The Art Of Setting A Table: A Guide To Dish Place Settings

Whether you're looking to elevate your dining experience or simply need some new dinnerware, a dish place setting is a great option. You can find a wide variety of dinnerware sets online, ranging from elegant and sophisticated to rustic and charming. These sets typically include dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, and mugs, with some even offering additional pieces like serving platters and place mats. You can also choose from a range of materials, including stoneware, porcelain, and plastic, depending on your needs and preferences. So, whether you're hosting an intimate dinner or a large gathering, investing in a dish place setting can add a touch of elegance and charm to your table.

Dinnerware sets

Types of Dinnerware Sets

• White Dinnerware: Timeless and elegant, white dinnerware sets are perfect for everyday use and special occasions. They provide a clean and crisp look to your table setting.
• Stoneware: Stoneware dinnerware sets offer a rustic and natural feel to your table. They often feature earthy tones and organic shapes, making them ideal for a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
• Porcelain: Porcelain dinnerware sets are known for their durability and elegance. They come in various styles, from minimalist designs to colourful patterns, making them versatile for both formal and casual dining.
• Coloured Dinnerware: Adding a pop of colour to your dinnerware can make a bold statement. Colours like blue or green evoke a coastal feel, while darker shades like black or charcoal grey create a modern and striking aesthetic.
• Reactive Glaze: Dinnerware with a reactive glaze has a unique, one-of-a-kind look. Each piece in the set will have slightly different swirls or patterns, adding a subtle touch of originality to your table.

Factors to Consider

When choosing a dinnerware set, consider the following factors:

• Size and Number of Place Settings: Dinnerware sets come in various sizes, typically ranging from 12-piece to 24-piece sets or more. Consider the size of your household and whether you often entertain guests. It's a good idea to have extra settings to accommodate unexpected guests and reduce the need for frequent washing.
• Material: The material of your dinnerware set is important for both aesthetics and functionality. Porcelain and stoneware are popular choices for their durability and style. If you plan to use your dinnerware outdoors, consider melamine, which is shatter-resistant.
• Dishwasher and Microwave Safety: For convenience, look for dinnerware sets that are dishwasher and microwave safe. This will make cleaning up after meals a breeze and allow you to heat up food quickly and easily.
• Design and Style: Choose a design that reflects your personal taste and complements your dining table and home décor. Consider the shape of the plates, whether you prefer clean lines or free-form edges, and any additional details like raised dots or textured finishes.

Popular Options

• Corelle Vitrelle: This 18-piece set is made of triple-layer glass, chip-resistant, and lightweight. It's a best-seller and perfect for everyday use.
• Gibson Home Zen Buffet Porcelain: The Gibson Home set is a 16-piece, chip- and scratch-resistant porcelain set in a sleek square shape.
• Amazon Basics 18-Piece Kitchen Dinnerware Set: A classic white set that is perfect for those who want a simple and elegant look.
• Lenox Blue Bay: This eclectic mix-and-match set features textile-inspired patterns in white and rich blue, perfect for a unique and stylish table setting.
• IKEA FÄRGKLAR: IKEA offers a range of dinnerware sets in various colours and designs, including the FÄRGKLAR set, which provides a personal touch to your table at an affordable price.

Stoneware

When it comes to style, stoneware offers a variety of looks, from modern and minimalist matte finishes to rustic and charming speckled designs. Some stoneware sets feature solid colours with rim details, while others offer mix-and-match patterns or unique shapes such as scalloped edges.

• The Siterra Artist's Blend Stoneware 16-piece set features a mix of speckled white and warm neutral hues, creating a modern and rustic look. This set includes dinner plates, salad plates, cereal bowls, and soup bowls, and is both microwave and dishwasher safe.
• The Gibson Soho Lounge Matte 18-piece set offers a modern and rustic look with its matte finish and dark grey colour. This set is designed to withstand everyday use, with chip-resistant and scratch-resistant properties, and is also oven-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe.
• The Resona Moss 16-piece set offers a simple and sophisticated look with its light grey and white colour scheme. This set includes dinner plates, salad plates, app bowls, and mini bowls, and has received positive reviews for its useful small bowls and safe packaging.
• The Aahil 16-piece set features a matte finish and contrasting interior, adding a sleek touch to any table setting. This set includes dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, and mugs, and is both dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe, making it a convenient choice for everyday use.

These are just a few examples of the many stoneware dinnerware sets available, each offering its unique style, features, and benefits.

Dinner plates

Materials

The material of your dinner plates is an important factor to consider. Here are some common materials:

• Ceramic: Includes stoneware and earthenware. Stoneware is low-maintenance, microwave, dishwasher, and oven-safe. Earthenware is more susceptible to chipping and cracking and requires hand washing.
• Porcelain: Resembles fine china, often white in hue, and is usually dishwasher-safe.
• Bone China: Elegant and classic option, similar to porcelain.
• Glass: Sturdy and elegant option, suitable for modern table settings.
• Melamine: Lightweight and durable, often used for outdoor or casual dining.

Shapes and Sizes

• Round plates: Traditional and classic option, complementing similarly shaped drinking glasses.
• Oval plates: Similar to round plates but add a unique touch to your table setting.
• Square plates: Modern and angular, accentuating the food presentation.
• Rectangular plates: Great for serving salads or desserts, especially with rounded edges.

Colors and Designs

When it comes to colors and designs, the options are endless:

• White: Classic and elegant, white dinnerware never goes out of style and can be dressed up or down.
• Black or Grey: Unexpected and contemporary, adding a touch of sophistication to your table.
• Blue: Serene and intimate, perfect for a casual and conversational dining atmosphere.
• Neutral tones: Beige, grey, or light brown plates with colourful rims or reactive glazes add subtle patterns and a unique finish.
• Seasonal designs: Holiday-themed plates, such as Christmas or Thanksgiving plates, are perfect for festive celebrations.

Casual vs. Formal Dinner Plates

You may also want to consider having separate sets of dinner plates for casual, everyday use and formal occasions:

• Casual dinner plates: Look for dishwasher- and microwave-safe options. Simple designs without extra details like embossing or beading are easier to clean.
• Formal dinner plates: Experiment with delicate materials and intricate patterns. Impress your guests with embossed rims or designer influences, such as the Athena Calderone or Leanne Ford collections.
• Corelle Vitrelle 8-Piece Dinner Plates Set: Triple-layer glass, lightweight, and chip-resistant.
• Amazon Basics 6-Piece White Dinner Plate Set: Simple and elegant, made of white porcelain.
• Villeroy & Boch Mariefleur Dinner Plate: Made of premium porcelain with a unique design.
• IKEA FÄRGKLAR Plate: Affordable and functional, with a simple design that coordinates easily with other colours and shapes.
• Williams-Sonoma Noel 16-Piece Dinnerware Set: Elegant and festive, adorned with winterberries and lush foliage, perfect for the holiday season.
• Etsy Spanish Night Dinnerware Set: Handmade and glazed pottery dishes with a unique design, perfect for a one-of-a-kind table setting.

Salad plates

Formal Place Settings

In formal place settings, the salad plate is placed on top of the dinner plate, which sits in the centre of the place mat. If soup is served before the salad, the soup bowl goes on the dinner plate first, and the salad plate is added after. If you're serving a salad as a main course, the salad bowl should be placed in the centre of the place setting where the dinner plate would ordinarily be.

Informal Place Settings

In an informal setting, the salad plate is placed directly to the left of the forks. If the salad is served with the meal, the salad plate may be omitted and the salad served on the same plate as the main course. If the main course contains liquid, such as gravy, a separate salad plate can be useful to keep the meal neater and the courses separate.

Salad Plate Placement Tips

• Salad plates are typically smaller than chargers and dinner plates but larger than bread and dessert plates.
• Forks are placed to the left of the plate, with the salad fork placed on the outside of the main dinner fork as it will be used first.
• Knives are placed to the right of the plate, with the blade facing the plate.
• Spoons are placed to the right of the knives, with the soup spoon placed in the order it will be used.
• The napkin can be placed on top of the dinner plate or beneath the fork.

Bowls

Types of Bowls

The most common types of bowls used in place settings are soup bowls, cereal bowls, salad bowls, and serving bowls. Soup and cereal bowls are typically deeper and have a greater capacity, while salad bowls may be wider and more shallow. Serving bowls are generally larger and used for family-style meals or buffets.

Formal Place Settings

In a formal place setting, the bowl's placement depends on the courses served. If soup is the first course, the soup bowl is placed on top of the dinner plate. After the soup course, the bowl is removed, and the salad course is served on a separate salad plate. If the salad is served before the main course, the salad bowl is placed on top of the dinner plate.

Informal Place Settings

For informal meals, the salad is often served alongside the main course. In this case, you can choose to serve the salad on the same plate as the main dish or keep it separate in a bowl. If you opt for a separate bowl, it should be placed to the left of the forks.

Casual Family Dining

For casual family dining or buffet-style meals, serving dishes with bowls can be placed directly on the table. A large salad bowl with salad tongs for easy serving is a great option for this setting.

Bowl Materials and Designs

Additionally, bowls can come in various colours, patterns, and designs to match your dining room aesthetic. You can choose bowls with minimalist designs, colourful patterns, or rustic charm, depending on your preference.

In conclusion, bowls are a versatile component of dish place settings, and their use can vary depending on the formality of the meal and your personal preferences. By selecting appropriate bowl types, placements, and designs, you can enhance your dining experience and create a visually appealing table setting.

Frequently asked questions