7 Simple Plate Rack Decor Ideas for Thrifty Style
Do you have a plate rack? Do you only fill it with plates? These 7+ simple plate rack decor ideas will expand your decorating horizons. Here are creative ways to style an inexpensive plate rack for every season.
Do you own a plate rack? Is it filled with plates? You may be thinking I’m so 80’s by suggesting you decorate with a plate rack. But this thrifty find can be an amazing seasonal chameleon for your home decor. If you don’t have one already, I’m hoping today’s 7 Simple Plate Rack Decor Ideas for Thrifty Style will inspire you to find one!
Thrifting with the Gals Series
Today’s post is part of our monthly Thrifting with the Gals series where four vintage-loving friends share their thrifty ideas. We all live in different parts of the country and have a wide variety of decorating styles. But you’re sure to come away inspired! I’ll have all the thrifty posts linked at the end; hope you can enjoy them all!
Enjoy more of our Thrifting with the Gals series HERE.
7 Simple Plate Rack Decor Ideas for Thrifty Style
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Why You Should Own a Plate Rack for Yourself
Plate racks are a classic home accessory. They can be found in horizontal or vertical versions. Shop wall plate display racks HERE. There are many different styles available in several finishes. You can also find them secondhand when you’re thrifting (for cheap).
Luckily, plate racks don’t take up much wall space, so they can give you great decor impact even if you’re space challenged. You could even hang one on a porch wall.
A couple years ago I inherited my mom’s plate rack. And instead of sending it to the thrift store (thinking it was outdated), I attached it to our pantry door. It’s been one of my favorite decorating decisions! So many possibilities for every season:)
Decorating with Plates and Beyond
You can definitely style a plate rack with seasonal, pretty plates. But take the display a step further and add bits of foliage for texture. Mix up the shapes of your plates, combining circles with ovals. Use three matching versions, or mix and match within a color scheme.
Because our plate rack is on our pantry door, I use wire plate hangers on each plate and wire them to the display so they don’t fall off and break. {Find wire hangers HERE and get a various size multi pack. I use THIS to attach everything}
Plate Rack Styled with Thrifted Baskets
Baskets are an easy thrifted find. For an easy any-season look, fill your plate rack with three different woven baskets. To get them to hang straight without flopping, you may need to attach with bind wire. This look gives a great boho vibe, and would be perfect in a small bathroom. These baskets were only $12 total!
See “25 Tips and Tricks for Decorating with Baskets (all over the house)” for more basket ideas.
Fill a Plate Rack with Seasonal Wreaths
Instead of a round plate, fill your plate rack with a round wreath that has seasonal texture. Three boxwood wreaths with a simple red and white ribbon looked perfectly classic for Christmas. I’ve also been wanting to make three different pinecone wreaths in different varieties for winter. To make them hang evenly, I hung some of them from the plate holder above. Do what you have to do to get the look right;)
Vintage Metal Trays Add Seasonal Style
Vintage metal trays have been a great way to add seasonal style and a different shape to the plate rack. You can find them in a wide variety of colors and styles for every season. The smaller versions fit better into the rack.
Find vintage metal trays HERE.
Enjoy the different ways I use vintage metal trays on this Instagram reel HERE. (and follow me while you’re there:)
More Unique Ways to Style a Plate Rack
I love to push myself and come up with unique decor ideas. What other items could I display in a plate rack? It’s like a game for my brain:)
Old books could be interesting. I decided they looked better layered with a tray behind them, more substantial. This would be a great “quiet” look for winter. Wouldn’t it be neat to paint some art on the open pages?
Displaying a few of my vintage wheel collection was so unique that it got this pic in Country Sampler magazine a while back. This was a winter look, but you could switch up the foliage for a summer look, or add a flag.
Display a Themed Collection on a Plate Rack
Last, but definitely not least, create a themed collection on a plate rack. This bird themed collection features a framed art, a foliage wreath and a plate with feathers. It’s a perfect combo to celebrate the busy birds of Spring.
Are you inspired to run out and find yourself a plate rack? Or maybe dig yours out of storage, or display it with something different? I hope so!
The humble plate rack is a wonderful chameleon for decorating. It can be switched up easily for every season with what you already have, or with thrifted finds.
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Enjoy the rest of the inspiration from my Thrifting With The Gals friends, and be sure to Pin and Save below!
Rachel, The Ponds Farmhouse, “Vintage Stoneware Crock Decor Ideas for Charming Farmhouse Style”
Ann, Dabbling and Decorating, “7 Things I’ll Never Thrift Again-and the Vintage Decor I Buy Now Instead”
Robyn, Robyn’s French Nest, “Simple Patriotic Decorating Ideas for Summer Under Five Dollars”
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I take chunky cookbook easels and display my large serving trays that are hard to store in a cabinet. It adds so much character to my space! I luv all your ideas with the rack. Last year I made a rack with a winter beanie and matching scarf. On the bottom I had ice skates from my daughters childhood. I custom painted them and they were adorable! Add some fir branches and there u go!!
Your ideas are so creative! Thanks for sharing!
Now I regret donating that plate rack (exactly like yours) years ago! Each idea you shared is nothing that would have crossed my mind. But I love them all! Great post!
Lora, every idea is so fantastic. I love the books with the trays, so creative!
So glad I still have mine even though they are hanging in my garage. You always have the cutest ideas, thanks so much and have a great day.
I love the wicker baskets on the plate holder. That’s such a great idea. Really pretty styling, Lora!
Lora, I am wondering what size your plate rack is?
Very creative ways to use the plate rack. Unfortunately I did give mine away! lol.
Bummer! I know where you could probably find another;)
Love it!! SO many amazing uses for a boring old plate rack!! I love the use of the metal platters…SO pretty for summer!
I truly love this idea. I have numerous plate racks around my home and to be honest I’ve never used any of them. I’ve collected them over the years for crafting and always had intention of putting them up somewhere but never got that far. This is actually a brilliant idea for use So thank you for the information and I love all of them the way you’ve decorated them.
Wow… I have a plate rack that I put two cute snowmen on it for xmas and Winter, take it down after that.. You just gave me some ideas, I will think what I have to put on it after the winter season. I really like the Bird theme one.. Im always amazed on how much decor items you have at yr home…where do u store all the items when not using them.
Lora
So many creative ideas. Now I’ll be looking for a plate rack! lol.