Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home, Fun Stuff, Crafts & Projects, Furniture
Don't save your timeless blue and white china for the table. Here are creative ideas for elevating your pieces from dishes to decor.
Who isn't drawn to decorating with blue-and-white china? Its classic colors are soothing, representing the sky and sea and its ornate designs can make any room feel warmer and more homey. Plus, the dishes themselves have such a rich history, they have become a true classic among many countries and cultures. (And they're influencing room design as well.)
The china originated in China's Tang Dynasty in the 14th century when artisans began making white porcelain, then decorating it with intricate designs using cobalt oxide, a blue pigment.
Blue and white is one of the most popular color combos used in kitchens across America. Photo: Country Living, Of Spring and Summer
In the 16th century, Delftware, a later version of the Japanese original, was born in the Netherlands. Potters, inspired by pricey porcelain, began coating their clay wares in a tin-glaze, which gave the pieces the look of porcelain without the high price tag. And the English proudly boast ownership of Wedgewood and Jasperware, all classics we covet here too in the U.S.
Today, there are many variations, but all come back to that striking blue and white color combo.
Vintage, modern or reproduction, no matter what your blue-and-white dish collection is worth, we guarantee you are very proud of it. So much so, in fact, that you'd much rather put it on display rather than pack it away. To help inspire you, we found some fresh, fun and inspiring ways to shine a spotlight on your blue and white dishes.
Plate hangers are inexpensive and an easy way to create an artful display of your favorite dishes. Photo: Design*Sponge, Martha Stewart Living
Expand to the Bedroom and Living Room
Everyone thinks to hang plate collections in the dining room and kitchen but think about other rooms in your home where you might showcase your collection. One of Design*Sponge's editors Amy Merrick has a collection of blue and white dishes over her bed, while designer John Loecke created a simple yet interesting "backsplash" using an assortment of dishes for the stove in this Midwest colonial home (see image below).
Photo: John Loecke
Rather than filling the space above a fireplace with an expected mirror or piece of art, why not arrange your beloved collection as the editors at Martha Stewart Living did here. It's a guaranteed conversation starter.
Plates can also be the perfect size to dress up those small, odd-shaped areas in the home, such as above a window. We love this idea (third photo in the slideshow) from Country Living. The homeowner simply lined up her blue and white dishes above her windows.
Photo: Rose Garden Romantic
An Excuse to Bring Out the Blue and White
The next time you're creating a centerpiece or floral display, work in your collection. How gorgeous is the contrast of this pink Hyacinth arrangement (top photo) against the blue-and-white pieces from London blogger Of Spring and Summer.
Of course actually using your plates during a dinner party is a fabulous idea too. To set her table, blogger Rose Garden Romantic layered a few mismatched ones and topped them off with a vintage birthday greeting postcard. So sweet!
Photo: Sweet Paul, ShabbyNChic, Etsy
Make Cool Stuff With 'Em
Sometimes a piece of our beloved collection chips, falls out of favor or you simply find a treasure that is not quite food safe. If that's the case, we say get creative like these sellers on Etsy.
How clever is blogger and stylist extraordinaire Sweet Paul? He suggests painting half of a piece of pottery all white to give it a modern spin.
ShabbyNChic transformed a blue-and-white dish into a beautiful cupcake stand by attaching a glass candle holder. To do this at home, we'd recommend using a strong glue such as a clear epoxy glue.
Lastly, Louanacreations turned a beautiful blue wine glass upside down and married it with a plate and pretty beads for a gorgeous display piece.
Take It Out of the Kitchen
Of course, if you love your collection, then put it to use! But instead of just using it, say, as your everyday dinnerware, get creative. We love the idea of taking a blue and white tea cup saucer into the bathroom to use as a soap dish. A dessert plate placed on a bedroom nightstand or vanity can easily hold jewelry and remind you each and every day just how much you adore your collection.
Ready to add to your collection? Royal Delft Pottery in the Netherlands is one of the last producers of authentic Delft earthenware and offers personalization to plates and more.
Looking for something a little more tongue-in-cheek? We have a crush on Lovegrove & Repucci's New York Delftware. The clever designers used iconic New York symbols such as graffiti, taxicabs and hot dog carts to modernize the Dutch-style pottery.
For more modern blue and white dish designs, we appreciated this roundup from Apartment Therapy.
For more about decorating with collections, check out:
The Beauty of Mason Jars
Flea Market Finds Done Right
Here's a video with tips on how to decorate with collections.