Dinnerware Sets: Collectible Tableware

Dinnerware sets the table for memorable meals and offers an opportunity to express your personal style. A great set will bring a touch of class to any dinner table and remain in fashion for years, all while withstanding the rigors of daily use. Here are some of the top dinnerware sets available:

- Fable: Designed by artisans in Portugal, each piece is made using traditional ceramic-making techniques combined with modern technology. The Base Dinnerware Set is a great place to start, coming with four dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls, and breakfast bowls, plus it's available in an assortment of incredible colours.

- Gibson: Gibson offers relatively affordable dinnerware sets that are sleek, match-all and practical for entertaining. The Soho Lounge 16-Piece Square Set is great for a modern touch, while the Rockaway 12-Piece Set is perfect if you want a simpler bundle.

- Corelle: Corelle has some wonderful white dinnerware bundles, with a touch of colour that still honours the match-all lean. The brand's all-white dinnerware set is another 16-piece offering that deserves much acclaim.

- Stone Lain: Stone Lain has some options with a hint of style that some other sets don't offer. The brand's 16-Piece Marble Porcelain Dinnerware Set features a beautiful swirled design, while the Modern Gold Splash 16-Piece Dinnerware Set adds a touch of luxury.

- Pfaltzgraff: Pfaltzgraff has some wonderful textured sets that are sure to garner compliments from your guests. The Trellis White 16-Piece Dinnerware Set adds a glimmer of farmhouse-style, while the Bella 12-Piece Dinnerware Set brings a touch of nature to your table.

- Lorenzo & Royalty Porcelain: Royalty Porcelain’s Vintage 47-Piece Gold Dinnerware Set and the Lorenzo Victoria 57-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set are two bourgeois options. The brand’s 57-Piece Bone China Set is also unlike any other, with its white and ornate charm.

- Lenox: Lenox is a leader in the dinnerware sets department, known for its exquisite patterns and smooth surfaces. The French Perle Scallop 12-Piece Dinnerware Setting and the Blue Bay Place 12-Piece Setting are investment-worthy options.

- Casafina: Casafina has been gracing dinner tables since 1981 and has a myriad of options that are as durable as they are beautiful. The brand's Ceramic Dinnerware Collection features a modern style, while the Pacifica Dinnerware Collection showcases a minimalistic, simplistic look.

- Le Creuset: Le Creuset, known for its iconic culinary offerings, also has lovely dinnerware, perfect for Sunday family dinners and midnight snacks. The Vancouver 16-Piece Dinnerware Set is easy to clean, comes with a 10-year warranty, and features a non-porous glaze.

Dinnerware for everyday use

Dinnerware is an important part of our everyday lives, and choosing the right set can elevate your dining experience. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you select the perfect dinnerware for everyday use:

Factors to Consider

When choosing dinnerware for everyday use, there are several factors to keep in mind:

• Material: Earthenware and stoneware offer a rustic look but are delicate and can chip easily. China or porcelain is durable and non-porous, while bone china is lighter and more expensive. Melamine is a lightweight, break-resistant plastic, great for outdoor dining but not microwavable. Glass, like Corelle, is durable and almost indestructible.
• Shapes and Sizes: Rims on plates provide elegance but limit space. Wider bowls are ideal for pasta and salads, while small, deep bowls are perfect for cereal and desserts. Consider if the mugs are large enough for your preferred drinks.
• Color and Pattern: Choose colours and patterns that match your personal style and home decor. White sets are classic and versatile, while colourful options like Fiesta add a bold, festive touch.
• Number of Place Settings: Four to six place settings are standard, but consider your household size and entertainment needs. Traditional five-piece settings include a dinner plate, salad/dessert plate, bread plate, and cup with saucer.
• Brands and Availability: Opt for well-known brands to ensure durability and easy replacement. Look for sets with a good warranty, like the Corelle 18-piece set with a three-year limited warranty.

Recommended Dinnerware Sets for Everyday Use

• Corelle 18-Piece Dinnerware Set: This glass dinnerware is highly durable and comes in various patterns and shapes. It's microwave and dishwasher-safe, stacks neatly, and offers a good balance between plate and bowl sizes.
• Gibson Home Rockaway 12-Piece Dinnerware Set: This stoneware set features a modern, matte glaze in trendy colours like soft grey and millennial pink. The bowls are generously sized, and the rimless plates stack easily.
• Pfaltzgraff Trellis 16-Piece Dinnerware Set: This stoneware set offers a rustic, vintage look with a subtle scrolled pattern on a white background. The wide rims add to the antique style, and the mugs are ideal for coffee lovers.
• Fiesta 12-Piece Classic Dinnerware Set: Fiesta is an iconic, USA-made brand with bold glazes and concentric circles. It comes in various colours, including poppy red and daffodil yellow, and offers large salad plates. It's microwave and dishwasher-safe.
• Amazon Basics Melamine Dinnerware Set: This melamine set elevates plastic dinnerware with sophisticated colours and patterns. The salad plates and bowls are generously sized, and the set is dishwasher-safe, perfect for outdoor dining.
• Wedgwood White 16-Piece Dinnerware Set: This elegant bone china set is a classic, introduced in the 1920s. It features wide rims and footed mugs with thin, easy-to-sip lips. It's microwave and dishwasher-safe, making it practical for everyday use.
• Fable Basic Dinnerware Set: This ceramic set from Portugal offers a simple, organic look with slightly upturned rims. It includes generous plate sizes and a variety of bowl shapes and colours, allowing you to mix and match within the set. It's also dishwasher and microwave-safe.

Dinnerware for special occasions

Dinnerware is an essential part of setting the mood for a special occasion. Whether it's a wedding, a birthday, or a holiday gathering, the right dinnerware can elevate the dining experience and make it memorable. Here are some tips and recommendations for choosing the perfect dinnerware for those special occasions:

Materials and Durability:

• Stoneware: Stoneware is a popular choice for dinnerware due to its durability and rustic charm. It is thicker and heavier than porcelain, giving it a sturdy feel. Stoneware is suitable for daily use and can add an earthy touch to your table setting.
• Porcelain: Porcelain dinnerware offers a glossy and elegant appearance. It is made from fired clay and has a non-porous surface, making it chip-resistant. Porcelain is a versatile option for both formal and informal occasions.
• Bone China: Bone china is a type of porcelain that includes bone ash in its composition, giving it a translucent and delicate appearance. It is known for its lightweight yet durable nature. Bone china is often reserved for more formal occasions.
• Melamine: Melamine dinnerware is made of plastic and is an excellent choice for outdoor dining or families with young children. It is lightweight, durable, and comes in a variety of sophisticated designs.

Design and Aesthetics:

• Color and Pattern: When choosing dinnerware for special occasions, consider the color and pattern. White dinnerware provides a neutral canvas and can be easily matched with other tableware. However, colorful and patterned dinnerware can add a festive touch to your table.
• Rimmed or Rimless: Rimmed plates offer a classic and elegant look, while rimless plates provide a more modern and minimalist feel. Rimmed plates also provide a convenient grip when carrying them to the table.
• Shape and Size: The shape and size of your dinnerware can impact the dining experience. Wide rims on plates can give a more formal look but may reduce the usable space for food. Straight-sided walls provide a modern aesthetic and ample flat surface for your meals.

Recommendations:

• Fable Dinnerware Set: This set offers a slightly asymmetrical design with a gentle wave to the edges, adding a unique charm. It includes two types of bowls, perfect for different meal occasions. The set is available in a range of beautiful colors, and you can mix and match shades to create a unique tablescape.
• Le Creuset San Francisco Coupe Dinnerware Set: This set features the iconic three concentric rings, reminiscent of their Dutch oven lids. It has a subtle ombre hue and includes mugs that are perfect for coffee or tea. Le Creuset dinnerware is known for its durability and can be used in the microwave, oven, and broiler.
• Fiesta Dinnerware Set: Fiesta dinnerware is an iconic and collectible brand that has been manufactured in the USA for decades. It offers a range of vibrant colors and concentric circles on the rims. The set includes a wide bowl that is versatile for different meal occasions.
• Lenox French Perle Dinnerware Set: This stoneware set exudes elegance and sophistication. It features a textured design on the rims and a hand-applied finish. Lenox offers a lifetime replacement program for broken dishes, ensuring the longevity of your special occasion dinnerware.
• Amazon Basics Dinnerware Set: If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, the Amazon Basics set offers a classic and timeless appeal. The set includes dinner plates, bowls, dessert plates, and mugs, making it a practical choice for everyday use or special occasions.

Dinnerware for a rustic look

Rustic dinnerware sets are a great way to bring a farmhouse charm to your dining table. Here are some options for dinnerware sets that will help you achieve that rustic look:

Pfaltzgraff Trellis 16-Piece Dinnerware Set

This stoneware set offers a vintage, craft pottery look with a subtle scrolled pattern and random dark markings on a neutral white background, giving it an antique feel. The wide rims on the plates and the large mugs, which can hold a "tall" coffee with milk, contribute to its rustic aesthetic. This set is microwave and dishwasher-safe.

Elama Rustic Birch 16-Piece Embossed Scalloped Stoneware Dinnerware Set

This set features an embossed, scalloped design in white with brown accents. It includes dinner plates, salad plates, soup and cereal bowls, and mugs, and is safe for use in the microwave and dishwasher.

Gibson Elite Dragonstone 16-Piece Dinnerware Set

This rustic set from Gibson comes in grey stoneware, with a reactive glaze finish that gives each piece a unique look. The set includes dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls, and mugs, and is safe for use in the microwave and dishwasher.

Stone Lain Brasa 16-Piece Dinnerware Set

This set from Stone Lain features an earthy, green colour palette and a unique shape with free-form rims, giving it a rustic, artisanal aesthetic. It includes dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls, and mugs, and is safe for use in the microwave and dishwasher.

Gourmet Basic by Mikasa Verona 16-Piece Dinnerware Set

This rustic dinnerware set from Mikasa features a simple design with a matte glaze. The set includes dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls, and mugs, and is safe for use in the microwave and dishwasher.

Dinnerware for colour

If you're looking to bring some colour to your table, there are a variety of dinnerware sets to choose from. From bright and bold to subtle and speckled, here are some options to consider:

Fiesta 12-Piece Classic Dinnerware Set in Mixed Colours

Fiesta dinnerware is an iconic, American Art Deco classic. With its bright, bold glazes and distinctive concentric circles, Fiesta is sure to make a statement. The set comes in a range of colours, including poppy red, daffodil yellow, and lapis blue. You can purchase a set in a single colour or mix and match to create a festive table setting. The salad plates are generously sized, making them perfect for a large wedge of iceberg lettuce or a generous slice of pie. This dinnerware is microwave and dishwasher-safe, making it a practical choice for everyday use.

Gibson Home Rockaway 12-Piece Dinnerware Set

This stoneware set offers a spare, unfussy design that is currently in fashion. With simple rounded sides and a matte glaze, the Rockaway set is both trendy and versatile. It comes in a range of colours, including soft grey, slate blue, and millennial pink. The bowls are generously sized, making them perfect for a hearty portion of chowder or dessert. The rimless coupe shape of the plates makes them easy to stack, and the set is both microwave and dishwasher-safe.

Amazon Basics Melamine Dinnerware Set

If you're looking for a lightweight and break-resistant option, the Amazon Basics Melamine Dinnerware Set is a great choice. This set comes in 27 different colours and patterns, ranging from rustic solids to traditional prints and flowered designs. The salad plates are larger than most, providing ample space for appetisers or desserts. While this set is dishwasher-safe, it is not suitable for microwave use.

Fable Basic Dinnerware Set

Fable offers a simple, organic look with a focus on quality. Manufactured in Portugal and hand-finished, each piece has a unique touch. The dinner and salad plates feature a slight upturn at the rim, providing a wide surface for generous portions. The set includes both deep and wide bowls, perfect for a variety of dishes. You can choose from a range of colours, including speckled white, blush pink, dove grey, midnight blue, and beachgrass green. The pieces are dishwasher and microwave-safe, making them a practical choice.

Vancasso Bonita Multicolour Dinner Set

The Vancasso Bonita set offers a vibrant mix of colours and a hand-painted spiral pattern. This stoneware set includes dinner plates, dessert plates, and soup bowls, service for six. It is both microwave and dishwasher-safe, making it a practical choice for everyday use.

Euro Ceramica Zanzibar Collection 20-Piece Dinnerware Set

The Euro Ceramica Zanzibar set offers a vibrant, multicoloured design with a Spanish floral motif. This ceramic set includes dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls, and mugs, service for four. It is dishwasher-safe, making it a convenient option for everyday use.

Dinnerware for durability

When shopping for dinnerware, it's important to consider the material it is made from, as this will determine its durability, weight, and ease of maintenance. Here are some of the most common materials used for dinnerware, along with their pros and cons in terms of durability:

Porcelain

Porcelain dinnerware is a popular choice due to its durability and attractive appearance. It is easy to clean, stain-resistant, and can be safely used in the dishwasher and sometimes even the microwave. However, it is important to avoid gold or platinum trims as they can be damaged by excessive heat, certain dishwashing liquids, or the microwave. Porcelain is also prone to chipping and cracking if not handled with care.

Bone China

Bone china is composed of bone ash, which allows it to be fired at a lower temperature than porcelain while achieving the same or better results. It is the strongest and most durable ceramic dinnerware option, even more so than porcelain. It is lightweight, dishwasher-safe, and can usually be used in the microwave and oven as well. However, it is more expensive than other types of dinnerware.

Stoneware

Stoneware is a type of ceramic dinnerware that is stronger and more durable than earthenware. It is fired at a higher temperature and often has vitreous material added to it for strength. Stoneware is typically used for casual, everyday place settings and is very versatile and easy to maintain. It is generally safe to use in the microwave, dishwasher, oven, and freezer, but it should not be subjected to sudden or extreme temperature changes.

Earthenware

Earthenware is a type of ceramic that is glazed and fired. It often has a thick, heavy, and rustic look, but it is not as durable or strong as other types of dinnerware and is prone to chipping. It is usually dishwasher-safe and can sometimes be used in the microwave, but it is important to check with the manufacturer first. Earthenware is often porous, so it can stain or absorb liquid if left submerged in water.

Melamine

Melamine is a lightweight, sturdy, and inflexible plastic material that is virtually indestructible. It is ideal for children and outdoor use, as it is very difficult to break. It is usually dishwasher-safe (on the top rack), but it should not be used in the microwave or oven, and it should not be heated with food in it.

Vitrified Glass

Vitrified glass, such as the well-known brand Corelle, is glass that has been fired at ultra-high temperatures to make it nonporous and extremely durable. It is safe to use in the dishwasher and microwave and is highly resistant to chipping and cracking, even when dropped on hard surfaces.

When choosing dinnerware for durability, it is important to consider the material that best suits your needs in terms of strength, maintenance, and intended use. Porcelain, bone china, stoneware, and vitrified glass are excellent choices for durable dinnerware that can withstand everyday use.

Frequently asked questions