Few things look worse in your kitchen than a drying rack stacked full of plates haphazardly piled in – it instantly becomes an eyesore, making your countertops look messy and disorganized.
But designers say there is no need to clutter your countertops – there are so many kitchen storage and display options that will not only keep your surfaces clear, but will give your plates a dedicated home that doubles up as pretty decor.
Sound appealing? These are the five stylish ways designers store plates to keep your drying rack clutter-free, elevate the look of your countertops, and create beautiful displays in your kitchen.
5 Stylish Ways to Store Plates In Your Kitchen
There are more ways to store your plates than just hiding them in your kitchen cabinets. From shelving to dedicated furniture pieces, here are a few stylish-meets-functional ways to store your plates – far from your drying rack.
1. Wall mounted plate racks
Plate racks were a staple in the past – it's unlikely you'd find a kitchen without one. But this traditional storage feature has made a strong comeback, and is a great way to store your plates to keep them out of the drying rack.
'A plate rack can really add something special to a kitchen. It's a traditional and historical piece that is not only beautiful to look at but enormously useful,' says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens.
A plate rack is a great alternative to an upper cabinet, too. Instead of a bulky unit, you can introduce something slimmer and more visually interesting that feels less built-in. It's also much easier to access when you need to grab or put away your plates. Plus, it can create a striking design moment, as Helen explains.
'Paint it the same color as your kitchen cabinets, and it will become an integral part of the room and so much more interesting and useful than a shelf! Because these pieces are often seen in 'under the stairs' kitchens of grand stately homes, we feel a somber yet strong, bold color is a good choice.'
There's so much to love about this plate rack. The rich wood tones add warmth and vintage-style to a kitchen, while the scallop detail adds a softer finish. There's also plenty of storage for plates as well as shelves for other kitchen essentials.
Wood and brass combine in this design, with one shelf for plates and another for spices or small items like glassware. There's less space for plates in this design, but it's a great choice if you have a few plates you are keen to display.
A blend of the other two plate racks, with a wooden design that stores plates forward-facing, but is large enough to fit an entire set. The brass railings hit another of this year's coveted kitchen trends, and add a more elevated finish.
2. A vintage dresser
There are many ways designers like to decorate with vintage in the kitchen, but if you're looking for plate storage, a freestanding dresser is the perfect solution, adding character and function in one.
Mixing freestanding furniture into your kitchen is a great way to add personality to your space, but it also creates a more lived-in feel, especially if the furniture in question is a vintage cabinet like in this design.
Plus, it's easily accessible and doesn't give the impression that it's been added because you've run out of space, but rather a stylish addition that elevates your kitchen scheme. You can also easily organize your plates in a cabinet that works for you.
3. Shelving in a glass-framed pantry
If you're up to date on the predicted kitchen trends for 2026, you'll know that glass-framed pantries have made the list. And it offers a new way to store your plates in an aesthetic way – especially if you've got open shelving like in this pantry, which is incorporated into the main kitchen, meaning everything is proudly on display.
'There is something supremely handy about having all your daily crockery just there right in front of you and easy to grab; similarly, it is great to have a place to put them away so easily, no big heavy piles of plates to struggle with in cupboards anymore.' Helen.
This works so well if you like to separate your pantry staples but still have easy access to your plates from your main cooking area. Plus, this pantry design proves just how chic and timeless a glass-framed design within your kitchen can be.
4. Displayed at the heart of your kitchen
Plates can double up as pretty display pieces, especially if they're decorated with unique designs. If you're running low on cabinet space, displaying them in a front-facing orientation on open shelving, like in this kitchen, is a stylish option.
'Displaying a collection of your favourite plates helps bring personality to a space, with every plate a piece of art in its own right, telling a story of places travelled or vintage markets visited,' says Fred Horlock, design director at Neptune.
'Creating a focal point with a beautiful display of plates helps take attention away from the kitchen countertops, drawing the eye from any clutter present. It also frees up space in your cabinets, allowing more storage for other items.'
5. Stacked beneath a kitchen island
Freestanding kitchen islands have become one of the most popular features in cooking spaces, and they're the perfect place to store plates. We're not suggesting you pile them on top of your island, but on the shelves beneath it.
These work table-style islands usually feature two shelves beneath, with a shallower shelf at the top, as shown in this design. While you might not be able to fit larger things like pots and pans here, it is the perfect space for your plates to live.
Not only does this approach make your plates easily accessible, but it also allows you to create a pretty shelf display with them. Stack plates, bowls, and even wooden boards for a curated yet lived-in look.
With a price tag of just over $250, this wooden kitchen island is a steal. There are two large shelves beneath the counter, perfect for stacking plates or adding a small plate organizer, as shown in the image.
For something more colorful, this metal kitchen island is a totally stylish choice. It's a simple, space-saving design with two spacious shelves for storage. It's also available in wine red if you want to embrace the trend for merlot kitchens.
If you don't have space for a large kitchen island, this wooden design is a much smaller option, but still just as stylish. It's available in four different wood finishes, and still offers plenty of shelf space for your plates and other flatware.
With these designer-approved ways to store plates, there's no reason to leave them in your drying rack, cluttering your countertops. Whether you add a plate rack or introduce a vintage cabinet, it's a small change that will instantly elevate your kitchen.
