Antique plates can add whimsy and interest to your décor. Many people hang them right on the walls for a unique look. You can hang them up on special holders made just for this or use ribbons to hold them and hang from fancy hooks. Learning how to arrange your plates so that they look best is key to making them a successful part of your wall décor.
Lets say you have a beautiful antique platter that will go perfect in your kitchen. You run out to the store and get a hanging bracket, insert the plate and hang it on the wall over the server. Instant charm!
Pleased with your accomplishment you stand back. You tip your head to one side and then the other. Squinting, you take another look at the plate. Something doesn’t look right.
If you have ever found yourself dissatisfied with the appearance of the decorations on your walls you are not alone. Many people make the same common mistakes that the eye can read as awkward but the individual does not know how to fix. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when arranging your plates as well decor:
Hanging Large Platters:
Large platters or chargers can be the focus of your décor so you must make sure you hang them in a spot that is appropriate for the size and focus. Where do larger pieces look the best? Try above the server or dry sink, over a couch, behind the dining set, over a fireplace or on a feature wall. A feature wall is where the placement of furniture or the layout of the home naturally guides the eye to a wall - a great place to feature your antique platters.
Hanging Small Plates:
Grouping smaller plates together in one area can add interest and keep them from getting “lost”. Use a common theme like, color, pattern or style to pull them together. Hang a single smaller piece low on the wall and as close to the furniture as possible, otherwise it will seem to be floating.
Grouping Plates:
The key to grouping pieces together is to space them properly. Each item should be spaced about 3 inches away from the items on either side. Try positioning them on the floor or a table to get a pleasing arrangement before placing the nails and measure carefully before making any holes.
Height:
Plates should be hung with the center of the plate at eye level. That means the center should be about 60 to 66 inches from the floor. If you've visited a gallery you will see that the frames are not lined up by their top or bottom edges but that the pictures are all centered at the same height.
If the platter or plates will be viewed from a sitting position – like from the dining table, you should hang at the eye level of the sitter.
If you are hanging it behind the dry sink or server, make sure it is no more than 10” above the back.
Using these tips you can transform your bare kitchen walls into a designer showcase with a unique focus on antique plates!
Decorating Your Kitchen With Antique Plates
Great Tips for Choosing Furniture
Here’s some helpful tips on getting the most value for your money, and choosing furniture that will work with your home and your lifestyle. You’re friends will be green with envy when they see your new look. First you need to know the size of the rooms you are going to be furnishing, right down to windows, and walls that might not work well. You can either purchase a piece of software that will help you design a cozy room or grab a pencil and paper and start sketching. If you have any original pieces you are keeping, then make sure to work them into your room plan. Once you’ve decided what would look good where, and how large of furniture you can purchase, you need to set your budget. Decide how much money you are willing to part with and stick to it. Once you know how much your going to spend you’ll be able to decide on the type of furniture. Determine the type of use the furniture will get. Are you buying furniture for a family room or a living room? If your buying for a family room you’re going to want to look at furniture that’s built to hold up with high use. If your buying furniture for your living room, and it’s more of a show room then you might look at fancier, less functional furniture. When deciding on the type of furniture also take into consideration your lifestyle. Do you have pets that are going to claw or chew? Do you have small children? Is your home air conditioned? Leather is a great example of a piece of furniture that looks good, but can be downright uncomfortable in the hot weather, unless you have air. Once you’ve narrowed down what you’re in the market for, make a list itemizing each piece you’re looking for. Include sizes that will work, color preferences, all the fine details. You’d be surprised at what you’ll forget once you walk into the furniture store. It’s easy to get distracted because of all the choices. But with list in hand you’ll be prepared. Make choices that will last you for years. Don’t choose trendy furniture that you’ll be tired of in six months. Furniture is a big investment, so keep your tastes in check and choose furniture that will look and feel good for years to come. You can add some trendy small ticket items such as vases or wall décor. Keep your furniture colors easy to work with. That way you will be able to do a room face lift just by changing out small ticket items, like pillows, ornaments, and wall art. Once you’ve found that perfect piece of furniture, get physical with it. Check the construction of it, watch for low quality assembly. If you buying a couch or bed, sit on it, move around on it, see if it fits your body well. Check to see if you can feel springs, if the buttons are attached well, if the seams are finished properly. Don’t take any piece of furniture at face value, get underneath and check the entire construction of it. Once you’ve made your choices, all that’s left to do is pay and wait for delivery. If you have old furniture in the room, it’s easier to dispose of this before the new furniture arrives. Prep the room, so that when the delivery guys arrive they can place the furniture where it belongs. Stress free furniture shopping can be accomplished with just a little bit of pre- planning. Now all that’s left to do is enjoy your new room! 
You’re finally going to do it! No I don’t mean tie the knot, I mean your finally ready to buy that new furniture you’ve been dreaming about. We adorn our bodies with fashion which makes a statement about who we are. Your furniture does exactly the same thing for your house. It’s your fashion statement for your home.
Furnishing and decorating your own home
Asking yourself furnishing and decorating questions
Whether you’re decorating a room or a house, a dorm or a castle, the same principle in furnishing and interior decoration applies. You will need to identify and find your own personal preference. There’s no shortcut for this process. In order to find your own personal preference as to interior decoration and furnishing, you have to, first, focus in on your likes and dislikes. Do you prefer a casual style or a more artistic and modern look for your home? Would you prefer contemporary interior decoration done or French?
Only when you stop and think about what you like will you be able to decorate and furnish a room or home according to your likes and dislikes. A home should express your own unique taste and preference – not someone else’s.
Get inspired with interior decoration pictures and researching on furniture and colors
Go to a newsstand and grab a good copy of a home furnishing magazine or better yet, go and buy yourself a good book on how to decorate a home or furnish a rent apartment. This should get you started soon enough. The next step to decorating and furnishing your home is to find out what colors interests you. Select the color and shade that makes you think of HOME – and then try combining the colors together. There are tons of quizzes and questionnaires online that can help you identify your favorite color…if you don’t already have a couple of favorite colors in mind. However, note that sometimes your favorite color may not be the right color and shade to use on your home. For instance, if your favorite colors are lime green, bright sunny yellow and crimson red, it’s pretty hard to match the colors together and not make the home look like a circus tent!
Looking at pictures of well-decorated homes can help you identify your personal style as well. Select the pictures that you like and compile them together in a special interior decoration book that you will continue to look through until your home is decorated and furnished. Sometimes, looking at pictures, you’ll surprise yourself with the conclusions. From time to time, look through the pictures again and see if you can see similarities – like if most of the homes you like are with mirrors, white or dimly lit. Do the homes look very serene or open?
Take note of the make, color and design of the furniture and decoration of the room that you like
If you’re still stumped for answers and ideas, take a look at chairs, sofas, beds, closets, cupboards and try to identify the ones that you like. Note their type and make. Are they wood types mainly brown and earth-toned? Are they bright and cheerful? Or are they white or beige in color? Are they leaning more towards conventional types of furniture, bold and modern or are they classy types of furniture?
Decorating and furnishing your own home is not as hard as people make it out to be. It’s only difficult and feels like a chore when you’re not sure what you want your home to look like. Once you know what you like and what kind of furniture, color and look you like, decorating and furnishing your own home will be a walk in a park.