8 Inventive Ideas for Your Unused China
Is your china collection gathering dust at the back of your cupboard? Pull it out and let it shine with these eye-catching display ideas
Whether you have inherited your gran’s collection of china or, like me, have amassed an eclectic secondhand collection of your own – there are more ways to make use of these delicately crafted beauties than to occasionally pull them out when company calls for tea.
There’s just something about china cups and plates that appeals to me. Be it the way they are finely crafted, the vintage-style patterns or the elegant illustrations that adorn them – I can’t walk past a secondhand market or charity shop without having a peek at what forgotten china treasures are hidden among the shelves. The only problem with this obsession (that I can see) is what to do with the amount I have accrued over the years. It seems a shame to store them away, but having stacks and assorted piles all over the place can make the home look cluttered – or much like one of the op-shops they were originally rescued from.
There’s just something about china cups and plates that appeals to me. Be it the way they are finely crafted, the vintage-style patterns or the elegant illustrations that adorn them – I can’t walk past a secondhand market or charity shop without having a peek at what forgotten china treasures are hidden among the shelves. The only problem with this obsession (that I can see) is what to do with the amount I have accrued over the years. It seems a shame to store them away, but having stacks and assorted piles all over the place can make the home look cluttered – or much like one of the op-shops they were originally rescued from.
Being that each and every design really is a work of art, why not display them as such? Display your fine-boned pretties as a wall vignette, or use them as a dainty storage solution. Check out some of the ideas below and be inspired about how you can incorporate your china collection into your home in cute and quirky ways.
1. Jewellery storage
Create an elegant jewellery display. This cake stand style jewellery tower is as practical as it is pretty. Multi levels keep your bracelets, earring and necklaces easily accessed and easy to find. Just think, no more rummaging through bedroom boxes and drawers!
How to make a jewellery stand from old crockery
Create an elegant jewellery display. This cake stand style jewellery tower is as practical as it is pretty. Multi levels keep your bracelets, earring and necklaces easily accessed and easy to find. Just think, no more rummaging through bedroom boxes and drawers!
How to make a jewellery stand from old crockery
2. Create a teacup planter
Decorative teacups filled with pretty flowers, herbs or succulents can make an attractive display. Create your own windowsill kitchen garden, or group together on a table or chair for an outdoor display.
How to make DIY teacup planter pots
Decorative teacups filled with pretty flowers, herbs or succulents can make an attractive display. Create your own windowsill kitchen garden, or group together on a table or chair for an outdoor display.
How to make DIY teacup planter pots
3. Turn them into candles
If you fancy a bit of weekend DIY, turn mismatched teacups into pretty candles. If DIY isn’t your style, you can simply pop a tealight candle into unused cups for an instant teacup votive.
How to make DIY scented soy candles
If you fancy a bit of weekend DIY, turn mismatched teacups into pretty candles. If DIY isn’t your style, you can simply pop a tealight candle into unused cups for an instant teacup votive.
How to make DIY scented soy candles
4. Display in shadow boxes
Make shadow box shelving out of old wooden crates. The pretty china and glassware paired with the repurposed wooden crates makes for a sweet and welcoming cottage look.
Make shadow box shelving out of old wooden crates. The pretty china and glassware paired with the repurposed wooden crates makes for a sweet and welcoming cottage look.
5. Lay a mosaic splashback
Whoops, broken a plate? Don’t worry, just pop it on the wall for a colourful kitchen splashback. This broken tile and dish mosaic backsplash really creates a point of difference in this kitchen – and how gorgeous is that teacup pencil holder!
Whoops, broken a plate? Don’t worry, just pop it on the wall for a colourful kitchen splashback. This broken tile and dish mosaic backsplash really creates a point of difference in this kitchen – and how gorgeous is that teacup pencil holder!
6. Grow your own china flower
Wow, who would have thought that china plates could make such a sweet garden flower? The maker of these decorative flowers makes them with dishes foraged from garage sales and sells them locally.
Wow, who would have thought that china plates could make such a sweet garden flower? The maker of these decorative flowers makes them with dishes foraged from garage sales and sells them locally.
7. And, of course, there’s the traditional plate wall
Mix and match old and new styles of plates, but keep to a colour theme for your wall feature. The assorted green and yellow hues pictured here, in a mix of patterns, shapes and designs, make for a fun display.
Mix and match old and new styles of plates, but keep to a colour theme for your wall feature. The assorted green and yellow hues pictured here, in a mix of patterns, shapes and designs, make for a fun display.
Create an eclectic corner with a mishmash of salvaged finds. This pretty farmhouse look features a range of serving and dining plates paired with vintage suitcases used as storage – cute and functional!
More: 17 Inventive Ways to Decorate an Empty Corner
More: 17 Inventive Ways to Decorate an Empty Corner
Create a simple, pretty country/ cottage display by using different shapes and styles of white plates, and grouping together. White china plates are timeless, and can also be sourced easily from your local charity shop or secondhand markets. This can be a particularly effective feature when grouped on a coloured wall, as pictured here.
If you are an avid collector, a grouped wall display is a brilliant way to display your beloved wares. I just love this kitsch royal vignette.
More: Prized Collections: The Art of Gathering
More: Prized Collections: The Art of Gathering
Group colourful patterns against a boldly coloured wall for a pop of colour or a playful accent. You can also play up a wall feature by adding a lighting element. Simply add a lamp, or, for a more dramatic effect, add spot lighting to really illuminate your china collection from above.
8. Liven up your walled courtyard
Plates don’t have to be relegated to indoor use. An outdoor display may not be suited to your family heirloom fine-boned china, but it is perfect for some thrifty garage sale and op-shop finds. Adding art to your outdoor walls draws the eye up and adds interest.
MORE IDEAS
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Plates don’t have to be relegated to indoor use. An outdoor display may not be suited to your family heirloom fine-boned china, but it is perfect for some thrifty garage sale and op-shop finds. Adding art to your outdoor walls draws the eye up and adds interest.
MORE IDEAS
Shopping for Vintage Finds … at Grandma’s House
Healthy Home: 8 Fresh Ways to Plant Herbs
‘New Girl’ Style: Recreate Jess’ Nanna Chic Bedroom
10 Ways to Plant Outside the Box