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Looking to upgrade your dinnerware for something with a little more personality? You’ll be hard-pressed to find a set that’s quite as unique, chic and durable as pottery. In fact, it’s for this very reason that interior designers and homeowners alike are drawn to them (and, not to mention their rustic appeal dovetails with two of 2022’s biggest emerging trends, Japandi and Organic Modernism).
For interior designer Tina Ramchandani, clay dinnerware is particularly special because of its warmth, charm and ability to make a dining space feel more inviting. “Clay has come a long way,” she notes, “and although it can be made nearly perfect, you can still see the character of each piece.”
That said, while slight variations, dents and bumps in each piece are normal (and often preferred), Ramchandani suggests looking out for a few specifics to make sure you’re getting the quality you want, which does come at a price.
While this dinnerware set is obviously eye-catching, it’s more than just good looks. It’s complete with dinner plates, salad plates, small bowls and mugs, and it’s made exclusively with natural materials from Vietnam. We can’t get enough of the ocean blue set.
These clay dinner plates were handmade in Oaxaca, Mexico and, while they are definitely pricey, they’re sure to make any table setting feel unique. Because of their gorgeous smoke coloring and fragile 100 percent clay material, though, they will need to be handled with extra care: hand wash only, no microwave moments, and keep the sharp knives away, too.
“Mud Australia is the first place I visit when looking for clay/ceramic pieces,” Ramchandani shared, “because to me, they were one of the first making interesting items.” Featuring all handmade porcelain and homeware, this Australian shop sells gorgeous minimalistic individual plates, bowls, mugs and more.
Accurately named the You’re-All-Set Set, this collection features seven pieces, which make for a complete place setting, including a mug, Bitty Bowl, Breakfast Bowl, Everyday Bowl, cake plate, side plate and dinner plate. An added bonus? Every piece is handmade in North Carolina, plus they come in nine different colorways.
This basic, yet elegant clay set includes all the necessities—a mug, soup bowl, salad plate and dinner plate—at a great price point With squared corners and edges and a solid, shiny surface, it gives a more modern take on rustic clay dinnerware for anyone who wants the heft of clay with the shine of glass.
If you’re newly dabbling in clay dinnerware (or hosting) and don’t want to spend a fortune on individual pieces, this polished black dinner plate is under $9 and a great starter option. Though spending less often comes at a cost—in this case, less durability (reviews mention easy scratching)—it can be an affordable way test out the trend, particularly if you don’t see yourself using them every day. Plus, that modern matte black glaze finish stunning.
What isn’t there to love about this set? It’s simultaneously classic and unique, and stacked in your pantry, they’ll create an Insta-worthy ombré cascade of neutral hues (eat your heart out, The Home Edit). If you prefer a solid set, though, this durable, handmade-in-Portugal set comes in six other colors as well, each just as lovely as the last. Oh, and if you don’t want all 12 pieces, you can buy a set of four bowls, salad plates, dinner plates or mugs separately.
This is a best-selling set at Pottery Barn for a reason, friends! Available in four versatile color options, this 16-piece set of dinner plates, salad plates, soup bowls and mugs includes everything you need in a more rustic dish collection worthy of a spot in Selena Gomez’s kitchen.
We love a deal, and when it comes to clay dinnerware, it’s especially satisfying. This Dansk Kallan 16-piece set includes four of each essential item for $100: dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and mugs. The speckled design on the otherwise white aesthetic is the cherry on top!
Leave it to Year & Day to give a timeless clay plate option that won’t go out of style next year. Their Big Plates come in a set of four ($13 per plate) and a variety of color options so you’ll never run out of uses for them. They’re also dishwasher, microwave, oven (up to 480 degrees) and freezer safe.
The brand behind the best-selling Always Pan has also nailed it when it comes to dinnerware. Like its multi-functional pot, Our Place’s simple, functional dinner plates are designed to make life a bit easier. Each plate in the set of four (or eight) is sustainably made from recycled, virgin porcelain ceramic and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Plus, the reviews confirm that they’re beautifully crafted, lightweight and durable.
If a photo of dishware were to live next to the word “charming” in the dictionary, these Hasamí plates would be in it. Striking the balance between curved and clean lines, they’re perfect for everyday use with a simple and sophisticated aesthetic that’s worthy of an Instagram moment. The only downside is if you’re looking for a full set, it will cost you a pretty penny, since they’re all sold separately.
Each piece in this 16-piece set was designed by New York ceramic artist, Kathy Erteman, to combine a contemporary matte black with rustic beauty, and it shows. They’ll add an effortlessly chic touch to any table, though be forewarned: Some reviewers say they’re pretty fragile.
Should asymmetrical matte dinnerware be more your style, check out Tagliaferro Ceramics. The purposeful dents and divots in each three-piece set (which features a dinner plate, salad plate and porridge bowl) add for unique character not often found in other clay pieces.
You can’t go wrong with this speckled dinnerware set. Its neutral color makes it perfectly adaptable to just about any setting or occasion (and they’ll look perfect on any of your favorite placemats). Plus, each set comes with a bowl, salad plate and dinner plate, so you’ll always have the necessities on hand.
The collaboration of our home design dreams: Parachute and Jono Pandolfi (another favorite of Ramchandani’s) truly made a complete minimalist collection that’s worth the splurge. One reviewer even called the set “heaven,” which checks out, since Parachute is known for its divine bedding and Pandolfi is renowned as a master ceramicist. That said, the craftsmanship will cost you—$112+ for four cereal bowls, entree plates, Alaska bowls or salad plates means you’re quickly dropping $500 or more to have a full set of dinnerware for a family of four.
If you’re looking for something truly unique, these individually sold plates by Skye Corwijn are exceptional. Equally chic and playful, they are versatile enough that they can work well in fancy and casual tablescapes alike. They’re also available in medium and large, so you can buy each size or mix and match with other plates.
For an elegant salad, appetizer or snack plate option, this 6-inch black piece by Sarah Kersten gives off a hint of natural sparkle when it catches the light thanks to its ever-so-subtle golden rivulet detail. It is also available in several other desirable colors, including Straw, Fig, Classic White, Dove Grey and Quail Egg.
While clay dinnerware is very appealing, it’s just not in the cards for some. Parents, for example, likely wouldn't want to leave their children with a fragile clay bowl. This 12-piece melamine set—dinner plates, salad plates and cereal bowls included—will give you that clay-adjacent aesthetic with much more durability (plus, it has a delightful price tag). Not to mention that it comes in terracotta, white, gray and dark blue.
RELATED: The 3 Tablescape Trends You’re About to See Everywhere
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