DIY Tutorial: How To Design & Place Plate Collections On A Wall

10 Oct DIY Tutorial: How To Design & Place Plate Collections On A Wall

So sorry for my absence yesterday, dear readers!  Back in the swing of things…

Whether you have a plate collection or any sort of collection to place on the wall, today will give you the step-by-step instructions.  It takes a little time, but it is probably easier than you think to get the look you want, especially if you were inspired by all of the varied designs in this post.

First, you need to layout your plates to find a pleasing arrangement to you.  When I do something like this, I usually eyeball it to see if I like it, then I take a picture.  It may seem silly to take a picture of it, but it is always good to look at design through photography.  There is just something different about seeing it through a lens that allows you to pick up on something that seems off.

Once you find the positioning you like, get out your tracing paper.

Reader, meet Tracing Paper.  Tracing Paper, meet Reader.  Tracing Paper is your friend and can be found at most office or craft/hobby stores.  You should get some to have on-hand because it is SO great for a variety of projects, including this one.

Lay out sheets of tracing paper over the top of your design.

After you have the shape that covers your design, put the sheets on the floor, and use strips of tape to secure them in that configurement.

Then put your tracing paper over the top of your collection, grab a marker that moves easily with light pressure, and trace over your design.

The lines do not have to be perfect, they will just be a general guideline.

Cut around your outline, and you have your pattern!

Tape it up on your wall, only placing tape strips at the top of your pattern.  You want to be able to slip under the pattern to place your plates.

I received a few emails about how to affix plates to the wall, and I cannot say enough good things about these Command Picture Strips.  They can hold up to twelve pounds (the more strips you use, the stronger the hold), and are overall easy to use.  This is the exact pack I used (it actually took me two packs) – the set of six medium strips.

Now I will tell you, though I am not condoning this, I didn’t exactly follow the directions for the strips in this project.  Basically, there are two strips that snap together like super strong velcro.  You are supposed to attach one strip to the wall and one strip to your object.  Then you push them together, and they are affixed.

You can do it this way, especially with your pattern because you could center your strip in the tracing paper circle, center the other strip on your plate, and push them together.  That just made me nervous because I wanted to make sure everything lined up perfectly.  Therefore, I put both strips together, took one sticker backing off, pressed it for 30 seconds (as the directions state) onto the plate, took the other sticker backing off, put the plate into position, and pressed it to the wall for 30 seconds.  Many other users of this product did it this way when I looked online, and I did not see any issues.

The Command strips are damage free so you don’t have to worry about them damaging your wall or your plate!  When you want to change your design, just pull the tab at the bottom of the strip, and it comes right off.

In no time, I could see my design coming together.

My plates vary in age – from the early 1900’s to the 1950’s – and I love their history, variance, and hand-painted quality.  Ta-da!

As you can see, I added a couple more pieces after I finished my proposed pattern.  I simply wanted to fill it in a little and give it more interest.  I’d like to add to my collection as I find plates that are pretty and intrigue me.  Now when I see one, I will have a place to put it!

Do you have a collection to put up on your wall?