Using Old China to Decorate Your Home

Rather than simply throwing your old china plates away, why not use them to decorate different rooms in your house? By reusing items you already have, you can really save money on decorating your home. When you use them creatively, old china plates can really add to the décor of your home.

Make a Mosaic Table from Old China Plates
If you have old plates that are chipped or broken, don’t toss them in the garbage. If you break them up even more, you can use the broken pieces to make a mosaic table.

• First, break pieces of china into smaller pieces.
• Then take the pieces and arrange them on a table with a flat surface, such as a coffee table or side table.
• Glue the pieces of the plates onto the surface of the table making a mosaic pattern.
• Use grout to seal the pieces in place and give the table a finished appearance.
• You can arrange the pieces in whatever pattern you like, and you might even use color grout to give the table some additional character.

Display Old China Plates on a Shelf
If your old china plates have character, why not put them out on a shelf? You don’t have to limit your use of china plates as décor items to the dining room. Display these plates in the living room, the kitchen, or even the bedroom, as long as they fit the style of the room.

It’s best to find a shelf that matches the style of the plates. A distressed wood shelf is a great option for plates that are old and look antique. You can really give the area a unique style by using all different sizes of the plates.

Hang Old China Plates on the Wall
Plate hangers are available at craft and home stores and will allow you to easily hang any plate securely on the wall. This is perhaps the most popular way to decorate with china plates, although you can hang all different types and sizes of plates in a single area to create a more unique look. To create a trendy décor space, you might want to look in consignment shops and flea markets for other plates to mix in with your old china.

Paint the Old China Plates
You can repaint your old plates to match the décor of your room if they are white or even a solid color. Using acrylic paint, you can either paint them all one color, or if you are creative, then you can paint pictures or patterns on them. Once you paint the plates to suit the décor of your dining room or kitchen, then you can either hang them on the wall or place them on a shelf. This is a great way to use old china plates while getting a new look from your room. Your kids might want to paint a couple of old plates themselves. Then you can hang them in the kids’ bedroom as a cute art project.

So when you decide that it’s time to buy new china plates, don’t just throw your old ones away. Rather, use them to decorate your home and save some money in decorating costs.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the furniture and interior decorating industry for four decades. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a large inventory of handcrafted Amish built solid oak furniture for your bedroom, home office and living room. Whether you’re looking for a oak end table for your family room or a oak dining table for your dining room then they have everything you need.