Designing your home can be a challenging task. From choosing your colours and theme to coordinating all the different rooms, it can take lots of time trying to make all the pieces and areas come together. Once you finish painting your walls and adding your furniture and fixtures, the next thing to do is to add the smaller pieces to make each part of your home come to life. Part of this is finding the right dinnerware for your dining room.
The dinnerware you choose can also have an impact on the design and atmosphere of your home. For example, Wedgwood dinnerware gives off an elegant vibe to your dining area. However, this is only one out of so many different brands, styles, and collections that you can choose from, making the decision so much harder. Familiarising yourself with the common types of dinnerware will thus help you narrow down your options and find one that will be suitable for your home.
Types of Dinnerware
In terms of material, you typically have the following options: bone china, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, and melamine. Bone china can work for casual and more formal occasions since it is durable, chip-resistant, and elegant.
If you are going for a minimal yet elegant design, then you can try looking at the dinnerware with metallic gold designs from Wedgwood. Earthenware, on the other hand, is more suitable for casual use and leans more on the heavy side. To preserve its quality, you should avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures.
Like earthenware, stoneware is ideal for everyday use though it is a more durable choice. Porcelain, on the other hand, is a versatile material that can be used in the microwave, dishwasher, and oven as long as it has no metallic accents. Finally, melamine is suitable for outdoor use since it is shatter-proof, hard to break, and usually dishwasher-safe, though not microwave-safe.
Dinnerware Sets
When choosing your dinnerware set, think about whether you need a casual or formal set or both. If you want both, then you can get one set of each or choose a set that is more versatile and can work on both occasions. Formal dinnerware usually comes in place settings consisting of all the pieces that you need in your table.
Standard dinnerware sets usually come with 20 pieces to seat four people, though you can also opt for open stock dinnerware where you buy piece by piece. The decision is ultimately yours, but some of the things you can consider are your family size, your expected number of guests on special occasions, and the like. If you prefer using the same set for casual and formal times, you can go for white dinnerware and dress up your table with linens and placemats.
Determining Size and Space
Before you make any purchase, think about the size of your cabinets and table. If you do not have a lot of storage space, it may be better to go for dinnerware sets that are versatile for any occasion. If you do not necessarily entertain guests in your home, then you can opt for fewer sets. Similarly, make sure the size of your plates and other pieces will fit properly in your cabinets and dishwasher.
You can look at some dinnerware trends for inspiration if you are unsure of what will look good in your dining room, though a good starting point would be to think of your design theme. With so many possible designs to choose from, you need to have an idea of what you are looking for before you go shopping. Otherwise, you may feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to choose among so many beautiful pieces.
