My “Non-DIY DIY” Plate Rack Idea
Have you ever fallen in love with a decorating idea but had no practical way to make it happen in your own home?
For years I admired a beautiful built-in plate rack wall and wondered how I could recreate that look in my apartment. It only took me about ten years, but I finally figured out a way to bring that idea into my own home.
Non-DIY DIY
Sometimes a DIY project doesn’t involve saws, hammers, nails, wood, railing, or paint.
Sometimes the best decorating ideas come straight out of the box.
Living in an apartment means I rely on maintenance for most installation projects, so full-scale DIY projects simply aren’t practical for me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t still be creative when it comes to decorating my home.
This project turned out to be what I like to call a “Non-DIY DIY.”
The Inspiration That Started It All
For years I’ve loved the look of a beautiful built-in plate rack wall created by my mentor and friend:
Karianne Wood from Thistlewood Farms.
Ever since I first saw it back in 2013, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of displaying plates and platters as wall décor. It’s both beautiful and practical, and it adds instant personality to a room.
But there was one small problem.
Her plate rack was built directly into the wall, and living in an apartment meant I had no way to recreate something like that.
So for years I admired the idea and wondered if I could ever bring something similar into my own home.
It only took me about ten years, but I finally figured out a way.
The “Aha” Moment
The solution came from an unexpected place.
I found a narrow shelving unit online that was originally designed to be used as a behind-the-door bookshelf.
The moment I saw it, I realized it could function perfectly as a plate rack.
Sometimes the best decorating ideas come from using something in a way it wasn’t originally intended.
Instead of books, this rack now holds:
- DINNER PLATES
- CUTTING BOARDS
- FAVORITE COOKBOOK
- CHINOISERIE NAPKINS
- BOWTIE NAPKIN RINGS
- CRYSTAL GOLD RIM WINE GLASSES
It creates the same visual effect I’ve admired for years.
Why This Works So Well
This simple solution solved two decorating challenges at the same time.
First, I couldn’t build a custom plate rack.
Second, I had a blank wall that needed something interesting.
Now that wall has become one of my favorite areas in my apartment.
When guests come in and close the door, the display is immediately to their left. It almost feels like a surprise piece of wall art.
Measuring Before Buying
Duh….this is a “biggy”. There is nothing I dislike more than to take something out of the box (you waited so long for) and finding out that it doesn’t fit, its the wrong color, or it just is not what you expected. “Been then, done that and unfortunately still have a few slipups”
Before purchasing the rack, I measured several dinner plates, trays, and platters that I already owned.
I wanted to be sure:
- the shelf depth would hold them securely
- the spacing between the rails would work
- the entire rack would accommodate the pieces I wanted to display
Taking a few minutes to measure first made choosing the right piece much easier.
A Perfect Apartment Solution
Living in an apartment definitely has its limitations.
I don’t have space for power tools or large DIY projects, so creative solutions are often the best approach.
With the help of our Maintenance Manager (she is the “keeper of the tools”) and myself we were able to install the rack quickly, and just like that I finally had the plate display wall I had admired for years.
Sometimes it really does pay to ask.
Decorating With Plates
Another reason I love this idea is how easy it makes decorating.
Instead of dealing with plate hangers and hooks, you can simply lift one plate out and replace it with another.
That means you can easily change your display for:
DIFFERENT SEASONS
HOLIDAYS
FLEA MARKET FINDS
NEW DINNERWARE COLLECTIONS
In my home I’m currently displaying plates with greens, blues, and touches of gold, which add a lovely pop of color against the white wall.
THE UNVEILING
“Drum Roll Please”
Yes You Can
When we set limits and tell ourselves, “oh I can’t do that“, yes you can. Just take your time and give it some thought and “be patient”. Patience is not my “STRONGEST” attribute but I have learned to walk away when I get frustrated and also I have adopted the phrase, “CAN DO” which is a military expression and fits every situation. Also as my friend Karianne would say, “You’ve Got This My Friend”.
Note:
If you have done a similar project or a project that was “Out of a Box”, please share them in the comment section. Our readers love to see what others have done.
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Not only is this a good idea, but it’s a great use of space. I love the flexibility of changing up it’s look for different seasons!
Such a cute & functional idea. Love how it can hold so many things in such a small footprint. Great for people who’ve been collecting things for years, time to put it all on display! Lovely
What an amazing project! I think it turned out, absolutely perfectly! You are such an inspiration, and so creative!
I love this idea! It turned out beautiful! I have many plates I’ve collected over the years. I can’t wait to try this!