How do you place dinnerware?

For a plated holiday meal that isn’t a buffet-style occasion, dinnerware is usually stacked in the order in which courses will be served. Let’s say you want to reverse engineer a dinner setting for a meal that starts with soup, progresses to salad, continues with an entree, and finishes with dessert. Start with the dinner plate, top it with the salad plate, and add the soup bowl on top. No soup? Leave it off. Dessert plates are normally brought out separately after the dinner plates are cleared. Some more formal or decorative place settings include chargers as a foundational layer, but this is optional.

How many dinnerware sets should you have?

Gone are the days when etiquette requires households to have different sets of dinnerware for different occasions and seasons. While wedding registers may still include both an everyday pattern and one for special occasions, in the 21st century, a more casual approach to living and a focus on reducing consumption and waste means that the go-to number of dinnerware sets is one, with fewer or more place settings depending on how large your family is and how much you entertain. Having said that, it’s a personal choice, so you do you.

Does porcelain dinnerware scratch?

Porcelain has a tendency to develop fine gray marks on the surface over time that can easily be mistaken for scratches. Porcelain is glazed to prevent scratching, so those gray lines are actually metal deposits from cutlery use that sit on the surface, rather than scratches that are etched into the porcelain. To remove the gray lines, make a paste with baking soda and water, and scrub your plate in a circular motion. It’s best to do this as soon as you see them start to develop since they are easier to remove when faint rather than built up and darkened over time.

The 12 Best Holiday Dinnerware Sets of 2022

Fine china or dressed-up tableware instantly makes a home-cooked meal feel more special and celebratory.

We researched the best dinnerware sets for every holiday, considering the material, ease of cleaning, and replaceability of each one. Our top pick, the Lenox Holiday 12-Piece Plate & Mug Set features a timeless and classic design. It is made of porcelain and dishwasher safe.

Below, our picks for the best holiday dinnerware sets.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce

4.6

Lenox Holiday 12-Piece Plate and Mug Set

Amazon

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Holiday dinnerware from Lenox is a must-have for those looking to add to their collection. The best-selling pieces feature the classic holiday and berry design made out of durable, dishwasher-safe ivory porcelain. The beautiful collection is accented with 24-karat gold and has been a staple in Christmas place settings since 1974. The festive colors on a plain white place ensure that decorating the rest of your table is a breeze, especially with 12 of the pieces already provided for you.

The set feels high-quality, while still at a reasonable price compared to competitors' picks. We love that replacing misplaced pieces is a breeze with Lenox because the plates and mugs are also available to buy individually.

Price at time of publish: $235

HiEnd Accents

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Add a bit of modern flair to your holiday decorations this year with HiEnd Accents' Clearwater Pines dinnerware set that has everything you need to throw the perfect dinner party. The extensive set features four plates, four mugs, four salad plates, four soup bowls, and three canisters of varying sizes. With muted earthy colors and a dark forest scape, this set is guaranteed to evoke a cozy feeling among your guests and can be enjoyed throughout the winter. Combine with a bit of greenery as a centerpiece for a table filled with natural and festive decor.

Price at time of publish: $347

Pottery Barn

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These salad plates are perfect for those looking for a nontraditional take on holiday decor. Whether for a farmhouse or penthouse, these terra cotta plates add an earthy element to any table setting. Each plate features a tiny debossed print on the top for a touch of holiday spirit, while the heavy ceramic feel and muted speckled finish make these a sophisticated choice for gathering on Christmas day. Combine with other red, green, or even black plates for some rustic charm this December.

Price at time of publish: $60

Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond

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The turkey is the star of the Spode Woodland Turkey Dinnerware collection, which includes pretty much everything you'd ever want to set your table: plates, gravy boats, soup tureens, mugs, and more. Done in autumnal brown and white with hints of red, green, and yellow, this elegant yet casual porcelain dining set will instantly turn a plain table into one set for a Thanksgiving feast! The dishes are dishwasher safe, which helps make cleanup a breeze. Buy one platter for some added woodland flair on your table, or opt for the whole collection for a more cohesive look.

Price at time of publish: $47+

Pottery Barn

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With beautiful illustrations inspired by vintage-style Santa renditions on each piece, the Pottery Barn Nostalgic Santa 16-PIece Dinnerware Set evokes Christmases of ages past and all the warm fuzzy memories that go with it. In classic red, green, and navy hues, the dinnerware will pair nicely with solid-color or plaid linens. The dishes are made of stoneware with a glazed decal finish and are microwave and dishwasher-safe. Each set includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, four bowls, and four mugs.

Price at time of publish: $246

Courtesy of Amazon

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Done in muted colors, the Gibson Home Christmas Toile 16-Piece Dinnerware Set evokes nostalgic winter scenes with illustrations of a sled, country houses in the snow, and icy rivers. The dishes are made from porcelain and are dishwasher and microwave safe, and the set includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, four bowls, and four mugs. Because the color scheme is relatively neutral and the winter scenes aren’t Christmas-specific, the dishware can be dressed up for holiday dinners with red and green linens or made to work all winter long with plain white ones.

Price at time of publish: $42

Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

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If you're looking for holiday dinnerware that can be used throughout the winter season, Williams Sonoma's Woodland Berry Dinnerware Collection is a great option. This durable porcelain dinnerware set is adorned with pinecones, pine branches, winterberries, and holly for a stunning backdrop that's sure to delight guests. You can layer plates from the same collection or add in pieces from another Williams Sonoma collection (we also love their Tartan plaid dinnerware) for a more unique table setting. Each piece in this collection is sold individually or in sets of four for a completely customized set designed for your lifestyle.

Price at time of publish: $16+

Courtesy of Wayfair.

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For the utmost in wintry sophistication and festive elegance, the Christmas Tree Dinnerware Collection from Spode will undoubtedly be the perfect addition to your dinner table this holiday season. Originally designed in 1938, this lovely dinnerware pattern features a lush evergreen tree wrapped with glittering ornaments and golden garland, complete with piles of cheerfully wrapped presents. All dishes are made of sturdy stoneware and are microwave-safe, and can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher—leaving you with more time to enjoy your family, open presents, and drink cocoa under the tree.

Price at time of publish: $168

Williams Sonoma

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Get your kids ready for the holidays with the Williams Sonoma Twas the Night melamine kids' dinnerware set. Inspired by the classic poem, this 3-piece set features a plate, bowl, and tumbler that are all decorated with a whimsical drawing of Santa and his reindeer on their way to deliver presents all over the world. The plate and bowl are made of scratch-resistant melamine, which won't break if dropped, and the tumbler is made of Tritan, a shatter- and stain-resistant plastic. Both materials are BPA-free so you won't have to worry about your little one ingesting harmful chemicals. The set is dishwasher safe so messes are encouraged and the artful design can be used all throughout the winter for diners of any age.

Price at time of publish: $50

Ballard Designs

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For a set of dishes that can be used during the holiday season and after, we recommend the Ballard Designs Bunny Williams Gold Star Dinnerware Collection. With the simple gold accents, the dinnerware can mix with more formal pieces and will work with all of your favorite holiday linens. The gold stars add a bit of festive cheer that comes alive when matched with reds and greens. Made of white porcelain that's long-lasting and durable, the dishes easily come clean in the dishwasher. Each set includes four dinner plates, four dessert/ salad plates, four bowls, and four cups with saucers. All of the pieces are also sold individually to personalize your set for your family or replace broken items.

Price at time of publish: $47+

West Elm

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The whimsical design of this holiday plate is sure to earn a place at the table season after season. Part of West Elm's Scandi-inspired collection, this white dinner plate features intricate Christmas trees, boughs of holly, berries, and more. The hand-painted maximalist plates pair perfectly with solid-colored green or red plates and napkins to balance out the detailed design. Or go completely over the top by mixing other patterns from West Elm's collection for an everlastingly interesting Christmas table.

Price at time of publish: $52+

Crate & Barrel

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For those who don't want a busy dinner table adding to the stress of the holiday season, we recommend Crate & Barrel's green forest place setting. The set comes with a dinner plate, a salad plate, a bowl, and a mug in a forest green color palette with white or green pine trees making an appearance on every piece. The charming set feels modern, yet warm during the holiday season, but can be used through the whole winter as well. The Crate & Barrel exclusive collection is dishwasher-, freezer-, microwave- and oven-safe to 350 degrees, so they're perfect for use on December 25th or any other day of the season.

Price at time of publish: $117

Material

Porcelain is the gold standard in dinnerware, long favored for its delicacy and durability against chipping. But dinnerware comes in a variety of materials, from bone china to stoneware and earthenware. Each has its own qualities, drawbacks, and price points, so keep that in mind when selecting which is right for your holiday table.

Dishwasher and Microwave Safe

A vintage family heirloom set of holiday china might require hand-washing to keep it looking its best. But if you generally like to use your dishwasher to clean up after a holiday meal, or warm up leftovers in the microwave, check to make sure that your holiday dishware is safe for the dishwasher and/or microwave. Just because it’s a special occasion purchase doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be practical and convenient.

Boxed Set or Replaceable

Things break, especially china. Keep in mind that a boxed set might be a one-time deal, meaning that if you break some plates, you won’t be able to easily replace them. If you have more than one set, you can mix and match the patterns, but otherwise, you might want to look for a dinnerware set from an open stock pattern that allows you to purchase additional pieces to replace broken ones, or to add additional servings as your family grows.

FAQ

How do you place dinnerware?

For a plated holiday meal that isn’t a buffet-style occasion, dinnerware is usually stacked in the order in which courses will be served. Let’s say you want to reverse engineer a dinner setting for a meal that starts with soup, progresses to salad, continues with an entree, and finishes with dessert. Start with the dinner plate, top it with the salad plate, and add the soup bowl on top. No soup? Leave it off. Dessert plates are normally brought out separately after the dinner plates are cleared. Some more formal or decorative place settings include chargers as a foundational layer, but this is optional.
How many dinnerware sets should you have?

Gone are the days when etiquette requires households to have different sets of dinnerware for different occasions and seasons. While wedding registers may still include both an everyday pattern and one for special occasions, in the 21st century, a more casual approach to living and a focus on reducing consumption and waste means that the go-to number of dinnerware sets is one, with fewer or more place settings depending on how large your family is and how much you entertain. Having said that, it’s a personal choice, so you do you.
Does porcelain dinnerware scratch?

Porcelain has a tendency to develop fine gray marks on the surface over time that can easily be mistaken for scratches. Porcelain is glazed to prevent scratching, so those gray lines are actually metal deposits from cutlery use that sit on the surface, rather than scratches that are etched into the porcelain. To remove the gray lines, make a paste with baking soda and water, and scrub your plate in a circular motion. It’s best to do this as soon as you see them start to develop since they are easier to remove when faint rather than built up and darkened over time.

Julia Fields is a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product roundups, interviews with experts, and more. She performed hours of research on top dinnerware brands—big and small—and looked into best-selling options with high user demand.