Choosing Dinnerware for Your Needs

A typical, well-outfitted dining room has both casual dinnerware and formal china, but when space or monetary limitations come into play, one may be left making a choice amongst all the available types to suit all serving needs. This short article will examine dinnerware types that use traditional materials: china, porcelain, stoneware and glass.

Bone China is the most expensive of the types of dinnerware. Produced from clay containing bone ash, it has enduring beauty and is lightweight, yet durable. China is fired to an ivory color that is classic and elegant and perfect for formal place settings.

Porcelain, like China, is durable. However, its cost is less than that of Bone China and it can move between casual and formal place settings with greater ease. Porcelain is made from a white clay called kaolin that is twice-fired to vitrify, or turn into a glasslike material, at over 1300 degrees. Its main drawback that colors and patterns often lack the vibrancy that can be characteristic of a casual setting. Adding more colorful pieces made of other materials can make for an informal, but festive table setting.

Stoneware is cheap, colorful and widely available. It is singly-fired at a lower temperature and lacks the glasslike elegance of porcelain. But don’t let this be a deterrent: the often vibrant hues available lend a fun feel that makes the meal all the more enjoyable. Stock up on a few extra pieces, however, or be prepared to mix and match; stoneware can chip or break easily when coming into contact with harder surfaces.

Glass is another inexpensive option. Usually it is colorless, but colored pieces are available. It is durable, but may not add the punch to your place setting that an opaque and colorful piece of dinnerware may.

Laminated glass is an alternative to regular glass with which you may be familiar. It’s made primarily by one American company and is known for its unbreakable quality. Inexpensive, durable and lightweight, it is a good option for those starting out or the college student who may be moving back and forth from home. The most significant drawback of laminated glass, however is that it can look “fake” compared to the natural richness of other materials because it is coated. There are also a limited number of patterns due to this product being made by a single manufacturer.

With so many options, it may be difficult to narrow down one’s needs for the setting the table. In some cases, adding a few pieces from another category of materials may be the way to bring some elegance or cheer to the setting.