The Plate Wall Is Making a Comeback in Southern Design

Once relegated to the realm of grandmotherly decor, the plate wall is back in a big way. When Home Town Takeover returned for Season 3, fans clamored over designer Erin Napier’s floral wallpapered accent wall, holding an intentionally arranged collection of vintage plates. Southern? Absolutely. Dated? Not in Erin's hands. Her plate wall moment from the season premiere quickly became a breakout favorite with HGTV’s social audience.

It’s a look that feels both heirloom and fresh, which is exactly what Erin does best. “There’s something about a plate wall that just says ‘grandmother’s house,’ but in a warm, loving way,” she says in the clip. “It makes the space feel like home.”

We’re breaking down how to implement the look: where to source the right plates, how to hang them securely and how to choose the perfect wallpaper backdrop.

Step 1: Mix and Match Plates for a Collected-Over-Time Look

On Instagram, commenters were quick to ask: Where on earth can I find plates like that? You don’t need to raid your grandmother’s china cabinet (although you definitely could). Try mixing flea market finds, Etsy vintage listings and affordable new designs that carry a classic silhouette. Think ironstone, blue-and-white china, transferware or even playful dessert plates with scalloped edges. Keep the palette consistent but not matchy-matchy. Erin’s version includes soft blues, whites and golds for a layered, curated effect.

Kellie Sirna — owner of the Dallas-based Studio 11 Design and Lou Verne, a creative studio focused on curation, spatial styling and installation — has experience crafting plates for homeowners across the South.

“Plate walls offer such a beautiful opportunity to treat everyday objects as art,” says Sirna. “I love the idea of breaking traditional boundaries by mixing pieces from different eras, materials and origins to create something unexpected and deeply personal. It becomes less about symmetry or formality and more about composition and story.”

Step 2: Choose the Right Wall

Plate walls work best in spots that need a little personality. Think: entryways, hallways, breakfast nooks and dining rooms. Plates on a wall represent hospitality. You’re literally displaying the idea of gathering, feeding and welcoming.

Look for a wall that’s not already crowded with art or shelving. Ideally, it should be one where guests might linger. After all, a plate wall is a visual conversation starter. Erin’s featured plate wall was styled in a historic Georgia home, where the soft wallpaper and vintage ceramics offered a sweet contrast to exposed brick and wood trim.

Step 3: Choose a Wallpaper Backdrop That Lets the Plates Shine

One of the key elements that made Erin’s plate wall sing was the wallpaper. The delicate floral print had an edge but was soft enough to let the plates stand out. For peel-and-stick wallpaper prints that fit the bill, check out the Erin and Ben Co. collection with Laurel Mercantile Co.

Step 4: Map Your Layout Before Hanging

The magic of Erin’s plate wall is in the asymmetry. It looks like it just happened, though we know it didn’t. It’s all about the intention.

“We would approach this type of installation the way we would a gallery wall,” says Sirna, “curating by shape, palette or narrative. There’s something poetic about connecting individual elements, sometimes literally, like referencing the Japanese art of Kintsugi, to form a cohesive whole. It turns a conventional design detail into a sculptural moment.”

Start by laying your plates out on the floor to plan your spacing. Look for an arrangement that feels organic, with a clear center point (usually the largest plate) and smaller ones radiating out.

To hang even the most delicate plates safely, use spring-loaded plate hangers or disc adhesive hangers rated for the weight of your dishes. Erin used similar methods off-camera during Home Town Takeover, and fans swear by these Amazon favorites for similar projects.

Erin isn’t the only designer breathing new life into the plate wall, but her interpretation stands out for its effortless balance. Erin's take is traditional without feeling stuffy, sentimental without going saccharine and distinctly Southern in its roots.

Whether you’re styling a tea nook or reviving a hallway, take a page out of Erin’s notebook. Start collecting, mix it up and don’t be afraid to hang the good china.

"It's something you can keep adding to," Erin says. "And then it becomes a plate room."