How to Display Plates in a Hutch

Stand plates along the back of the hutch in the grooves or behind the slat if the hutch has that feature. This present's the pattern to the viewer to make the plates a decorative feature in the room. Create a balanced display by spacing the plates evenly. For example, rest a large serving plate in the center, and center a dinner plate in the space on each side of it. Alternatively, display plates in the back of the hutch on plate stands.

Create stacks of everyday plates. Organize them by size, with dinner plates within easy reach on the middle shelf. Making stacks of plates by size makes the most efficient use of space in the hutch.

Center an empty plate rack on each side of an upper shelf for fine china, hand-painted or other special plates. Plate racks take more room to store fewer plates, but they have the advantage of keeping the plates from bumping into or scraping on each other.

Close the doors to check the display. Moving plate racks 2 to 3 inches away from the center of the shelf can help the display appear more balanced when the hutch is closed, because the frame of the doors blocks the view in the center.

Put one plate in each plate rack, and close the doors carefully. Move the plate racks closer to the back of the hutch if necessary to provide more room for the doors to close. Load the plate racks with plates.