10 Creative Ways to Use Ceramics in Your Home
Enjoy the beauty of tactile clayware every day with these décor suggestions
Amanda Pollard
8 April 2017
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Pottery adds warmth and interest to a room, and there are plenty of clever styling tricks to show off your ceramic pieces to their best advantage. Check out these ideas for creatively working pottery into a scheme.
Create a collection of whites
If you’re thinking your white pottery items aren’t worth showing off, think again. Group them together as they’ve done here to create a beautiful, minimal display. This works best if the backdrop is a different colour, like the blue wall and shelf in this Shaker-style kitchen. In your own home you could paint the wall the shelf is on, or just the recessed area behind it.
If you’re thinking your white pottery items aren’t worth showing off, think again. Group them together as they’ve done here to create a beautiful, minimal display. This works best if the backdrop is a different colour, like the blue wall and shelf in this Shaker-style kitchen. In your own home you could paint the wall the shelf is on, or just the recessed area behind it.
Line up with abundance
A collection of ceramics doesn’t have to be from the same range. It’s more interesting to choose items with similar shapes and colours. Arrange them as a group to create a stunning display.
The ceramics here have been lined up along the mantelpiece to form an interesting pattern in front of the dark wall, and the colours chosen beautifully echo those in the painting.
Discover more snazzy styling tips for your mantelpiece
A collection of ceramics doesn’t have to be from the same range. It’s more interesting to choose items with similar shapes and colours. Arrange them as a group to create a stunning display.
The ceramics here have been lined up along the mantelpiece to form an interesting pattern in front of the dark wall, and the colours chosen beautifully echo those in the painting.
Discover more snazzy styling tips for your mantelpiece
Add a simple centrepiece
If you’ve got a piece of pottery you love, it makes sense to display it somewhere you can look at it often. The dish and vase on this table look beautiful together and add an attractive feature on the pale wooden surface.
It helps that the patterned dish is offset by a plain vase, so that the two pieces don’t drown each other out.
If you’ve got a piece of pottery you love, it makes sense to display it somewhere you can look at it often. The dish and vase on this table look beautiful together and add an attractive feature on the pale wooden surface.
It helps that the patterned dish is offset by a plain vase, so that the two pieces don’t drown each other out.
Layer the tones
Blue and white ceramics look stunning in this bright blue room. If you’ve used a strong colour in your space, embrace it by collecting pieces in the same hue. Similarly, if you love the colour of a ceramic object, use it as a starting point for you interior scheme. Don’t be afraid to make a big statement in your décor – the key to making it work is to do it with confidence.
Blue and white ceramics look stunning in this bright blue room. If you’ve used a strong colour in your space, embrace it by collecting pieces in the same hue. Similarly, if you love the colour of a ceramic object, use it as a starting point for you interior scheme. Don’t be afraid to make a big statement in your décor – the key to making it work is to do it with confidence.
Use the rule of three
When you’re creating a vignette with your ceramics, it’s a good idea to put them in a group of three. The eye generally finds this configuration more pleasing, particularly if you include a central tall point. Here, two earthenware vases sit either side of a tall glass bottle. The white flowers complement the pale top halves of the ceramic vases to give an interesting repetition to the display.
When you’re creating a vignette with your ceramics, it’s a good idea to put them in a group of three. The eye generally finds this configuration more pleasing, particularly if you include a central tall point. Here, two earthenware vases sit either side of a tall glass bottle. The white flowers complement the pale top halves of the ceramic vases to give an interesting repetition to the display.
Repeat for full effect
The group of three works here to show off one design. One of these blue vases might have been lost on its own, but a group of three makes a statement. A separate vase in a different pattern adds a quirky element to the display.
The group of three works here to show off one design. One of these blue vases might have been lost on its own, but a group of three makes a statement. A separate vase in a different pattern adds a quirky element to the display.
Group similar objects together
This shelving unit is home to a wide variety of objects, which could have looked messy and disjointed. However, the owner has cleverly grouped objects by colour and type to give it a more considered look.
The blue china forms the centrepiece in the middle, while a miscellaneous gathering of jugs appears as a collection in the top left recess. For a similar look, hunt through your ceramics and work out which ones can be grouped together. They don’t need to match exactly – they could have just one thing in common.
This shelving unit is home to a wide variety of objects, which could have looked messy and disjointed. However, the owner has cleverly grouped objects by colour and type to give it a more considered look.
The blue china forms the centrepiece in the middle, while a miscellaneous gathering of jugs appears as a collection in the top left recess. For a similar look, hunt through your ceramics and work out which ones can be grouped together. They don’t need to match exactly – they could have just one thing in common.
Pop up your plates
The best way to display a collection of plates is to hang them on the wall. Don’t worry if they’re not all the same, in fact a surface full of mismatched platters looks more interesting. The plates here appear to have been hung casually, but on closer inspection the configuration has been well thought out. Darker tones merge into those with lighter patterns below, with the plates at the bottom having more white on them than blue.
The best way to display a collection of plates is to hang them on the wall. Don’t worry if they’re not all the same, in fact a surface full of mismatched platters looks more interesting. The plates here appear to have been hung casually, but on closer inspection the configuration has been well thought out. Darker tones merge into those with lighter patterns below, with the plates at the bottom having more white on them than blue.
Warm up a modern space
These wall-hung plates are the perfect way to add interest to an otherwise plain room. Streamlined kitchen units and white worktops have been given a quirky twist with the mismatched but colour-themed ceramics. To keep the space looking uncluttered, the designers have chosen to hang them in a grid pattern.
Find ways to add warmth and style to a contemporary interior
These wall-hung plates are the perfect way to add interest to an otherwise plain room. Streamlined kitchen units and white worktops have been given a quirky twist with the mismatched but colour-themed ceramics. To keep the space looking uncluttered, the designers have chosen to hang them in a grid pattern.
Find ways to add warmth and style to a contemporary interior
Add contrasting materials
Show off the texture of a ceramic piece by contrasting it with other objects. The earthy feel of this white jug stands out because it has been placed between a shiny copper bowl and a sleek glass jar.
Show off the texture of a ceramic piece by contrasting it with other objects. The earthy feel of this white jug stands out because it has been placed between a shiny copper bowl and a sleek glass jar.
Enhance strong shades
Sometimes less is more when it comes to making a big statement. The green jug in this uncluttered kitchen is enough to pull out the green of the feature wall. The effect is simple, yet striking.
Sometimes less is more when it comes to making a big statement. The green jug in this uncluttered kitchen is enough to pull out the green of the feature wall. The effect is simple, yet striking.
Clash colours
Got a collection of brightly coloured dishes? Be bold and display them on a vivid wall. The yellow here is a stunning backdrop for the patterned bowls. The design of these dishes are similar, but the idea would work equally well with a mix of patterns. For cohesion, try to find a repeating tone that you can pull out and use for the background wall.
Are you a fan of ceramics? Or do you have a different collection of items, such as glassware? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Got a collection of brightly coloured dishes? Be bold and display them on a vivid wall. The yellow here is a stunning backdrop for the patterned bowls. The design of these dishes are similar, but the idea would work equally well with a mix of patterns. For cohesion, try to find a repeating tone that you can pull out and use for the background wall.
Are you a fan of ceramics? Or do you have a different collection of items, such as glassware? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Period Property Store...I remember seeing on television - Pottery Throwdown ?- some examples of these spectacularly lovely lighting creations. I had never seen such before, and was totally blown away. It is good to know where they can be sourced!
@janedale, that's right! here is a fantastic video of how they are created in the bone china factory in Stoke. We too are based in the area and it is fantastic to see our local expert skills being translated into beautiful contemporary products and being able to supply them too!
Period Property Store...your video is fascinating and beautiful. Thank you!