A Wall Plate Rack Buying Guide
December 28th, 2009Finding a wall plate rack that works for you should be pretty easy. Let’s start with what you need a plate rack for. Do you want a space saver or a decorative rack where you can add some collectible plates? How many plates do you want to store or display and what size are they (very important). Do you want the rack to be simple or should the wall rack itself be decorative? Once you know all this then you can narrow down what type of wall plate rack you want.
A wall plate rack that is used for storage generally will be considered a “deep” rack in that the plates will be stored vertically (the edges will be facing out). Some of the deep racks will have adjustable arms so you can securely store your plates or they may have individual slots for each plate.
Storage racks are great for apartments where space is at a premium or for larger households that want to be able to quickly store and access their plates.
A decorative wall plate rack can come in many styles and are considered to be similar to waht a frame is to a painting. You do not want a decorative wall plate rack to overwhelm what it is holding. There are decorative racks that will hold a single plate or large ones that can accommodate a collection of plates. Obviously, a decorative rack will display the plates face out. When picking a wall plate rack make sure the aesthetic works for you. There are racks that will display you plates at different heights or all in a row or all vertically. Start with the plates you want to hang and think about how they would best be aligned (and where they will be displayed).
What to look for when buying a Wall Plate Rack
When shopping for a rack whether it be for storage or for display there are a few things you will want to consider before making a purchase:
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Do you have a secure place to hang it or conversely will where you want to hang the rack support it. Factor in the weight of your plates.
- What size plates does the rack hold – many racks hold a standard 10″ plate but many plates are larger than that so make sure your plates will fit.
- Does the wall plate rack come with the necessary hardware for hanging or mounting the rack. Unfortunately some suppliers do not include mounts and screws and you will have to figure out what works best.
- Make sure you buy from a reputable seller that has a no hassle return policy. You may find that the rack doesn’t fit your space, needs or please your eye – either way you should be able to return it.
- Are the materials the rack is made out of quality ones. You do not want to hang something that is made of cheap wood or even compressed wood (particle board) as these are both heavy and prone to chipping. If the rack is stained or painted make sure it is going to last.
A wall plate rack can cost anywhere from $49 to $499 and price doesn’t necessarily mean quality so ask questions or check out buyer feedback before purchasing.
Bottom line – no matter what type of wall plate rack you buy make sure it is one that YOU like since you are the one going to have it on your wall.
