Heritage Green Italian collection, you have everything you need to transform your wall into a work of art.