Dinnerware is the highlight of many dining tables. It is much more than crockery to serve food. Beautiful dinnerware enhances your food, it sets the mood for your home dining experiences as well as expressing your personal style. Understanding and understanding the differences between the different types of dinnerware, from formal settings for elegant dinner parties to day-to-day pieces for everyday use, is the key to selecting a set that feels at home in your home. .

Dinnerware Material Types
Whatever you call it – dishes, plates or crockery – the focal point of your table can be your dinnerware. Before you start thinking about patterns and colors, focusing your attention on what materials you really like will be a helpful start. Bone china, pottery, porcelain, melamine and stoneware are the most common dinnerware materials.

These types of utensils have their own advantages that can aid in your selection:

Bone china: Bone china is durable, lightweight, and an elegant choice for both everyday and special occasions dinnerware because it's chip-resistant. This is China's strongest range, but unlike fine China, it's generally microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
Earthenware: Earthenware exudes an air of value, sturdiness and casual appeal. Being one of the oldest industrial materials, it also gives significant weight to your dinnerware. To keep this dinnerware looking its best, it's better to avoid unexpected temperature changes, such as from high settings on the oven or microwave.

Porcelain: Porcelain is a versatile material that has a non-porous surface and high firing temperatures resulting in incredible durability. Porcelain pieces are generally dishwasher, microwave and oven-safe. Some porcelain dinnerware pieces have metallic accents, so be aware as this makes these a microwave no-go.

Melamine: These sets will certainly be a dream for the entertainer, being shatterproof as well as hard to break or chip. Melamine dinnerware is perfect for outdoor use. Although melamine dinnerware is not suitable for your oven or microwave, it is generally dishwasher-safe.

Stoneware: The stoneware dinnerware set features a special finishing glaze that gives the material a smooth look and an impermeable finish, making it both everyday use and family friendly. Stoneware sets are more durable than earthenware ones, but will still need to be maintained and kept at the same temperature. If you choose stoneware, be careful not to expose it to high heat or cold temperatures. Also, keep in mind that pieces with hand-painted designs may require hand washing.