Blue and White Plate Wall Display Ideas Using Vintage Platters

If you love the timeless charm of blue and white plate wall displays, you’ll adore this easy step-by-step guide for creating your own gallery wall using vintage platters.

I styled this asymmetrical display above the mantel in our Vermont dining room, combining collected blue and white plates in all shapes and patterns for a one-of-a-kind vintage look.

Why I Created This Post

I’ve been collecting blue and white vintage platters for years—from thrift shops, flea markets, and road trip stops along the way. After creating this plate wall display over our vintage mantel in Vermont, I knew I wanted to share the full process with you. This isn’t a designer-perfect gallery wall—just one vintage-loving gal’s take on decorating with charm, creativity, and a little asymmetry. I hope this inspires you to start your own blue and white plate wall using the pieces you love most.

Where to Find Vintage Blue and White Platters for Your Plate Wall

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a charming blue and white plate wall display, the first step is collecting the right mix of vintage platters and dishes—and the hunt is half the fun! You can often find these timeless treasures at antique stores, flea markets, thrift shops, and secondhand boutiques. Don’t overlook online gems either—Etsy and eBay are goldmines for blue and white transferware and decorative wall plates. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite spots to shop vintage finds online in this How to Shop For Vintage Decor Online post if you’re ready to start the hunt from home!

Shop Vintage Blue and White Platters on Etsy

This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

One of my favorites is a large vintage serving platter with a handwritten note on the back: “Old platter belonged to my mother”—signed, I believe, by someone named Harriet. I just love that. It’s a piece of someone else’s story, and I’m honored to showcase it as part of my new blue and white plate wall over our vintage mantel in the breakfast nook.

What You Need to Get Started with a Blue and White Plate Wall

Ready to turn your vintage platter collection into a showstopping blue and white plate wall? Let me walk you through exactly how I styled our dining room mantel using an eclectic mix of vintage platters—starting with a few essential supplies.

Supply List for Hanging a Vintage Blue and White Platter Wall:

•    Vintage blue and white platters or decorative plates
    •    adhesive plate hanger discs
    •    Picture hangers or small hooks
    •    Hammer
    •    Tape measure
    •    Painter’s tape (optional, for mock layouts)
    •    Pencil (to mark hanging points)

Adhesive Plate Hanger Discs for Blue and White Platters

For this project, I used 5.5” adhesive plate hanger discs—one for each vintage blue and white platter in my collection. These discs are a game-changer if you haven’t tried them before. No more wrestling with those old-school wire hangers that snap or shift the second you step away!

They’re gentle on your vintage pieces, easy to remove (just soak in warm water), and nearly invisible once your plate is up on the wall. To use: dampen the disc, press it onto the back of the platter, and let it dry overnight before hanging.

Small Picture Hangers for a Secure Plate Wall

To hang each platter, I used these simple small picture hangers I had tucked away in a drawer. They’re perfect for a blue and white plate wall display because they require only tiny nails and do minimal damage to the wall—yet they can hold 30 to 100 pounds securely. I love using them with adhesive plate discs for a clean, worry-free setup that keeps my vintage platters in place.

Lay Out Your Blue and White Platter Collection Before Hanging

And lastly, you’ll need your favorite vintage blue and white platters or decorative plates—the stars of your plate wall display! Before you hang anything, lay your collection out on a table or the floor. This gives you a full visual of how your blue and white plate wall will come together and allows you to play with placement, balance, and those lovely mismatched shapes and shades of blue.

How to Create a Blue and White Plate Wall Step-by-Step

Before you start hanging, lay out your vintage blue and white platter collection in an open space like a table or the floor. I experimented with both and found it so helpful to visualize the entire plate wall design before committing anything to the wall. This is the time to decide whether you want to hang your platters in a horizontal or vertical layout, go for a symmetrical or asymmetrical look, and figure out how many blue and white plates or platters you’ll need to fill your space.

Step One: Plan Your Blue and White Plate Wall Layout

1. Make Sure You Have Enough Vintage Blue and White Platters

Before you begin, take stock of your blue and white platter collection. Depending on how large or bold you want your plate wall to be, you may find that you need more vintage pieces than expected. Don’t be surprised if you end up heading out for a little more vintage thrifting—I certainly did!

2. Measure Your Wall and Design Your Layout

Use a measuring tape to determine the vertical and horizontal space available for your blue and white plate wall display. Then, lay out your vintage platters and plates on a table or the floor within those same dimensions. Play around with the arrangement—whether you prefer a symmetrical design or a more relaxed, asymmetrical layout, now’s the time to experiment. Once you’re happy with the overall look, you’re ready to start hanging!

Step Two: Hanging the Blue and White Plate Wall

While some people like to use wrapping paper templates or brown craft paper to map out their plate wall display, I decided to go with a more relaxed approach. Since I wanted an asymmetrical plate wall, I chose to wing it—and I loved the creative freedom that gave me. With my layout already mapped out on the floor, I was ready to start hanging!

Vintage Blue and White Plate Wall Progression

Using the floor layout as my guide, I began by hanging the largest vintage platter in the center of the wall. From there, I added one platter above it, followed by two on each side to build out the core of the design. As a very visual person, I took photos along the way so you can see how the plate wall display came together, one platter at a time.

Vintage Mantel Decor Ideas You’ll Love

Looking for more ways to style a vintage mantel? Here are a few of my favorite seasonal and collected mantel decorating ideas that pair beautifully with blue and white plates, antique finds, and thrifted treasures.

Of course, in true vintage-decorating fashion, I changed things up mid-project! I decided to add two more blue and white platters to the lower sides, which meant—yep—another thrifting trip. But honestly, that’s part of the fun. As the wall came together, I fell more and more in love with the eclectic and collected feel of the display.

Step Three: Add Character with Layered Details and Vintage Charm

Once I had the main layout of my blue and white vintage plate wall in place, I started adding my own creative touches—and truly, this might have been my favorite part. Using a bit of crazy glue, I attached two small vintage teacups and a pair of matching bowls to the open-faced platters already on the wall. The layered look gave the entire platter wall display more dimension, texture, and a whole lot of vintage charm.

To fill in one of the small gaps in the layout, I also mounted a blue and white saucer and its twin bowl using Command Strips, which worked perfectly for the smaller, lighter dishes.

It’s a fun and unexpected twist on the traditional plate wall design, and I love how these little additions make the wall feel even more collected and personal.

Blue and White Vintage Plate Wall Reveal Over the Mantel

While there are still a couple of small gaps to fill, I’m so excited to share the reveal of my vintage blue and white plate wall above the mantel! The remaining spaces give me a little flexibility—and honestly, I love styling them with stacks of blue and white teacups, seasonal flowers, and antique books until the right vintage platter finds me.

I’m sure I’ll be tweaking this blue and white wall arrangement often (it’s half the fun!), but for now, I love how this asymmetrical plate wall brings so much character and charm to our dining room in Vermont.

It’s a simple project that just takes a little patience and creativity—but the final result is well worth it. I hope this inspires you to start your own vintage platter wall at home, too!

Vintage Wall Decor Ideas to Inspire Your Next Project

If you’re looking for more creative ways to decorate your walls with character, charm, and one-of-a-kind finds, I’ve gathered some of my favorite vintage wall decor ideas below. From antique artwork to unique thrifted treasures, these posts will help you think beyond the frame and make your walls a true reflection of your style.

What to Do (and Not to Do) When Hanging Vintage Platters

A few quick takeaways from my experience:

Watch the Blue and White Plate Wall Come Together Step-by-Step

Want to see how this vintage blue and white plate wall came to life? This short video captures the visual progress—from the very first platter to the final layered display. It’s not a full tutorial, but it’s a fun behind-the-scenes look at how I styled this collected and charming platter wall display over our mantel.

Final Thoughts on Creating a Vintage Blue and White Plate Wall

Designing this vintage blue and white platter wall has been one of my favorite styling projects—full of personality, flexibility, and that layered charm I love so much. Whether you go big and bold or start small with just a few blue and white plates, a plate wall is such a simple and timeless way to decorate your home with vintage style.

Have you ever created a plate wall display before? Or are you inspired to start one now? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Now, I’m off to style more of this new space. It used to be our dining room, but with our recent interior painting project, I have now switched things around…

More Blue and White Decor Inspiration

If you love the classic charm of blue and white decor, you’re not alone—I’ve styled these timeless colors in everything from tabletops to mantels to vintage hutch displays. Below, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite blue and white moments from around our homes to inspire your own decorating journey. Click on any photo to explore the full post and see how these pieces came together!

More Blue and White Platter Styling Inspiration

For even more creative ways to decorate with vintage platters, I’m thrilled to be joining a group of talented home decor bloggers hosted by my friend Cindy of County Road 407. We’re all sharing unique ideas for styling decorative platters—whether you love hanging them on the wall, layering them in a hutch, or using them as elegant tabletop accents. Click the links below to visit each beautiful post and gather more vintage platter inspiration!

Pin forLater!

Shop Vintage Blue and White Platters on Etsy

This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.