Set a Table That’s Uniquely Yours When You Mix and Match Your Dinnerware and Serveware

Every table tells a story, and how you set it can shape yours. Mixing and matching your dishes, bowls, and plates invites creativity, helping you craft a tablescape that feels both personal and stylish. The beauty lies in the details and the small choices that reflect your taste, your loved ones, and the moments you're celebrating. 

Start with styles that complement one another in tone or texture, then build depth by layering shapes, colors, and patterns. Whether you prefer classic whites or playful, patterned designs, the right combination of dinnerware and serving dishes feels cohesive while still reflecting your unique style. 

Why Mix and Match Your Serveware and Dinnerware?

Your dinnerware and serving plates help set the atmosphere for your gathering. It’s not just about owning the perfect set of dishes, but instead about layering style and meaning into every place setting. Combining different combinations of dinnerware and serving dishes creates visual interest that feels simple yet intentional, turning an everyday meal into something memorable. 

Serving from a mix of collections adds spark and personality that classic symmetry can’t always achieve. It encourages conversation, invites guests to take notice, and gives you the flexibility to adapt your table for any occasion. As your collection grows, you can easily blend new serving plates or serving bowls into your existing styles to keep your table feeling fresh and uniquely yours. 

What are the Basics of Setting a Tablescape? 

Every beautiful table starts with a strong foundation of dishes. Before you mix colors and patterns, it helps to know the essential designs that bring both function and flow to your setting. 

Key dinnerware and serveware components to setting a table you love: 

• Dinner plates
• Salad plates
• Bowls
• Serving boards
• Serving bowls
• Serving plates and platters

Your dinner plate is the anchor that sets the tone for the rest of your table. Smaller plates and bowls add layers of color and texture, while serving dishes connect each place setting, ensuring the overall look feels harmonious and complete. 

How Do I Add Color to My Table Settings? 

Start by grounding your table with a dominant neutral hue {we recommend our Signature White dishes}. This dinnerware serves as a calming anchor that grounds the entire table setting. Once your base is in place, layer in accent tones with smaller dishes, bowls, or serving plates, as well as complementary linens or glassware for added depth. 

A neutral foundation allows your accent colors to pop while keeping the overall look cohesive. Whether you prefer soft pastels, vibrant hues, or seasonal shades, thoughtful color layering with your dishes brings energy and personality to your table without overwhelming it. 

Seasonal Color Combinations for Your Table

Seasonal color swaps are an easy way to refresh your table without replacing all of your dishes or serveware. Add subtle pops of color to your table settings with salad plates, serving bowls, or napkins. These dishes and table linens can transform your tablescape to reflect the mood of each season. For more inspiration on how to set a seasonal table, visit our Set The Table Gallery. 

The Best Dinnerware and Serveware Colors for Spring

Setting the table for spring should include soft, fresh tones that feel light and airy. Pair soft mint, blush, and butter yellow across dinnerware, bowls, and serving dishes to create a gentle, layered look. Accent your table with floral-inspired serving plates or pastel linens to highlight the season’s brightness and playful energy in your dishes. 

Favorite Summer Dinnerware and Serveware 

Summer tablescapes are all about vibrant, cheerful hues. Combine coral, aqua, and crisp white in your dinnerware, salad plates, and serving bowls for a lively, sun-soaked table. Add woven textures or glass accents to keep the look light, breezy, and perfect for outdoor gatherings or relaxed dinners. 

The Best Colors for an Autumn Tablescape 

Autumn calls for warm, earthy tones that bring a cozy, inviting feel to the table. Layer terracotta, sage, and deep mustard in your dinnerware, bowls, or serving plates. Rich linens, wooden serving plates, or textured serveware complement these colors beautifully, creating a layered, autumn-ready tablescape. 

Favorite Winter and Holiday Table Inspiration 

Winter tables are perfect for deep, dramatic hues with touches of sparkle. Mix deep evergreen, icy blue, and metallic gold across your dishes, bowls, and serving plates for a festive, sophisticated look. Incorporate metallic accents or textured serveware to add shine and just a bit of glam, ideal for holiday gatherings or cozy winter dinners. 

Mixing Patterns in Dinnerware and Serveware

Be bold but thoughtful when mixing patterns on your table for a signature style. Polka dots, stripes, florals, and geometrics can work beautifully together when they share a common color story or motif. Let one pattern be your “hero” design {like a bold Strata Collection bowl} and surround it with a simpler pattern or solid dishes and plates to create contrast without clashing. 

The key to successful pattern mixing is balance. Patterns should complement each other rather than compete, guiding the eye across your table. For instance, a floral salad plate can pair beautifully with a subtle striped serving bowl, while textured solids in your dishes and serveware can add depth without overwhelming the look. 

Can You Mix Dish Shapes on Your Tablescapes?

Using a variety of tableware shapes can instantly elevate your table and make it feel more dynamic. Thoughtful layering of round, oval, square, and freeform styles creates visual interest while keeping the table cohesive. Mixing serveware and plate shapes creates a layered, engaging table that feels curated without being rigid. 

What are the Different Plate Shapes?

• Round – Classic and versatile, round dinner plates or bowls serve as the foundation for layering other dish shapes. 
• Oval – Oval serving plates or serving dishes add movement and an organic feel. We recommend that you place them slightly off-center. 
• Square and rectangular – Square or rectangular dinner plates and serving plates bring structure and balance when layered under round or oval designs.
• Freeform – Irregular shapes add a playful, modern touch. Pair them with simpler shapes to keep the look harmonious. 

Why Set a Table with Irregularly Shaped Serving Dishes?

Irregularly shaped serving dishes can bring personality and charm to any tablescape. These statement styles can act as anchors, helping you layer colors, patterns, and textures in a way that feels refined and intentional. When they’re shaped to fit your theme, like oyster shaped serveware for a raw bar gathering, they can also help you pull your décor together beautifully.

A few of our favorite sculptural dishes: 

• Orange Tray – An eye-catching design for appetizers or citrus-inspired spreads. It pairs beautifully with white dishes or contrasting bowls for a playful, standout style. 
• Lemon Platter – Fresh and breezy, perfect for a coastal or bright summer tablescape. It works well alongside neutral serveware or colorful salad plates to enhance layered table settings. 

Why Should You Add Texture to Your Table with Dishes?

Texture adds so much personality to a table. Wood serveware, hammered metal serving bowls, and handcrafted ceramics all bring warmth and visual depth to your setting. Mixing different materials keeps the table feeling inviting rather than flat or too polished.

Wood dishes bring a natural, easygoing touch that balances the smooth look of ceramic dishes. A metal bowl or textured serving plate can catch the light and add a hint of sparkle to place settings. By playing with a mix of textures, you create a table that feels natural and full of personality. 

How to Style Your Table for Everyday Dining

For an everyday, casual table, keep your focus on neutral and your most-used dishes and serveware. Then, bring in personality with a few accents like a patterned bowl, a colorful napkin, or a textured serving dish. These small details add warmth and style without making the table feel overdone. 

Keep the look relaxed and straightforward. There’s no need to overdo your dishes and home décor for a simple everyday table. Mixing just a few layers or shapes helps your table feel intentionally styled while staying practical for daily meals. It’s an easy way to make sure that ordinary moments still feel a little special. 

Tips for Setting Your Table for the Holidays?

When styling for holidays or seasonal gatherings, introduce one or two standout styles from a seasonal collection, like festive dinnerware or themed serving plates. Let these designs guide your accent choices while keeping your everyday dishes and bowls as the foundation. This keeps your table cohesive, while still adding a sense of occasion.

Our Deco, Oyster, or seasonal collections are ideal for weaving in color, pattern, or charm. Adding a themed serving dish or textured serving platter can instantly elevate your table setting to create a festive look that is celebratory but doesn’t take too long to curate.

Why Play with Scale and Proportion in Dishes?

Mixing small and large plates, bowls, and serveware adds instant visual interest to any tablescape. Oversized platters or statement serving dishes create impact, while smaller salad plates or accent bowls draw the eye and provide balance. Be sure to think about scale alongside color, pattern, and texture to help your table feel dynamic and engaging rather than flat or predictable. 

Why Add Linens and Table Accessories To Your Table?

Linens and table accessories are an easy way to unify mixed dishes, bowls, and serveware. A table runner, placemats, or chargers can echo colors, patterns, or textures from your dishes, helping different designs feel cohesive. Napkins or small accent designs can highlight seasonal colors, complement patterns, or add subtle contrast, making your tablescape feel curated without changing your core dinnerware. 

Layering accessories thoughtfully adds dimension and polish. A neutral table runner can ground a vibrant mix of plates and serving bowls, while patterned napkins can repeat accent tones from your serveware. These finishing touches tie your look together, adding warmth and personality while keeping your table functional. 

How Do I Mix Serveware with Dinnerware? 

Your serveware doesn’t need to match your dinnerware exactly. Instead, aim for styles that complement rather than replicate. Pair an ornate platter with simple dishes, or a bold serving bowl with understated dinnerware, to create a balanced, curated look. 

Height and variation are key to a dynamic presentation. Use tiered stands, cake plates, or footed bowls to draw the eye and create movement across the table. Mixing serving plates, trays, and bowls in different shapes, colors, and finishes ensures your table setting feels visually engaging. 

How to Build Your Own Mix-and-Match Dish Set 

Creating a versatile, mix-and-match table starts with the basics. Choose foundational dinner plates, salad plates, and bowls in neutral tones or subtle textures that you’ll reach for daily. White dinnerware works with virtually any color or pattern, while a favorite hue can anchor a more personalized color palette. 

Once your base is set, add unique designs that showcase your style. A bold patterned salad plate, colorful serving bowl, or playful serving dish brings personality and impact without overhauling your table. These accent designs act like jewelry for your table, letting your tablescape evolve with your tastes and entertaining needs. 

Tell Your Story Through Dinnerware and Serveware

A personal table tells your story rather than following trends. Let your dinnerware and serveware flow together over time – maybe a ruffle-edge plate from your wedding registry pairs with a stripe-patterned serving plate you recently added. Over time, your collection becomes a visual narrative of gatherings, holidays, and everyday moments. 

Don’t worry about perfect coordination – embrace imperfection and creativity. Use repetition of color, form, or material to unify styles from different collections. What matters most is that your table feels inviting, harmonious, and reflective of the moment you’re creating. 

Mixing and matching your dinnerware and serveware is about more than aesthetics – it's a way to express your personality and tell the story of your home. Thoughtful combinations of shapes, patterns, textures, and colors allow each table setting to feel intentional, inviting, and all your own, whether for everyday meals or special gatherings. 

Over time, your collection evolves into a versatile toolkit that adapts to every occasion. By layering designs, incorporating unique accents, and using accessories like linens and chargers, you can create tablescapes that feel cohesive without being rigid, playful without being chaotic, and beautifully yours every time you set the table.