Dinner sets

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or sitting down for a family meal with loved ones, you want to know there’s a reliable dinner set ready to be used. Dinner plates and bowls are some of the most regularly used kitchen items in most households, and what you choose comes down to personal preference. For breakfast or lunch, entrée or main meals, there is a dinner set ready to support whatever you’re cooking.

It’s in the material

From durable materials steeped in tradition, to modern, uniquely designed sets; discover the intricacies of dinnerware construction.

Stoneware: constructed from clay with an earthy texture, stoneware is finished with a matte or glossy reactive glaze, which makes each piece subtly unique and rustic in appearance. It’s also heavier and thicker than porcelain, making it great for everyday meals or entertaining outdoors.

Porcelain: loved for its combination of delicacy and strength, a porcelain dinner set with a classic white finish is a popular choice. Porcelain is non porous, maintaining high quality for longer, while its medium thickness makes it suitable for both formal and casual dining.

Fine Bone China: the thinnest and lightest of the three, Fine Bone China has a highly translucent finish and is traditionally used in formal dinner settings. The inclusion of bone ash in its formation softens its structure, which actually makes it stronger.

What material you choose for your dinner set depends on both the durability and style you seek.

Choosing what’s best for you

The right dinner set can elevate your dining experience and show off your lovingly prepared food, but everyone's needs are different. Here are some aspects to consider.

• Tone: compare casual and formal dinner sets to decide whether you want everyday practicality, a dinner set for special occasions only, or dinnerware that can handle both.
• Shape: this choice typically teeters between a coupe (rimless) dinner set or rimmed dinner set. Coupe is smoother, flatter and more contemporary whereas rimmed dinnerware is traditional and slightly more formal.
• Personal style: what is your eye naturally drawn to? It’s important to opt for a dinner set you truly love, especially if you will be using it every day. If it looks good with your cutlery set, that’s even better!
• Durability: it’s important to check whether dinner plates and bowls are safe to use in the microwave or oven. Also look to see if a set is hand wash only or if it’s dishwasher safe.
• Weight: think about how a dinnerware piece will feel to hold and how it will store away.
• Size: standard sets of just plates and bowls are perfect for family meals. However, ranges can expand to also include matching mugs, cups and saucers.

Shop the look

Choosing dinnerware from a large range of colours and styles can be tricky, especially when you want to invest in a set that will last for years to come, or if you’re looking for a wedding or housewarming present for a loved one. It’s always good to settle on how you think a dinner set will be used, whether it’s for everyday use or for special occasions. Seasonality is also a factor. For example, when hosting a Christmas lunch, you might want to purchase a special occasion dinner set with a decorative gold rim or festive pattern. You can also grow and add to your dinner set with individual serving plates and bowls to build a tablescape that is truly versatile.

Timeless look or passing trend?

If you’re looking for the perfect all round set, one you can use for all sorts of occasions including family dinners with little ones, there’s no point in selecting the loudest and proudest pattern. The same goes if you’re prone to changing your mind; selecting a colourful dinner set can be risky if there’s a possibility you’ll grow tired of seeing it day after day. Consider going for plates and bowls sets that feature accents of colours such as silver, charcoal or coastal blue, so they will look the part and feel trendy but won’t date.

How will it look with the rest of your tableware?

No matter how you use your dinner set, it’s always good to visualise how the plates and bowls will look as part of a setting along with napkins, cutlery and tableware, while complementing your home’s decor. At Kitchen Warehouse, we offer a range of tableware to suit any dinner set, from rustic and trendy to traditional.

FAQs:

What is a dinner set?

A dinner set is a collection of matching plates and bowls to plate entrée, main course and dessert dishes. Plates and bowls in a set are typically made of the same material, such as porcelain, and have a matching design. Dinnerware can be purchased as a complete set, or as individual pieces.

What does a dinner set include?

At Kitchen Warehouse, there are many different sizes and ranges of plate and bowl sets available to accommodate the seats at a table. These are just a few examples of a typically sized dinner set.

• 12 piece: can include dinner plates, side plates and bowls.
• 16 piece: can include dinner plates, side plates, bowls and mugs.
• 20 piece: can include dinner plates, side plates, bowls, cups and saucers.

Sometimes dinner sets will include more specific items and this is where it can get confusing. For example, side plates can often be referred to as entrée plates or salad plates, while a dinner bowl can also be called a pasta bowl or cereal bowl.

Can a dinnerware set be mixed and matched?

White, charcoal and black coloured dinner plate sets provide excellent backdrops for meals and are easily interchangeable. Choosing from a grayscale palette makes matching different entrée and dinnerware seamless. Or, if you’re building a tablescape that is more eclectic, consider purchasing a handful of bold side plates to accompany your more neutral toned dinner set.