Dinner Sets

Different types of dinner sets

• Stoneware. Constructed from clay with an earthy texture, stoneware is finished with a matt or glossy reactive glaze, which makes each piece subtly unique. It’s also heavier and thicker than porcelain, making it great for everyday meals or outside entertaining.

• Porcelain. Loved for its delicacy and strength, a porcelain dinner set is a popular choice and has a medium thickness making 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, while some treat it delicately, it can be surprisingly strong and even chip resistant. However, it’s often used in more formal dinner settings.

Choosing the best dinner set 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. Consider casual vs formal dinner sets and decide whether you want everyday practicality, a dinner set for special occasions only, or dinnerware that can handle both.

• Shape. The choice is typically whether you go for a coupe dinner set or rimmed dinner set. Coupe is smoother and more contemporary whereas rimmed is traditional and is 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 placemats and cutlery set, that’s even better!

• Durability and use. Think about how easy it is to clean and check to see if it’s hand wash only or dishwasher safe, then check to see if it’s safe to use in the oven or microwave.

• Weight. Think about how it will feel to hold or carry.

Choosing from the large range of colours and styles available
This can be tricky, especially if you’re buying multiple dining sets or choosing a dinner set for a wedding or housewarming present. It’s always good to settle on how you think they will get used. Here are some questions to think about to prompt your search.

Can it be mixed and matched?
Light coloured dinner sets or charcoal and black dinner sets provide excellent backdrops for meals and are easily interchangeable with existing crockery. Whether you prefer a dinner plate to seamlessly match your entree plates or you’re building a tablescape that is more eclectic, neutral tones are a great starting point - you can also opt for a speckle design for added interest and texture.

How will it look with the rest of your tableware?
Themed tables are growing ever-popular and are no longer just reserved for special occasions or Christmas parties. No matter how you use your dinner set, it’s always good to visualise how they will look as part of a setting, along with napery, cutlery, tableware and home decor. Whether you go for French-chic with country blues and lots of wood or urban and earthy with slates and matt textures, the right dinner set can really help set the mood.

Is the colour or pattern a passing trend?
If you’re looking for that one perfect all-rounder; the type of dinnerware set you can use for all sorts of occasions, that wears really well and can handle family dinners with young children, there’s no point in selecting the loudest and proudest pattern, especially if you think there’s a possibility you’ll grow tired of seeing it day after day. However, going for colours such as jewel-toned teal or a coastal blue will look the part and feel on-trend, but won’t date.

Dinner sets available if you are on a budget
At Kitchen Warehouse, there is plenty of choice if you’re on a budget - and you don’t need to compromise on style or quality. You can find an excellent 12pc dinner set for under $50 and if you opt for a timeless colour such as crisp white, it will serve you well for years to come.

Buying your dinner set online at Kitchen Warehouse
If this is your first order with us, you should know that we take great care in packaging our items so your kitchenware, glassware, barware, bakeware, and cookware deliveries arrive in pristine condition. We also offer free shipping throughout Australia on orders over $100 at checkout, which gives you the perfect chance to revisit your wishlist or use your gift cards. You can also shop with Afterpay.

FAQs:

Which brand is best for a dinner set?
All dinnerware brands offer something unique so there is no ‘one’ best brand for a dinner set. However, some of our bestselling brands include Ecology (both Ecology Ottawa and Ecology Speckle ranges are firm favourites), Noritake, Royal Doulton, Gordon Ramsay (for Royal Doulton), and Maxwell & Williams (especially popular is the Maxwell & Williams white basics and white basics diamonds). You can explore all of the brands we stock here.

What does a dinner set include?
This largely depends on the size and seating configuration.

• 12 piece dinner set. Includes dinner plates, side plates and bowls.

• 16 piece dinner set. Includes dinner plates, side plates, bowls and mugs.

• 20 piece dinner set. Includes 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, the packaging on a dinnerware set can list a salad plate instead of a side plate or a pasta bowl or cereal bowl instead so this is something to look out for.

You can also grow and add to your dinner set with individual serving plates and bowls to build a tablescape that is truly versatile.