What Should I Consider When Buying Dinnerware?

Many shoppers are overwhelmed when trying to decide which dinnerware to choose for their home. Dishes are a necessary household staple that can convey personal style and add style dimensions to a kitchen and dining room. When buying them, shoppers should take special consideration regarding their use, size, cost and care.

The first thing to consider when buying dinnerware is how it will be used. Dishes are primarily divided into two categories: formal and casual. Some people may opt to buy something that is in between, however, many people choose to eventually have two sets so that they have one for everyday and one for holidays and special occasions. It is most common to find brighter colors and patterns on casual dinnerware and more muted or plain colors on formal dishes.

Once you have decided on a formal or casual look, another thing to think about is size and place settings. To use already existing kitchen space without having to buy a buffet or additional storage, it is important to measure your cupboards before you purchase dishes because sometimes new ones just don’t fit. Obviously, place settings for six will take up more space than those for four. A more common problem to be aware of is not being able to close the cupboards because the plates are too big. Additional space will also be needed for any extra serving items that may come with the set, such as a serving bowl, a platter, a sugar bowl, or a creamer.

It is also important to consider your budget when deciding on what kind of dinnerware to purchase. Most common, casual plates and bowls are less expensive than formal dishes. Full place settings can also challenge a budget as well as space. Depending on your budget and needs, you may buy a complete set with six or eight dinner plates, bowls, cups and saucers, and other items, or you might want to buy individual place settings.

The material that the dishes are made of is another factor that should be weighed in the decision-making process. The most popular kinds of dinnerware are made from bone china, pottery or earthenware, porcelain, stoneware, and glass. Most of these are made of clay, but they differ in how long they are fired in a kiln and what kind of clay is used.

Stoneware, pottery, and earthenware are all made of similar clay, but stoneware is fired at a very high temperature so it tends to be more scratch resistant than the other clay options. Porcelain is made of high quality clay that tends to be brittle and may break or chip easier. Bone china is a type of porcelain that has bone ash added to it, causing it to be very strong.

The most important thing to remember is that a dish will almost always eventually get broken. You may want to avoid buying closeout dinnerware because replacement pieces may be hard to come by. It is important to check with the manufacturer to find out if individual replacement pieces are sold separately.