Make a Mosaic Table from Old China Plates
Just because your old plates are chipped or broken, you don’t have to toss them into the trash. Instead, break them up even more. Then you can use them to make a mosaic table.

• Simply break the pieces of the china into smaller pieces.
• Take all those pieces and arrange them on a table with a flat surface. You might choose a coffee table or a side table, for example.
• Make a mosaic pattern by gluing the pieces of the plates onto the surface of the table.
• You can seal the pieces in place using grout, giving the table a finished appearance.
• You can arrange the pieces in whatever pattern you like. Use colored grout to give the table some more character.

Display Old China Plates on a Shelf
If your old china plates have character, why not put them out on a shelf? China plates make a great décor item in rooms besides the dining room. Display these plates in the living room, the kitchen, or even the bedroom, as long as they fit the style of the room.

It’s best to find a shelf that matches the style of the plates. If the plates are old and antique-looking, consider using a distressed wood shelf on which to display them. You can really give the area a unique style by using all different sizes of the plates.

Hang Old China Plates on the Wall
With a plate hanger, you can easily hang any plate securely on the wall. Plate hangers are typically available at most craft and home stores. This is a very popular way of decorating with china plates. If you are looking for a more unique look, then use all different types and sizes of plates in a single area. If you need more variety, check out consignment shops and flea markets to see if you can find other plates to mix in with your old china to create a trendy décor space.

Paint the Old China Plates
If your old plates are white or even a solid color, you can paint them to match the décor of your room. Simply use acrylic paint to paint them all one color or, for those who are creative, paint pictures or patterns on them. Once you paint the plates to suit the décor of your dining room or kitchen, then you can either hang them on the wall or place them on a shelf. This is a great way, both to use old china plates as well as to give your room a new look. If you like, give your kids a couple of plates to paint and then hang up this cute art project in their bedroom.

So when it comes time again to buy new china plates, don’t just throw your old ones away. Rather, save yourself some money and use them to decorate your home.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the furniture and interior decorating industry for four decades. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you searching for a oak dining table for your dining room or a wood end table for your living room then they probably have everything you need.

You have quite a wide choice of materials to be used for garage shelving and that includes steel, aluminum and diamond plates apart from wood and plastics. For stunning looks like that of showroom, you may use diamond plates for garage shelving. Every metal has its plus points , for instance Aluminum shelving is lighter than steel and you get it in various colors. Steel shelving on the other hand is more durable, can withstand heavier weights and is easy to maintain. Freestanding shelving has adjustable shelves that allow you to adjust the distance between any two shelves and can be useful for storing of odd sized or odd shaped items.

Each section of your garage can have its own purpose. A section for your tools, rakes, one for childrens toys and yet another for shoes. Kids toys can be kept away firm view and increase the safety by hiding the objects so you don’t trip over them. Garage shelves can help organize these items by using up a small part of your vertical space.

It’s not a difficult task to build storage shelving. You would better buy pieces of pine as it offers a long durable service. Pieces of pine should be well primed before being fixed on the wall, just buy studs and drill them into the wall. Steel brackets are securely kept in place by drilling them into wood. Then you secure the wooden shelves to the steel bracket. You can use decorative wooden brackets if you like. You don’t need any special purpose tools for executing such an assembly.

A easy way of putting garage shelving in is to buy a plastic shelf system . They are easy to put together and sturdy enough to hold most garage items. The good thing about a non fixed shelving system like this is that you can move your shelf anywhere you want. Of course, brackets from metal are more sturdy and durable.

You certainly can add to your available space by using your imagination or sharing ideas with others who have already made use of some of these systems. A slight effort and some imagination on your part will enable you to have a better utilization of the space, while you get more functional area, you car gets better surroundings.