How To Make A Plate Backsplash

When we remodeled the house that we bought last year, we added a bright and efficient white kitchen to a room that had once been a dark and depressing family room. To make our new kitchen more "me", we put a navy blue bar in the space beside the refrigerator. Instead of having a regular backsplash, I decided to have some fun and make a backsplash out of my favorite blue and white plates. It was a simple project that took less than an hour and used the plates that we had on hand.

Before we added the plates, I painted the wall behind the plates the same navy as the cabinets. That helped the plates to be seen in a better way. The under counter lighting helps to illuminate the plates, too. In order to add dimension, we used nails that were different lengths. That gave us the opportunity to layer one plate over another.

Here is a shot without the under counter lighting. You can see the different sizes and patterns on the plates. We used regular plate racks to hang them, but the sticky tabs would work, too. To see how this all ties in with our white kitchen, please visit our blog (link is below) that has a link to our kitchen tour.

The cabinets and wall are Naval by Sherwin Williams. The nice thing about this project is that it can be personalized according to your tastes. You can choose your favorite plates, and use them.

Here are the steps you need to follow to create a plate backsplash.

1. Select the plates. Using plates that are different sizes and shapes will make a more interesting look.
2. Put plate hangers on each plate.
3. Paint the wall the plates will go on. This is an optional step, but using a paint color that is in the plates will enhance them.
4. Lay out the plates on the floor or a countertop to determine how you want them to hang on the wall..
5. Using a hammer and nails of different lengths, pound the nails into the wall, and then hang your plates.
6. Stand back, and admire your new backsplash.

This photo shows the family room before we turned it into a bright and efficient kitchen. The camera angle is the same as the above photos. Please visit our blog (link below) to see a full house tour.