At a table, the first thing your guests will notice is the dinnerware. A beautiful dinnerware set can help complement your meals and helps set the tone of your dining experience. Pieces like Wedgwood dinnerware are more than just bowls and plates of serving food. From elegant dinner parties to formal settings, and even to casual pieces for regular daily use, it helps that you know the different types of dinnerware that you can set in your home.
The Dinnerware Materials
Call them dishes or plates; dinnerware sets are pivotal points on a table. As you start thinking about colours and patterns, it’s best to start your search by looking at the material you like. The usual dinnerware set materials include bone china, stoneware, porcelain, earthenware, or melamine. Here is a guide to help you choose the dinnerware material suitable for your home.
• Bone China: This material is elegant and lightweight and a good option both for a special occasion and everyday dinnerware since it is chip resistant. Unlike fine china, this material is microwave and dishwasher safe.
• Stoneware: These sets are finished with a unique glaze that gives the material an impermeable and smooth finish.
• Porcelain: This is a non-porous material that is durable and safe for microwave, oven, and dishwasher. However, stay away from porcelain sets with metallic accents since these cannot withstand microwaves.
• Earthenware: Dinnerware sets made from earthenware materials provide durability, value, and a casual look.
• Melamine: This break-resistant and shatterproof material is perfect for outdoor use. While melamine dinnerware sets are dishwasher-safe, these are not ideal for microwave or oven use.
The Dinnerware Styles
Dinnerware sets come in a wide variety of styles and designs that range from casual to sophisticated. The formal ones are typically made from porcelain or China, while those made from stoneware, melamine, or earthenware are perfect for casual dinnerware sets. Apart from the designs, these sets are divided into four varied styles: hand-painted, patterned, reliable, or banded. Although you can express your personality through the patterns and colours you choose, it is wise to stick to neutral shades for formal dinnerware sets.
Choosing your Dinnerware Set
After knowing what you want to add to your kitchen, you need to consider your options this time. Do you prefer buying a whole dinnerware set? Or do you settle for open stock or place settings? This will generally vary on several factors, although the most crucial one is, of course, your personal needs.
Formal dinnerware sets are usually sold in place settings. This includes all the needed pieces each person should have at the table. Open stock, on the other hand, is sold by the piece. This is suitable for people who only want to have some parts of dinnerware or those who wish to mix and match within their current dinnerware collection.
Dinnerware sets have multiple place settings that accommodate the whole table. Normally, sets come in 20s and can serve four people; and include teacups, salad plates, dinner plates, and saucers.
Space Considerations
Before buying new stacks of dinnerware to add to your growing collection, always consider how much space your cupboard and cabinets can accommodate for storage.
You can set your dining table practically any way you want. Whether you buy casual dinnerware or formal Wedgwood dinnerware, always go for something that you love and believe can help improve the look of your dining space.
Author – Darren Wilson