Dinnerware Guide from Dunelm Mill

View our Dinnerware Range

The term dinnerware refers to the dining items that are used to set a table such as cutlery, plates or food serving items; dishes and ladles. Dinnerware can often also be referred to as tableware, for which dishes and glassware are also included.

1. History of Dinnerware
2. What is Dinnerware?
3. Dinnerware Care Instructions
4. View our Range of Dinnerware

The term dinnerware was originally incorporated into the English language around the late 1800s. It was during this period that the wealth associated with material things had come into fashion. Dinnerware items were cemented as products for the rich as it was thought that only those wealthy enough to afford a dining room had any need for dinnerware. Shortly after this time dinner parties were introduced into the social scene and were considered to be a great way in which to show your wealth to your companions whilst eating an array of new and different foods. With the rise in popularity of dinner parties came the demand for new and fashionable tableware items. The original ‘mass’ produced dinnerware items were created from glass and china and were thought of as an ultimate luxury. However, as time progressed and new eating habits came into fashion, the need for expensive tableware items dwindled. It was during this time that there was a rise in the number of people opting for a quick and easy dinner solution; this is when processed food was introduced. Meal times were no longer an opportunity to spend hours eating with friends whilst displaying exquisite dinnerware, but a chance to prove that you ate highly ‘fashionable’ foods and were able to have an entire meal ready in no time at all!

However, nowadays it is easy to see that dinner parties are making their come back and are becoming more and more popular in homes across the UK. There are several reasons for this but perhaps the most poignant fact is that of the economy. With less disposable income, households are choosing to entertain in the home instead of venturing out to expensive restaurants. There are increasing numbers of TV programmes depicting dinner party scenes and cooking shows explaining the best way to make certain dishes. The nation has begun to take pride in the food they cook and in how their dining rooms are decorated, this is where the use of fashionable sets of dinnerware have proved very popular over recent years.

There are an infinitive amount of dinnerware products available on the British market today, with new lines being constantly added to help the creation and serving of tasty dishes that bit easier and more elegant. Traditionally, tableware products were composed of a ceramic or porcelain material, however, nowadays the materials used for such products can greatly vary, from stone to gold, plastic to glass. Dinnerware items can be divided into two separate areas, firstly the place setting dishes such as plates, bowls, teacups, saucers and mugs and secondly the serving dishes which include sugar bowls, teapots, jugs, casserole dishes and salt and pepper shakers. All of these items are now commonly found in kitchens across the UK but many years ago these very products were considered to be the epitome of class and luxury.

As the dinnerware collections can incorporate so many different products, it is important to note that there are many different ways in which these items need to be cleaned and cared for. With this in mind please always refer to the individual product specific cleaning instructions that accompany your tableware products.