They were the home decor equivalent of a vacation photo album. “Plate walls are a way to showcase creativity and also create a unique display of personal memorabilia—places visited, objects picked up along the way,” shares Olympia Irving of tableware brand Carolina Irving & Daughters. Adds Lauren McGrath, of New York-based interior design studio Studio McGrath: “Plate walls have a warm and nostalgic feel to them, and people are looking for ways to make their spaces feel incredibly personal, which vintage and collected plates definitely do.”

Throughout the years, collectors often peppered their walls with hand-painted blue-and-white pieces—ranging from Dutch delftware to prized pieces from the Ming Dynasty—layering artistry and global influence into a single display. But over time, as styles shifted and mass production came into the picture, they began to read a little less Grand Palais and more grandma’s house.

Now, interior designers are bringing them back—albeit in thoughtful and contemporary ways, or as personal design statements with depth. “They offer a rare mix of impact and intimacy,” says Alice Russotti, co-founder of Porta. “They can fill a wall with presence and personality—without the cost or formality of traditional artwork. People are always looking for ways to express themselves at home, and plate walls allow for that through the tactile, personal nature of curating and arranging each piece.”

“It’s about the choice and the story behind the plates,” says designer Clare Vivier, who has plate walls in both her homes. “The ones I have in our L.A. house are from Kneeland & Co. and they are vintage Michoacán plates—a nod to my Mexican heritage. And in our France house, we have Malicorne plates, which are local to the Loire Valley region.”

Jennifer Perez of Italian dinnerware brand Ivo Angel, who recently installed a plate wall in her new Cortona shop, agrees. “I think the comeback of the plate wall is really about the movement to surround ourselves with meaningful pieces and to evoke memories of places and experiences,” she shares. “Living in Italy, I see plate walls in many Tuscan homes and villas and while they certainly carry a sense of nostalgia, they also continuously tell a story.”

The plate wall at the Ivo Angel store in Cortona.

Photo: Elia Misesti