A tastefully decorated dining table has already done half of the work. And while most people think that modern tableware is only suitable if throw formal dinners for your friends and family every other week, truth is you can purchase it for yourself and enjoy a meal served in nice plates, saucers, side plates for salads, desserts, you name it. Choosing modern servingware can be tricky if you're buying it for the first time, which is why you have to decide on a few things - who will use it, how often will use it, and how much space you have to invest in such tableware.
How to Choose a Tableware Set?
There's no rule on how to choose the right set, but it's important to think of the various occasions and styles of occasions you'll use it for, and of course the type of food you'll serve in it. There are various items that make up a modern servingware set such as dinner plates, bread and butter plates, multi-purpose bowls (for soups, noodles, cereals), side plates for salads, desserts, starters, then mugs and teacups, saucers, serving platters, trays, forks, spoons and salads.
Styles of Tableware
Finding the style that matches your taste and your lifestyle should be among the top priorities. Tableware comes in a wide range of designs from casual, to stylish and anything in between. The more formal tableware sets are usually made of stoneware, china or porcelain. Earthenware and melamine are ideal for casual serving ware; it looks stylish, modern and chic, making it ideal for everyday use but for your important dinners as well.
Most people choose durable dinnerware sets for everyday use, as they aren't prone to chipping and can easily be washed in the dishwasher and heated up in the oven and microwave. However, just because you'll use them on daily basis, it doesn't mean they should be boring. Consider who will use this set. Are the kids or elderly people in your household? In that case, choose durable and sturdy materials that can endure dropping. It's a good idea to have a set for everyday use and another suitable for your more formal events such as holidays or special occasions.
Types of Tableware Materials
Bone Chine
This is durable, lightweight and an elegant material for both everyday use and special occasions. It's chip resistant and has the strongest range of chine, but unlike the fine china, this one is microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Earthenware
This material look expensive, but it's also sturdy and aesthetically pleasing. It's one of the oldest industrial materials, but gives dinnerware significant weight. To keep earthenware looking its best, make sure to avoid unexpected temperature changes, like placing dishes from the oven on the microwave.
Melamine
Melamine sets are shatterproof and are much harder to break or chip than any other material. This dinnerware is ideal for outdoor use. It's not suitable for oven or microwave but it's typically dishwasher-safe.
Stoneware
Stoneware dishware has a special finishing glaze that adds a layer of sheen, and strength and shines to the item. This gives a smooth look but also makes the final product virtually impenetrable when it comes to drops, breaks and cracks. Stoneware is a robust material, but, it can’t be exposed to high heat or freezing temperatures.
Porcelain
This material is traditionally made from a silicone material called kaolin that gives porcelain products flexibility, plasticity and strong structure. Porcelain tableware can also be made from pottery stone, which makes the material hard and translucent, but also a non-porous surface. Porcelain is exceptionally strong dinnerware material, as it can be fired at up to 1200 degrees centigrade, it's dishwasher, oven and microwave safe (if the piece has a metallic accent, avoid putting it in the microwave)
How Many Pieces Are Enough?
When you decide what you want, it's time to consider the number of pieces. There are various options and each is suitable for various events. • Formal dinnerware - this is often sold in place settings, that include all the pieces that a person would need at the table. These are perfect for people who want to build their collections, as they mostly include five pieces - a dinner plate, salad or dessert plate, bread plate, teacup and saucer. Some sets may have soup bowls as well. • Dinnerware sets - these include multiple place settings to take care of the whole table. Most common sets have 20 pieces, which offer service for four people. They usually have a dinner plate, salad plate, teacup and a saucer for every setting. • Open stock - this is dinnerware sold piece-by-piece which is ideal for people who only need a few pieces or people who want to mix and match (and use the pieces on daily basis).
Even though there's no rule on how many pieces are enough, most experts agree that having eight to twelve five-piece place settings is enough for tableware for general use and dinner parties. If you're opting out for two sets (one for every day, one for formal use) you can get four to six casual place settings and up to twelve formal place settings. It all depends on your and your family's needs, as well as how often you entertain and how much space you have to store the pieces.
