How to create a modern ceramic plate display in your home

Once reserved for buttoned-up interiors, slab walls are now seen as a creative way to bring a splash of color, texture, and pattern to your home.

The key to avoiding dull collections of ceramics is to show contemporary, informal pieces with playfulness.

“The beauty of handmade ceramics is their imperfection,” says Charu Gandhi of Elicyon, who uses wall-hung glazed tiles in her latest project.

“All the pottery has minor flaws that tell a story about being spun on the wheel, shaped by hand, and fired in the kiln — making each piece unique,” she says. Here’s how to get the look…

Full circle

Deciding where to hang a plate collection and in what way depends on personal taste. “Symmetry is important for a classic look, as is choosing a suitable location,” says Sophie Edwards, owner of Villa Bologna Pottery.

‘Plates look good when hung in a kitchen or dining room because they have a natural context there. Historically, more valuable decorative pieces were exhibited, so using highly decorated pieces is a good option.’

They look effective when hung generously and free-form across a central wall, or, off-center and in smaller areas – on either side of a window in a vertical row, or on a wall between doors.

Hang small collections at eye level and avoid larger groups in grid formation, this can come across as austere. Instead, mix it for a relaxed feel.

‘Showing a series with different motifs is a nice approach,’ says Charu. ‘Personally I like to mix different colours, shapes and sizes.’

Don’t overlook less obvious places. Hanging plates around alcoves or fireplaces, landings, wardrobes, corners and either side of mirrors can bring groups to life.

To find pieces, try antique fairs like Ardingly in West Sussex and Kempton in Surrey, vintage shops and specialists like Gavin Houghton and Rachael Cocker. The ceramic coats of arms and holy water jugs from Bettina Ceramica also look chic.

Try pairing Villa Bologna’s Stripes dinner plates, £28, with its Scroll side plates, £22, for an updated look.

Recipe for success

A striking result is ‘all in the hang’, or putting in the prep. Measure your space and then create the dimensions on the floor by laying down plates to fine-tune an arrangement.

Then, using a tape measure, mark the chosen grouping on the wall.

For a bohemian look, start by hanging the largest pieces in the center or towards the bottom of your space, then work your way out until you have a perfectly imperfect arrangement.

Leaving different sized spaces between the plates makes it look less contrived and makes them easier to hang. When it comes to attaching plates to walls, there are several options.

For a hassle-free, invisible look, go for Disc Plate Hangers for Walls, £3, Amazon, a strong self-adhesive disc with hook that sticks to the back of the plate.

Or try classic wire spring display hangers, also available online.

Decorative options include rest plates on plaster braces, but double up with a different hanging method to avoid accidental knocks.

‘Plates can be used every day,’ concludes Sophie Edwards, ‘but they are also often passed down from generation to generation and carry a wealth of tradition.’

The perfect excuse to let your walls do the talking.

In the Round

The popularity of Mediterranean ceramics has led to the emergence of ceramic collections. Lifestyle retailer Summerill & Bishop is catching on to the trend with its latest table linens, featuring patterns borrowed from traditional Portuguese Azulejos tiles.

To mark the launch, the exterior of the west London store is dotted with many blue and white vintage charity shop signs, which will eventually be made into cake stands and returned.

That European spirit has also been given a contemporary twist at Villa Bologna Pottery. Sophie Edwards and her husband Rowley revived the Malta-born brand in 1924.

‘Nothing is as nostalgic, creative and sustainable as handmade ceramics’, says Sophie.

‘I also love that hanging sign collections can look both eccentric and traditional. I especially enjoy it when they hang symmetrically in pairs on either side of a doorway.’

Savings of the week: outdoor carpets

40% off: La Redoute’s Iswik star tile carpet (pictured, 80cm x 2m) is now £36

Here comes the sun, we hope, and that means the beginning of fun in the garden or on the balcony. An outdoor rug helps create a smart dining area.

If you love country house glamour, Wayfair’s turquoise and pink Amber rug might be the answer.

Prices, reduced by 28 per cent, range from £17.99 for the smallest size (80cm x 150cm).

Robert Dyas has a black and white graphic rug (152cm x 243cm) that cost £31.99 and is now £23.99.

Argos offers a 1970s style round cinnamon carpet (diameter 1 m).

It’s been reduced by 25 per cent to £30. And La Redoute’s Iswik star tile carpet in beige and black (pictured, 80cm x 2m) has fallen by 40 per cent to £36.

This is alfresco dining at its most elegant.

ANNE ASWORTH