Article: Pick Your Bowl: Versatile Bowls are Multifunctional Must-Haves
Pick Your Bowl: Versatile Bowls are Multifunctional Must-Haves
Bowls are essential pieces of your dinnerware and serveware collections, whether for your morning cereal or for serving your favorite pasta recipe. There’s an array of bowl types available, each one providing a unique solution by size and shape. From small appetizer bowls to large salad bowls, each one can meet different functional needs and enhance your tablescape. Bowls can help inspire your most stunning tablescape yet with their elevated design and versatility.
Elevate Everyday Dinnerware with Stylish Bowls
Your everyday bowls should blend beauty with exceptional functionality to elevate your tablescape for any occasion. Choose bowls that fit your style, whether they complement your existing dishes or introduce a bold statement. From classic white bowls to dishes with vibrant designs, like a citrus-inspired bowl bursting with color, bowls are versatile designs for your dinnerware collection.
Different Bowl Designs Offer Different Functions
When selecting the bowls for your collection, you’ll want to consider your uses for each. Are you a cereal-for-breakfast family? Do you often bring a must-have salad as a dish-to-pass? Is pasta a favorite meal in your home? All of these things can help you narrow down the sizes and styles of bowls you’ll need.
Considerations when choosing the right bowls:
-
Size – Bowl sizes are measured by diameter. Six- or seven-inch bowls are often used in place settings as the ideal size for personal use; however, it's also important to consider their depth and style. Larger bowls are ideal for serveware and smaller bowls are a favorite for dips or toppings.
-
Shape – The shape of a bowl can also determine what you should use it for. Here at Coton Colors, we love to create unique bowls that are also functional statement designs. A large, rounded bowl may be perfect for a salad, while a covered bowl can be a better dish for a recipe that needs to be kept warm.
- Design – You’ll want to consider the rest of your dishes and serveware when selecting the right bowl design, as well as any gatherings or occasions you host often. These considerations can guide you in choosing neutral bowls, bowls with accents in bold colors, or festive favorites.
Small Bowls are Dinnerware Staples
Small bowls are dinnerware basics; we often find that they can fulfil your everyday needs best.
Our small bowls are six to seven inches wide and make for ideal vessels for everyday use as part of your dinnerware or dish sets.
Small bowls are ideal for cereal, soup, or a small snack. You can also use them for serving as they’re bigger than dipping bowls but small enough to be ideal for holding garnishes or toppings. They also can be great for holding little trinkets or acting as catch-alls at your doorway.
Our favorite small bowls include:
Stylish Serving Bowls
These multifunctional and stylish designs should add a statement to your tablescape while serving up your favorite recipes. Choose medium or large serving bowls so you’ll have all the options you need for entertaining, whether you’re dishing up soups, salads, or pasta.
Choosing the Right Serving Bowl
With the right serving bowl, you can enhance the presentation and practicality of your dining experience. When considering functionality, deep bowls are best for hearty salads, while wide, shallow bowls work beautifully for pasta or side dishes. The size of the bowl is just as important; larger bowls are often best when serving family-style meals, and smaller ones are great for more intimate gatherings.
When considering a serving need specific for an occasion, you can match the bowl’s design to your tablescape. Neutral tones offer a timeless look, while bold patterns can make a statement for special celebrations. If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, choose a festive color or pattern to transform your table with Christmas dinnerware.
Appetizer Bowls for Small Portions
These small bowls are common for serving up appetizers, toppings, or even garnishes on a cocktail cart.
 |
 |
| A bright addition to your bar cart, our Orange Appetizer Bowl features details that mimic an orange peel. | The Iris Blue Pip Ruffle Bowl has a vibrant blue interior with a delicate pip pattern and ruffle rim that’s ideal for any small serving need. |
Darling Dipping Bowls
These tiny {but mighty} bowls are ideal for, well, dips. Add a couple to your charcuterie board for your favorite sauces, or use them during food prep to make a custom seasoning. Dipping bowls can also be added to a place setting for individual dipping or a garnish if you’re serving two or three people.
 |
 |
| A white dipping bowl with ruffled edges can be a neutral addition to any appetizer table or buffet. |
If you’re looking for a seasonal accent, the Give Thanks Round Dipping Bowl can be a reminder of all you’re thankful for this holiday season. |
Generously Sized Pasta Bowls
Different from your everyday serving bowls, pasta bowls are designed for exactly that: to hold pasta. The slightly wider and shallower shape makes it easier to serve pasta while also allowing for sauce to evenly distribute throughout the noodles. Serving bowls are generally more generic and multipurpose; pasta bowls can also be used as regular serving bowls.
 |
 |
| A handled serving bowl like our Signature White Ruffle Pasta Bowl makes it easy to pass around for a family-style meal. |
Making serveware part of your home décor is something we love, like adding cheer to your table this Christmas with our Christmas in the Village Town Small Pasta Bowl. |
Wood Dough Bowls
Traditionally, a dough bowl is used when making and kneading dough, hence the name. However, wood dough bowls can be a functional part of your serveware, perfect for covering with a linen hand towel for warm rolls. The long oval shape makes it a stylish addition that can easily fit into smaller spaces as part of your tablescape or buffet.
On top of the functionality, wood dough bowls can add texture to your table with the wood exterior and a pop of color and style with a unique pattern or design on the interior. They’re a flexible bowl addition as a serving dish {ours are made of mango wood, which is food safe} or as table décor to suit any season.
Some of our go-to dough bowls include:
Functional Footed Bowls
This style of bowl features a slightly raised foot to elevate the bowl off the table’s surface. A footed bowl is ideal for serving fruits, salads, noodle dishes, or desserts. Footed bowls are also a versatile design that, when not in use as a dish, can double as home décor when filled with Christmas ornaments or as a centerpiece.
Footed bowls that feature a bright design can be a fun way to add color to your table. Enhance your holiday tablescape with a bowl featuring a Christmas village or a Nativity bowl design.
Useful Covered Bowls
These bowls are ideal for recipes that need to stay warm or for presenting foods at the table in a more formal setting. The lid can keep food at the right temperature while guests mingle and make their way to the table.
For an inspired holiday tablescape, we even have adorable shapes like our Rabbit Covered Bowl and Turkey Covered Bowl. For everyday gatherings, you may prefer our Deco Gold Scallop Covered Bowl.
Three Bowl Server
Sometimes you need a serving dish that can hold multiple items in one – think toppings for Taco Tuesday or an ice cream sundae bar. Our three bowl server features generous space in three bowls with ruffle edges from our Signature White Collection.
Bring a dish to pass and serve up dips, chips, and fruits {and leave it behind as a wonderful hostess gift}. The small knob in the center acts as a handle and makes it convenient to move around as needed.
Our Best Bowls
Our medium to large Best Bowls are stylish as serveware and home décor alike. The wide openings and large diameters of 11 and 13 inches can accommodate most needs, making them an entertaining essential thanks to the multifunctional design. Best Bowls are available in neutral and seasonal colors, so you can swap them out based on your gathering.
 |
 |
|
Original designs like our Speckled Rabbit Ruffle Best Bowl can work for an Easter meal or a spring gathering. |
A neutral design like our Signature White 13” Ruffle Bowl is perfect for everyday dining.
|
Ways to Use Bowls as Home Décor
When not in use for entertaining, bowls can double as decorative catch-alls, adding beauty and practicality to your space. Consider some of our favorite ways to use bowls as home décor before you put them away in the cabinet:
Bowls for Centerpieces
Create a beautiful centerpiece by filling a serving bowl with seasonal items like pinecones, ornaments, or flowers. Select the size of the bowl for your centerpiece based on the space you’re trying to fill. A large, colorful pasta serving bowl, like the Iris Burst Pasta Bowl, can be a pretty display for citrus fruits and add a punch of color to your tablescape.
Bowls for Entryway Organization
Decorate your entryway for an inviting first impression by placing a small bowl by the front door as a catch-all. The bowl can hold keys, loose change, mints, sunglasses, and other pocket items. A bowl that’s a bit larger, like our oval Deco handled bowl, can create a place to set the mail for sorting and keep it separate from the rest of the items in your entryway.
Bowls as Coffee Table Accents
For a decorative accent in your living room, we recommend styling your coffee table with a bowl. Along with whatever you choose to put inside, like potpourri, dried florals, or a selection of ornaments for the holidays, the bowl itself can serve as décor. Choose one with warm wood tones to bring in a hint of nature or add a vibrant touch with a colorful design.
Bowls Used in Kitchen and Pantry Styling
A well-placed bowl on open shelving can create a curated kitchen look or serve as stylish storage. In your pantry, you can use a large bowl to hold onions, garlic, or other staples. You can also use a large bowl to display a selection of fruits and vegetables that are shelf stable, making them easy to grab and go – and it looks so pretty displayed on the counter.
Bowls as Part of Bathroom Storage
It can be difficult to keep your bathroom counters clutter-free. Bowls can be a chic counter storage option. Small appetizer bowls can be the perfect solution for cotton swabs or even daily jewelry that you want to keep out. Add a serving bowl to your counter to store extra hand towels {rolled up is a lovely touch} or for bath bombs {so you don’t forget about them in a drawer}.
Seasonal Bowl Décor
Swap out your everyday bowls for festive-themed bowls throughout your home, or use them to hold holiday accents. Add ornaments to a bowl for easy Christmas décor on your living room table, or switch out your daily dough bowl to the Dusk Dough Bowl for the autumn season.
Bowl Sets for Any Occasion
If you are creating a coordinated look for your full table, simply buy a matching set of bowls. This makes it easy to stylishly set a table. You can buy an entire matching set or go with complementary styles to mix and match and create unique tablescapes.
Our small bowl sets, perfect as everyday dishes, are available in sets of four. We also have a pasta bowl mix set of two – when purchasing a set, enjoy 15% off, too!
Here are a few of our favorites and some complementary set ideas:
Neutral Accents:
Modern and Bold:
A Festive Accent:
When shopping for a practical dish for your kitchen or a festive dinnerware or serveware gift for a friend, don’t discount the humble bowl. Our handcrafted bowls come in a variety of shapes and sizes and feature original designs to suit any gathering, from seasonal soirée to casual family dinners. We know you’ll love adding our serving bowls and everyday bowls to your home and will look for excuses to use them, whether on your table or table or as inspired home décor.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.