WELCOME to CAROLINA PANACHE! I believe our homes should be a haven, a place of beauty and peace that reflect who we are and what's important to us. I'm on a journey to add personality and panache to every corner of my house. For me, good design evolves, grows and changes with the needs of one's lifestyle. I want my home to be creative, to be stylish, to be entertaining, to be real. I hope you will join me on my journey. It's always more fun to travel together.
This blog is all about bringing style and elegance to the home. The art of dressing your home goes beyond hanging a few items on the wall and arranging furniture. Much like a fabulous set of earrings or a new stylish handbag may take your little black dress from fine to fabulous, home accesories and key furnishings can take your rooms from ho-hum to singing the Halleluiah Chorus! Join with me as we discover new ways to add panache to every room of the house.

30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor - Day 9

Okay, here's an easy and inexpensive tip for Day 9 - Decorate with Dishes.
They are not used just for eating our meals anymore. Pretty displays can grace your walls with elegance and color. I have used plates in bedrooms, living rooms, powder rooms, and porches - you name it and I've probably put a plate there! Why? Because plates are cheap art. Clearance tables can be a treasure trove of odds and ends and most of the time they are marked down so low that you can buy several to make a pretty display. In fact, today I was in one of my favorite home decor stores and found oodles of plates marked down to $1 each. For $11 I get a gorgeous grouping of color and pattern. Because of their three dimensional quality, plates add texture to your walls, shelves and cabinets. A collection of similar colors or patterns gives you big impact and lots of possibilities. The best part? You can always use them for serving food when you decide to change your wall decor. Here a collection of blue and white dishes repeat the blue color in this yellow breakfast room.
A casual, country family room uses more blue and white plates to play off the blue checked chair.

Lining a plate rack or hutch with a collection of similar colored plates add big drama.

I love the way this French sitting room displays a collection of fruit and floral plates in the bookshelves. Against the red interior of the shelves the plates really pop!

Here's a great idea my Mother often uses - a display shelf and window treatment! No need for a topper or cornice just add panels and let the plate shelf do the rest.

Plates over the mantle add another layer of interest to this grouping.

Don't have a hutch or expensive plate rack? Build your own! A simple rack like this one costs less than $20 to build and the simple, clean lines allow the plates to speak for themselves.
Here is another "Great Wall of China". I love this! Talk about impact and drama!
Repeating the round shape of these pretty plates, a circular grouping carries the design element further.
Notice the trio of white plates hanging between the windows? The tone on tone quality of this display adds elegance to this refined dining room.
A dozen identical plates find a new use as a decorative element against the casing of this window.
Talk about drama! A collage of mix-n-match plates steal the show!
Here, a classic collection of blue and white pottery is traditionally displayed inside a wooden hutch. The dishes add high contrast to the reddish wood tones and red wall paint.
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Framed wall art can be pricey and if you are on a tight budget or just starting out, try your hand at decorating with dishes and pottery. Yard sales, consignment shops, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores offer a variety of inexpensive dishes to choose from. You can also find beautiful patterns at department store closeouts and discount retailers like HomeGoods, Marshalls, TJMaxx and Ross. Kirkland's offers a big variety of themed decorative plates and let's not forget about treasured hand-me-downs from our Grandmother and Mother! Recently when my own mother downsized and moved to NC, I lucked up and was given her entire collection of Ironstone! Yeah me! I just finished displaying it in my dining room. I'll share pictures soon.
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Tomorrow I'll post Tip 10. I believe every home should have a little whimsy so we'll talk about how to pull that off without looking cheesy. Until then,
Live Life Beautifully!
~Alisa













11 comments:

Joan said...

I have many odd dishes, and this idea just strikes my fancy. Thanks for posting. I love the shelf over the window idea.

Joan @ Applejack Lane

Designs on 47th Street said...

This post really speaks to me. As a dishaholic this is a decorating idea I should actually use more. I have a spot above my kitchen windows that would be perfect for a dish display.

I love all the examples you pictured to really get us excited about this form of art.

Holy Cow ~~ lucky you ~~ being given your mother's ironstone collection! Can't wait to see pics!
Donna

Moments of Grace said...

Alisa,

I have long ujsed dishes as part of my home decor and I love them all! Nothing adds a personal touch as much as lovely displayed china.
Thank you so much for this series. I am enjoying every day of your lovely tips.

In Grace,
Marie

Unknown said...

Alisa,
Thank you for sharing all the wonderful tips and ideals. I am enjoying each and everyone of them.
Sandy

Deanna said...

Great ideas and pics.
Blessings,
d

Shirley said...

Really good post. Especially since I am acquiring more and more dishes since tablescaping with Susan!!! This gives me yet something else I can try with them. Love this series.
Shirley

Nancy said...

I love dishes! I have a display of blue and white dishes on a shelf in my kitchen. Then I have dishes on the wall around that shelf. LOVE! Have a great weekend! Nancy from OHIO

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Elaine Page said...

I couldn't agree more with your decoration tips. I have seen several homes in portland or downtown apartments that looked similar to these.

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