The Erin Napier-Approved Use For Old Plates That Adds Cozy Charm To Any Style Of Kitchen

Erin Napier, designer, artist, author, and co-star of the HGTV hit series "Home Town," has offered viewers many innovative, creative ways to upgrade home decor. One popular idea repurposes old or vintage plates in a way that adds cozy charm to any style of kitchen. In a video clip from the season 3 premier of "Home Town Takeover" that was shared to Instagram by HGTV, Napier says, "There's nothing more Southern to me than a nice plate wall." For this decor tip, she shops for vintage plates at an antique store, but you can either use ones you already have or purchase ones from thrift stores as well as yard or estate sales. If you're crafty, you can even upcycle broken dishes, giving them new life as wall art.

Napier's Southern-inspired plate wall utilizes decorative dishes that have a connection to Mississippi, where she lives. She explains that the goal is to create comforting, budget-friendly wall art that "says 'grandmother's house,' but in a warm, loving way... [that] makes the space feel like home" (via HGTV). Rather than appearing dated or stuffy, a carefully curated collection of vintage plates can instead tell a story about you and your family. In the Instagram video, Napier says that a plate wall is also "something that [you] could add to, as the years go on." A woman shopping with Napier jumps in, noting that you can continuously add to it "for the rest of your life, so that it becomes a plate room."

Your kitchen and dining room aren't the only parts of your home that can be beautified with the addition of stunning, vintage plates. In fact, one person in the comments section of HGTV's Instagram video said, "[I have] plates in every room but the bathroom!! Mine are either all white lacy milk glass or vintage with pink roses." Indeed, you can put your own spin on this old-school wall decor trend to make it your own.

When choosing plates, select an array of sizes and designs so that you can play around with different arrangements on your wall to figure out what fits. Also consider how to integrate plates with existing artwork and decor. For instance, find ones that share a common artistic theme or color with other pieces you want to hang nearby. One person even shared an amazing idea for a monochromatic version in the comments of the Instagram video, saying that they have an all-pink plate wall in their New England home.

For your kitchen, you could choose plates with lemons, apples, or tomatoes and hang them near artwork featuring the same fruits. In a hallway, mix and match smaller and larger plates, hanging them alongside family photos that share similar colors or design elements. You can also go beyond just picking ones that match the aesthetic of your home, or look for ones that have a connection to your personal life, family history, or interests. As one person commented on the Instagram video, "I have a plate wall with plates from all the places I have traveled. I love it and get compliments on it!"