With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s time to welcome friends and family around the dinner table. If you haven’t considered it before, a holiday dinnerware set is a festive addition when celebrating all things yuletide with those you love. You’ll find an array of holiday themes, from jolly Santas to subdued winter scenes accented with berries and evergreens; there is something for everyone. The Lenox Winter Greetings 12-Piece Bone China Dinnerware Set is an elegant choice with its 24-karat gold accents and delicate cardinal and holly berry details.
What to know before you buy holiday dinnerware
Selecting just the right holiday dinnerware requires a few considerations, including which theme best represents your design aspirations for this holiday season.
Porcelain
Porcelain is a fine ceramic formed from refined kaolin clay. It is bright white in appearance and is lighter than other materials like stoneware. Despite its delicate appearance, it is quite strong and is usually dishwasher and microwave safe.
Bone china
Porcelain that is strengthened using bone ash is called bone china. It is thin but durable. It has a fine translucent look and is the strongest of all dinnerware materials. Modern bone china is usually dishwasher safe. Vegetarians and vegans may not want to use bone china as it is made from animal bones.
Stoneware
Stoneware is a ceramic made from unrefined clay fired at high temperatures. You’ll find stoneware to be thicker and sturdier than the porcelain and bone china options. It is less likely to chip and is often glazed in various colors and textures. It is dishwasher safe and microwavable.
Holiday dinnerware features
Patterns and themes
Holiday dinnerware sets come in a vast array of holiday patterns, themes and colors. From elegant winter scenescapes to a festive Santa and his reindeer, you’re sure to find something that reflects your personal style and taste.
Serving pieces
It isn’t uncommon for holiday dinnerware to have matching serving pieces that can continue the theme of your favorite holiday dinnerware set. You’ll find sugar and creamer sets, serving dishes and butter dishes, just to name a few.
Shape
Dishes and bowls in a holiday dinnerware set are sometimes offered in other shapes aside from classic round. Some plates may have an oval shape and sometimes even have squared edges for a more contemporary feel. Bowls tend to match the shape of the plate to keep the lines clean.
Holiday dinnerware cost
The cost of holiday dinnerware depends on what the dishes are made from and the total number of place settings. Stoneware is a more economical option, ranging from $50-$250, while porcelain and bone china can be more expensive, ranging from $80-$500 for a high-end set.
Holiday dinnerware FAQ
How do I take care of my holiday dinnerware set?
A. Most holiday dinnerware sets are microwave and dishwasher safe. However, you’ll want to check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure you know the limitations of your set and the best way to care for it. Any holiday dinnerware set with gold or silver metal accents should not be placed in the microwave as they may spark a fire.
What is the best way to safely store my holiday dinnerware during the year?
A. As your holiday dinnerware is only used once a year, it is best to store your set and any serving pieces in soft-sided storage containers to keep them dust and damage-free.
Which holiday dinnerware should I get?
Best of the best holiday dinnerware
Lenox Winter Greetings Dinnerware Set: available at Amazon
Our take: A trusted name in dinnerware, Lenox offers a beautiful bone china 12-piece set with a holiday scene featuring red cardinal and holiday berries.
What we like: The detailed artwork on this holiday dinnerware echoes the colors of the Christmas holiday. It has gold 24K accents on the edge of each piece in the set. It is dishwasher safe and is made in the United States.
What we dislike: The dinnerware is pricey for the number of place settings and is not microwave safe.
Best bang for your buck holiday dinnerware
Veweet Santa Claus Pattern Porcelain Dinnerware Set: available at Amazon
Our take: This fine porcelain 18-piece holiday dinnerware set offers an affordable and adorable “Santa Claus is coming to town” theme.
What we like: This dinnerware set is accented in bold red Christmas colors with a holly, jolly Santa Claus at the center of the design. The fine porcelain pieces are dishwasher safe, freezer safe and microwaveable. Veweet offers mix-and-match holiday designs that work with this set.
What we dislike: The dinner plate size is smaller than expected.
Honorable mention holiday dinnerware
American Atelier Holiday Dinnerware Set: available at Amazon
Our take: This festive 16-piece holiday dinnerware set is made from thick, durable lead-free stoneware pottery and features a colorful, “peace of the season” theme.
What we like: With a playful Christmas season design, it features holiday ornaments and the words “peace” and “noel” on the mugs and dinner plates. The stoneware is dishwasher and microwave safe, making it a long-lasting option year after year.
What we dislike: Some have reported the packing to be poor, resulting in damaged dishes upon arrival.
Honorable mention holiday dinnerware
Royal Albert Old Country Roses Christmas Tree Dinnerware Set: available at Amazon and Macy’s
Our take: Stylish and brightly colored, this Royal Albert 5-piece holiday place setting features detailed Christmas artwork that is delicate and elegant.
What we like: A known and trusted brand, you can expect this fine bone china dinnerware to impress your holiday guests with its vivid Christmas tree theme. The delicate flower pattern circling the tree is accented with gold banding and has matching serving pieces with similar details.
What we dislike: This set is sold per place setting and is far more expensive than many other holiday dinnerware sets.
Honorable mention holiday dinnerware
Lenox Holiday 12-Piece Dinnerware Set: available at Amazon and Macy’s
Our take: Lenox serves up an understated holiday design with a holly and berry motif in festive reds and greens, making this bone china dinnerware set a customer favorite.
What we like: An elegant alternative to the overstated and more obvious holiday designs, the holly and berry details are offset by 24-karat gold accents. This dinnerware set is made in the United States and has an abundance of matching serving pieces to choose from.
What we dislike: It’s a more expensive option than most and is not microwave safe. Rachel Pintarelli is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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