Looking for the best dinner sets for your home but don’t know where to start? Selecting the right dinner set is important because your dinnerware will set the tone for your events, elevate the plating and presentation of your dishes, and reflect your personal style. When choosing dinner sets, there are many factors to consider; from finding dinnerware for different occasions to materials used - it can get a little confusing and even overwhelming. You also need to ensure your dinner set will compliment your cutlery set too! In this blog, we provide a simple guide to help you choose the perfect dinner set. Get to know the different dinner set types, materials used, maintenance, styles, and see our pick for the 5 best dinner sets for any occasion.
Which Dinner Set Should I Choose?
When shopping for dinner sets, you might notice that these sets might come as a 12-piece, 16-piece, or 18-piece. But what are the differences between these sets and which one should you choose? If you’re hosting a formal dinner event, you may want formal dinner sets that include dinner plates, bread plates, soup bowls, salad plates, teacups, and teacup saucers. For more casual dinners, you can choose from a wide selection of traditional sets which includes dinner plates, side plates, bowls, and sometimes mugs. Additionally, take into consideration the type of food you will be serving, the amount of guests you will be entertaining, and you might get a better idea on which dinner set you'll need for your event.
Bone China, Porcelain, or Stoneware?
Crafted with the inclusion of bone ash, bone china dinner sets are high quality and non-porous, and feature translucent, delicate features with thinner rims, perfect to add a touch of luxury to your formal events. But don’t be fooled, bone china is incredibly durable and resistant to chipping, ensuring that your dinnerware will remain scratch-free even with regular use. Many bone china dinnerware are dishwasher and microwave safe, ideal for special occasions and everyday use. However, do read care instructions from the manufacturer beforehand to ensure your dinnerware is well maintained.
Porcelain Dinner SetsPorcelain dinner sets, also widely known as China, are crafted from feldspar, quartz, and kaolin. Dinner sets made from porcelain are strong, durable, non-porous, and beautiful with a glaze finish, ideal for dinner parties, festive events, and great for everyday use. Dishwasher and microwave safe, porcelain dinnerware are easy to maintain, making it the choice for many households and fine dining restaurants.
Stoneware Dinner SetsMade from clay, stoneware dinner sets are thicker, more durable, and often feature organic textures and speckles, ideal to add a rustic charm to your table. Stoneware is more porous and less durable than bone china and porcelain, making it a more affordable choice. Stoneware comes in a variety of beautiful shapes and glazes, perfect for those who are looking for unique dinner sets. Dishwasher safe and microwave safe, stoneware dinner sets are ideal for your everyday dining needs.
Which Style to Choose?
When setting your table for a special event, your dinner set plays an important role in creating the perfect ambience. Whether you’re hosting a lovely garden tea party or a joyous birthday party, your tableware will set the tone. More than that, your dinner set can also be an extension of your style by allowing you to add a personal touch to the table. Romantic style dinnerware features organic shapes with curved lines and rounded motifs, making them a charming addition to your table. If you love geometric shapes and concepts instead, modern dinner sets featuring straight lines and sleek design are perfect for you.
Our Pick of the Top 5 Dinner Sets
Best for Textured and Organic Aesthetics: Ecology Speckle Duck Egg 12 Piece Dinner Set
The elegant Ecology Speckle Duck Egg Dinner Set exudes sophistication. Made from durable stoneware, these dinnerware feature unique, organic rounded shapes complete with dimpled and speckled patterns finished with a glossy glaze. The duck egg blue of each dinnerware piece is contrasted against dark brown speckles for an earthy appearance that is perfect to complement themed parties and to make a statement in any home. This Australian designed set includes 4 Dinner Plates (27cm), 4 Side Plates (20cm), and 4 Bowls (18cm), ideal for 4 persons. Microwave safe and dishwasher safe, this dinner set is great for everyday dining needs.
At a Glance:- 12-piece set
- Beautiful dimpled texture with glossy glazed finish
- Designed in Australia
- Made from durable stoneware
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
Best Classic All White Porcelain Set For Everyday Use: Maxwell & Williams White Basics European Rim Dinner Set 18 Pieces
This Maxwell & Williams White Basics Dinner Set is perfect for a dinner party or for simply enjoying a weekday dinner with loved ones. Made from durable porcelain with a clear white base and European style rims, this versatile dinner set can be mixed and matched with other dinner sets to create a fresh new combination for every meal. This set is ideal for 6 persons as it comprises 6 dinner plates (27.5cm), 6 side plates (19cm), and 6 cereal bowls (20cm). All white in colour, it is also the ideal canvas to present your food creations and complement any table setting. Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe, this easy to clean dinner set is the ideal choice for those in search of a classic, timeless option. This dinner set also has matching Maxwell & Williams Mugs.
At a Glance:- 18-piece set
- Stunning European rim design
- Made from porcelain
- Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe
- Gift boxed, ready for gifting
Best Durable Stoneware For Everyday Use: Royal Doulton Gordon Ramsay Maze Dinner Set 16 Piece (White)
This bestselling Maze Dinner Set by Royal Doulton is created in collaboration with world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, and is the perfect representation of performance and presentation. Beautifully crafted from glazed stoneware and decorated with embossed concentric circles that attract the eye towards the center of each dish, this highly durable dinner set is ideal for showcasing your dishes in style. Featuring 4 dinner plates (28cm), 4 salad plates (22cm), 4 cereal bowls (18cm), and 4 mugs (380ml capacity), this dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe dinner set is ideal for everyday use and elegant enough for special occasions.
At a Glance:- 16-piece set
- Durable for everyday use and elegant enough for special occasions
- Made from stoneware
- Dishwasher, microwave, freezer safe
- Gift boxed, ready for gifting
Best Fine Bone China With An Architectural Edge: Noritake Marc Newson 12 Piece Dinner Set
Brilliantly designed by Australia's very own world renowned designer Marc Newson, the Noritake Marc Newson Dinner Set is elegant looking and perfect for fine dining or casual, intimate dinners with loved ones. Carefully made using fine bone china complete with a smooth finishing, this contemporary set will elevate your table setting and showcase your favourite dishes beautifully. If you’re looking for chip-resistant dinner sets, this set comprising 4 entree plates (21cm), 4 dinner plates (27cm), and 4 bowls (14.5cm) fits the bill perfectly.
At a Glance:- 12-piece set
- Durable and chip-resistant
- Crafted from premium bone china
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Gift boxed, ready for gifting
Best Patterned Fine Bone China For Entertaining: Wedgwood GIO 16 Piece Dinner Set
Add a timeless aesthetic to your table with the Wedgwood GIO Dinner Set. Designed in England, this dinner set blends contemporary with classic to result in a simple yet sophisticated range. Created from fine bone china, this durable dinner set is microwave, and dishwasher safe, offering optimal convenience without sacrificing on style. If you love patterned dinnerware, the GIO Dinner Set including 4x 28cm plates, 4x 23cm plates, 4x cereal bowls (16cm), and 4x mugs (300ml capacity) featuring the signature intaglio texture is sure to appeal.
At a Glance:- 16-piece set
- Durable and strong
- Distinct intaglio pattern perfect to complement any table setting
- Designed in England
- Made from fine bone china
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Gift boxed, ready for gifting
Want to See More?
These fantastic dinner sets are some of our bestsellers, offering great quality and value for money. Love our best dinner sets but want to see more? You can browse our entire range of dinner set options right here!Next Read: Why Choose a Chef Pan Over a Traditional Non-Stick Pan?
