Style Spotlight: Yay or Nay on China Dinnerware

Dinner is served. And deciding what it’s served on may prove more difficult than settling on the meal itself.
 
There have never been more dinnerware options. High-end serving plate not for you? You’re in luck. How about serving your lemon baked cod atop a rainbow fish platter or nestling your freshly basked gingerbread cookies in the comforting arms of the North Pole’s own Santa Claus instead?
 
As I recently perused a friend’s wedding registry I was surprised to find a set of vibrant, multicolor dishes and bowls requested in place of formal china. The set was chic and high-quality, but quite a deviation from the iconic crisp, porcelain china of registries past. Where is the silver gravy boast? The crystal drinkware? I began to wonder: has formal china become passé? 

Apparently I wasn’t alone. Thorough research (read: extensive Googling and perusing of top lifestyle sites) lead me to this conclusion: For many, gone are the days of sterling silver utensils and crystal tableware. For others, these sophisticated table staples are not long forgotten.
 
Always in the know, the trendy wedding purveyors at The Knot recently addressed this hot kitchen topic. Making strides to calm, overwhelmed brides-to-be, they suggested that there’s room for either contemporary, casual or ritzy, upscale dinnerware in the home—and often, even, room for both in the same cupboard.
 
Ultimately, your dinnerware selection is really just a matter of preference. If you live a life of varied food-related activity—a range of pizza nights and snacks on the couch mixed with fancier home-hosted holiday gatherings—you may want to heed to the advice of The Knot and keep both a full set of everyday and formal dinnerware on hand.
 
Maybe you’re a dinnerware traditionalist all the way. Who’s to say you can’t dine fancy everyday? Elegant china will elevate both the most carefully prepared entrees and easy-to-eat treats—and, go deliciously well with a regal dining room trimmed with an ornate medium pile rug, and lined in gorgeous crown molding.
 
Maybe you live in a carefully curated, edgy urban space. A set of statement dishes with a fashion-forward look is going to do a great service to your home ambiance and likely fall in line with your own more modern tastes. So, go with what you love.
 
You’ll also find plenty of transitional options on the market, from beautiful plastic pieces inspired by fine china to streamlined takes on traditional dinnerware designs.
 
Whether you opt for classic, contemporary cool, or a stylish compromise, you can’t go wrong. Just serve up the option that excites you and enhances your beautiful home. Bon appetit!