Types of Plates and Bowls in Dinnerware Sets
How do you choose from the many types of plates and bowls in dinnerware sets? If you have not been shopping for new dinnerware sets for several years, you may be surprised at the many choices on the market today. Consider your family’s basic needs, a few extras for special occasions and your budget before making purchases.
Formal Dinnerware
Most families keep formal dinnerware for special occasions, holidays and entertaining large groups. The neat thing about purchasing formal dinnerware is you can add additional pieces as you need them or can afford them. The disadvantage is buying every piece in a set can be expensive.
Formal dinnerware is often sold in place settings for a minimum of eight people or as large as 16. Sets typically include dinner plates, cereal or soup bowls, salad plates, bread plates and coffee cups with matching saucers. Pasta plates, desert plates and fruit plates can also be purchased to complete formal settings.
Everyday Dinnerware
Typical families rely on everyday dishes or family dinnerware sets for everyday use. These are not usually as fancy or expensive as formal dinnerware. Family dinnerware comes in several materials to suit most any tastes and budgets.
Everyday dinnerware is usually purchased in sets of four to 12. Basic sets include dinner plates, lunch plates, cereal bowls, soup bowls and dessert plates as well.
Specialty Items
Most dinnerware manufacturers also offer a variety of extras that can be purchased individually from sets if desired. If you entertain a lot, you might consider grapefruit bowls specially designed for grapefruit halves. Bouillon-soup bowls with matching saucers add a nice touch to a formal table and some people prefer cream-soup bowl designs.
Chargers and accent plates are specialty items that dress up a table beautifully when entertaining. Chargers are made from a variety of materials including glazed stoneware, leather, wood or metal. These large sized plates are used under dinner plates as an attractive accent.
Small accent plates are also used to add color to dinnerware settings. These can be bold or brightly colored plates used for rolls, salads or desserts to add a festive look for entertaining.