Dishes don’t have to only be for eating. Inexpensive pretty dishware can be a home decor display staple. Here are 10 easy ways to decorate with dishware around your home.

Pretty, inexpensive dishware can easily be found secondhand. Vintage plates, glasses and cups don’t have to be limited to the table. Get them out of the kitchen and dining room and their beauty can be enjoyed as art. Here are 10 Pretty Display Ideas to Turn Your Dishware into Decor. 

Today I’m joining my Lifestyle of Love friends to share our love of vintage, antiques, farmhouse and repurposed decor. Thanks to our creative leader, Cindy, of County Road 407! If you’re visiting from Dabbling and Decorating, welcome! Wasn’t Ann’s Cherry Blossom Depression Glass swoon-worthy? I’ll have all the rest of the beautiful, idea-filled posts at the bottom; can’t wait to see them all!

First, A Personal Admission…

I must admit this challenge was an easy one for me;) Because I am a dish-a-holic. There…the first step is admitting you have a problem, right? Mr. Fix-it says I could feed the 5000. Which is probably an understatement. I have been collecting pretty dishes for as long as I can remember; whole sets, random pretty plates, glasses sets…you name it. We should probably have a cake plate month one of these times, too.

So today all these dishware decorating ideas are coming from the many ways I use dishware around my home. In every room, for every season.  The more I switch them up, the more I can enjoy all their prettiness! 

If I persuade you to go ahead and buy those next pretty vintage dishes when you spy them at the thrift store or estate sale? I’ll have accomplished my quest! 

Here’s a this-is-your-life-in-dishes post of decorating ideas! (Warning: picture-heavy post;)

10 Pretty Display Ideas to Turn Your Dishware into Decor

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Hang Plates on the Wall

With a few simple plate hangers (get them HERE), you can turn a collection of pretty plates into thrifty wall art. Pick a color theme or style for a cohesive look and then get creative with the layout. Practice your design on the floor first. You can hang the plates in a shape like a diamond or a wreath, or try a more free-form cascade. 

If you want , you can even add a bit of foliage to your plate wall art for extra texture.

Build a Plate Rack into Your Kitchen 

When we remodeled our kitchen, I knew I wanted a plate rack built in to one of the cupboards. Plate racks are a great way to showcase some of your pretty seasonal plates. Whether they’re sparkly clear colored glass or a flowery or patterned version, filling your plate rack kicks off the seasonal decor!

Display Glassware on the Windowsill

Nothing is more pretty than seeing sunshine gleam through vintage colored glassware. You can swap up the colors to coordinate with the seasons. A kitchen windowsill is the perfect place to enjoy a rainbow of them. In the Spring my kitchen windowsill features pretty depression-glass pastels. Drinking glasses, vases, sugar bowls and creamers all mix together for an artistic display.

Use Glassware as Vases

You can go one step farther with your windowsill display and turn your pretty vintage footed glasses into vases. Every June when the peonies are in full bloom, I treat myself to their fragrance wafting in the window and enjoy their crepe-paper-like details while I wash dishes. Vintage Ruby Red thumbprint goblets are as pretty as the flowers.

Decorate Oval Platters as Easter Eggs

I shared a whole post on this fun idea, “Decorate Oval Platters as Giant Easter Eggs”. Not every dishware set includes an oval platter, but they’re usually plentiful at the thrift store. At Springtime I display them on their ends, so they look like an egg shape. If you want to have even more fun, add some vintage trims, too!

Display Dishware in a Vintage Vessel

Whether it’s a chicken feeder or an old birdcage, any vintage vessel will look beautiful if it’s filled with pretty dishware! In my post “12 Creative Ways to Decorate a Vintage Birdcage”, pretty pink depression glass and fire king looked beautiful for Valentine’s. But it doesn’t have to be vintage; plastic kid’s Easter plates worked just fine all lined up, too.

Switch up Everyday Dishware on Open Shelves Seasonally

Yes, I love dishware so much I switch up our everyday dishes every season. Open Shelves not only keep them close at hand, but turn them into a revolving seasonal art display. You can just put the old season dishes right back where you took the new season ones from! 

{“EAT” sign how-to is found in “Vintage Silverware Art for the Kitchen”}

( I think I’ve definitely gotten better at the picture taking and editing process through the years; wow!)

Decorate Cups for Display

Vintage cups have such pretty shapes and designs, they’re perfect to show off foliage arrangements. Whether it’s a nest or a mini topiary, you can place one at each person’s place setting for a gathering, or tuck them here and there in your decor.

{“DIY Leafy Placemats how-to”}

Display a Single Pretty Plate on a Stand

If you’re overwhelmed with all these options and need to do a little more secondhand shopping to bulk up your stash, start small. A single, pretty plate or platter, or even a small dish is all you need to get started. Just pick up a plate easel (you can find them HERE) and get displaying! 

I hope you’re convinced that inexpensive dishware can be one of the biggest bangs for your buck when it comes to decorating! There are so many decorating ideas you can achieve with plates, glasses, cups, and serveware. Good enough reason to start your own collection, right? 

I can’t wait to see what ideas the rest of my Lifestyle of Love friends came up with! If you’re visiting in order, see how Katie from Let’s Add Sprinkles is decorating with pitchers. Thanks for visiting and reading 10 Pretty Display Ideas to Turn Your Dishware into Decor!

Please Pin, Share, And Enjoy the Rest of the Inspiration!

Lifestyle of Love Series: Decorating with Dishware

Sharing at these lovely parties:

Farmhouse Friday

DIY Salvaged Junk Projects