Choosing tableware seems simple until you start: earthenware or porcelain, white or patterned, a full set or individual pieces, how many plates you really need… And yet it is one of the purchases you notice most, because we use it three times a day and it is always on show, on the table or in the cupboard.
In southern homes the table is a meeting place more than a piece of furniture: long breakfasts, lunches that stretch into the afternoon and impromptu dinners when someone drops by. That is why you want tableware that is sturdy, effortlessly pretty and easy to add to over the years. A good starting point, inspired by Mediterranean style, is natural materials —stoneware, ceramic, glazed clay— and a palette of whites, soft greens and blues.
In this guide we explain how to choose it step by step, how many pieces you need and how to mix collections without the table looking like a jumble.
In this article
Get the look
In the photo above, a beach house in Sardinia: a light wooden table, wood and rope chairs and a single stoneware jug on a plate. Here is how to recreate it at home:
1. Earthenware, porcelain, stoneware or ceramic: which material to choose
The material decides how long your tableware will last and how it will look over time. For everyday use, what matters is that it can take the dishwasher and the odd knock; for special occasions you can go for something more delicate.
If in doubt, stoneware and good-quality earthenware are the most rewarding options: they are hard-wearing, have that warm handmade look and most collections are also sold by the piece.
The materials in a nutshell
- Earthenware: the classic, timeless choice; light, affordable and easy to replace. Look for a quality glaze so it does not chip.
- Porcelain: fine, white and very strong if it is good quality. Ideal if you want elegant tableware for life.
- Stoneware: thicker and heavier, with matt or speckled finishes. It copes very well with daily use and the oven.
- Hand-painted ceramic: every piece is unique; perfect for serving dishes, salad bowls and small plates.
- Melamine: unbreakable: your best friend for the terrace, the pool or the boat.
Get the look
White plates and bowls, a ceramic vase and light wood: the most serene formula for every day.
2. How many pieces you really need
The most useful rule is to have two more place settings than the people who live at home, for breakages or when someone stays for lunch. For a family of four, six place settings is usually enough; if you entertain often, go for eight to twelve.
The La Cartuja de Sevilla collections are sold as full 42- and 56-piece sets and also in parts (cups, bowls, plates), so you can start with the basics and build up. If you are also furnishing the dining room, our guide to choosing a dining table by number of guests will help.
The sums worth doing
Key idea: before buying, measure your cupboard and dishwasher. A dinner plate over 28 cm looks lovely but does not always fit.
3. White, patterned or mixed
White tableware is the perfect base: it goes with any tablecloth, lets the food shine and is easy to replace. Patterned sets, like classic Seville earthenware, add character and work beautifully on country or village-house tables.
The trick to mixing is to choose one lead collection and pair it with plain pieces in a colour that appears in the pattern. A white dinner plate with a blue patterned dessert plate on top, for example, already makes a table with intent. You will find more ideas in how to dress the table in autumn.
Get the look
White plates on solid wood, linen napkins and wooden chairs: here is how to get this outdoor table.
4. Serving dishes
Serving dishes are the pieces guests notice most, and where you can play the most with colour and shape. A fish- or shell-shaped ceramic dish turns a simple baked fish into the centrepiece.
The practical choice is dishes that go from oven to table: less washing up and the food stays warm for longer.
| Piece | Approximate size | What for |
|---|---|---|
| Oval platter | 30-40 cm | Meat, fish and roasts |
| Deep dish or salad bowl | 25-30 cm | Salads, pasta and stews |
| Oven dish | 30 × 20 cm | Gratins, vegetables and desserts |
| Small plates | 12-20 cm | Olives, cheese and cured meats |
5. Glasses, stemware and jugs
For every day, thick, stackable glass tumblers; for long lunches, one water glass and one wine glass per person. Coloured glass —green, amber or blue— adds a great deal without changing your plates.
A good water jug is another piece used daily that transforms the table: glass, clear or textured, or ceramic to match the plates.
Get the look
A botanical tablecloth, rattan chargers, green glass tumblers and jug and a touch of yellow: a cheerful table that works all year round.
6. Cutlery, the detail you touch
It is the only thing on the table you hold the whole time, so try the weight before choosing. 18/10 stainless steel is the most durable and does not stain in the dishwasher.
Clean-lined or matt cutlery looks great with plain tableware; vintage-style pieces suit patterned sets. In our shop you will find many Comas cutlery sets, also sold in sets to add to. And if you are updating your dining room, take a look at how to choose dining chairs.
7. How to care for and store it
Well looked-after tableware lasts for decades. The most important thing is to avoid sudden changes in temperature and not to stack too many fine pieces on top of each other. If you like to keep it on show, open shelving in the kitchen is a lovely way to turn it into decoration: you will find ideas in how to style shelves.
Basic care
- Dishwasher: check the collection is dishwasher-safe and use short cycles for hand-painted pieces.
- Oven and microwave: only stoneware and earthenware marked as such; never pieces with a gold rim.
- Stacking: separate fine plates with a cloth or felt so they do not scratch.
- Replacements: keep the collection name so you can replace single pieces.
Get the look
Stacks of plates in different shades on display: a simple way to decorate the kitchen with the tableware itself.
Quick checklist
- Count place settings for the people at home plus two.
- Choose a hard-wearing material for every day (stoneware or quality earthenware).
- Use white as your base and add a patterned collection.
- Have at least one dish that goes from oven to table.
- Buy more glasses than plates.
- Feel the weight of the cutlery in your hand.
- Check everything fits in the cupboard and dishwasher.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most durable tableware for everyday use?
Stoneware and good-quality porcelain are the most resistant to knocks and washing. Glazed earthenware also holds up well if the glaze is good, and it is lighter and easier to replace.
How many pieces should a tableware set for 6 have?
The usual is 18 plates (dinner, soup and dessert per person) plus two or three serving dishes and a salad bowl. Full 42- and 56-piece sets also add cups and serving pieces: always check what each one includes.
Can you mix different tableware?
Yes, and it looks lovely if there is a common thread: a shared colour, the same material or the same shape. The easiest is to combine a white base with a patterned collection.
At Pino & Jacaranda we believe the everyday table deserves the same care as the one for celebrations: beautiful, durable pieces made to last, which grow in number over the years and end up telling the story of the home.
Because the best memories are served at the table.
