Colour, a great man once said “deceives continuously.”
And this is true of making your creations look great for guests.
When it comes to setting the table, the colour of your tableware can make a big impact and change the way your creations are perceived.
It's not just about serving food; it's about creating an experience. So, what are the best colours to choose for your tableware?
Why are colours of tableware important?
Colours can set the mood for a meal, evoke emotions, and even stimulate appetite. Imagine serving a vibrant salad on a dull, grey plate - not exactly appetising, right?
Choosing the right colours for your tableware makes food pop and heightens your experience.
A great plate of food with a rich background will really set a sophisticated mood and get your dinner party of to a stunning start and make your personality shine through the dishes you serve.
One psychology study showed that if food is too close in colour to a plate, people misjudge the food on their plates and served themselves 22% more!
We associate colours with particular flavours and moods, so getting the right dinner plate colour is essential for happy guests. And the best colour for your tableware may not be quite what you expect.
We've put together tips and some other secret tricks of the eye that will elevate your dining experience
We'll also how you how to visually integrate any dish with the plate its served on so it looks fab.
First some colour basics
Dinner plates and bowls colours - the basics
Complimentary vs complementary colours
Complimentary colours are near the colour wheel and naturally look at home together. Complementary colours contrast thereby enhancing appearance.
You should be looking for a colour and shade that is going to complement your overall colour preferences which will be reflected in there other things you have around you at home. You also want to think about what kinds of foods you tend to eat and serve and their colours and tones.
Colour schemes and tablescaping
When choosing dinner plate colours think about tablescaping and scene settingin general and see this blog where we go into these ideas in more detail.
For your plates, start by thinking in tones…
What is the overall vibe you want around you to make you feel good and what do you want to convey to your guests.
For example…
Pastel tones
Pastel tone such as sky blues, baby pinks and mint greens helps to accentuate the homemade nature of the food in a cute and retro feel. Pastel crockery provides you and your guests a homey feel to your scrumptious meal.
Earthy Tones
Earthy tones like Plated’s organic greens as well as some browns give a natural look to food and can give it a wholesome and comforting feel whilst emphasising the healthy nutrias food you’re seeing.
When choosing the colour, think back to the kind of food you tend to eat and serve and how to make it pop, and those complimentary vs complimentary colours.
What is best colour dinner plate to buy?
So, let’s have a look at some popular colours and what colour food is best to eat off
Dinner plates in red
Red seems like a good choice as it boosts appetite and means passion! But let’s face it, red dinner plates are kind of associated with fast food and making people excitable at kids parties.
For a sophisticated dinner setting or a comforting meal at home, it is best avoided.
Red is such an intense colour it does cause intense reactions that you’r not looking for in tableware.
Let the food do the work.
Dinner plates in yellow
Tricky choice. Yellow tends to make us uneasy and is also the chosen clothing colour of one Ronald MacDonald for a reason. It’s about superficial and easy pleasure and not the look you’re going tor at home.
Yellow is disconnected from the creative side o the brain and sends the wrong message when we’re trying to cook up a storm for our family guests.
Yellow plates and bowls also clash with too many food colours.
Dinner plates in blue
Blue is the most popular colour in the UK (sky and sea is nice, we guess?) but not the most appetising to eat off.
It is true that some foods and setting work really well with blue, but it has to be the right kind of blue, and the right kind of vibe.
It works beautifully in a seafood restaurant in Greece, mimicking the clear blue skies and seas, and it can look fresh and even chilled.
But blue plates can look too cold and even medicinal and blue may actually put people off eating.
Blue has also been shown to reduce appetite and putting people off food because very few food are naturally blue and most of the time reminds us of foods that are off!
White dinner plates - the ‘got-to’ but not the GOAT.
Everyone likes white right? You can see why.
White gives off feelings of cleanliness, purity, and simplicity, and can give the impression of being natural and fresh.
White can also be sophisticated when used alone in a sleek minimalist style.
White is a top choice for many chefs for framing their culinary creations because almost every colour of food looks good on white. The colours of the food seem more vibrant and the food looks more appealing. It can be a perfect frame for any style of food.
But white can be tricksy.
Not all whites are the same
For example, red is an “advancing colour” that hits you off the plate so white is perfect to complement it. But there’s a a range within ‘red’ from orangey to bluish and the kind of white that goes with each is different.
So tomatoes are an orange red so You're going to want want to stick to warmer white, but beetroot is bluer red so would need a cooler white plate.
In general, pure white can be a little stark and cold.
Unless it’s super expensive white classic porcelain make you feel like you’ve just walked into a school canteen.
In a more informal world, where dining at home is fun exotic and inventive, porcelain white doesn’t cut it for our customers, or lend itself to the warmth of sharing.
Thats why at Plated we have gone through endless shades of cream and white with our Portuguese factory get the perfect shade for that luscious med look.
If you really do want to go for brilliant white, we suggest a patterned rim which can soften the cold look of pure white and look a bit rustic.
But you do need to be careful to get the pattern right for the style and feel you’re going for, and be mindful that people tend to go off patterned plates with time.
So be warned. Some scenes can just be too white!
Dinner plates in green
Green is a combination of blue and yellow, making a nice balance.
So these colours will work well together and enhance the freshness o the foods.
Green plates are also associated with natural healthy and organic and is a symbol of well-being.
Studies show that green is calming and makes us want to sit and relax and enjoy.
Green in a nice shade always a safe bet. These versatile shades never go out of style and can easily complement any table setting. Plus, they create a clean and elegant look that is perfect for both casual and formal occasions.
It’s also fantastic for red food like tom sauce.
A Pink dinner plate?
Pink is a great colour for lifting and occasion and making a Monday night fun
For those looking to stay on-trend, bold and bright colours like pink are all the rage. It’s eye-catching hues can add a pop of personality to your table setting and make a statement.
Plus, they're perfect for adding a touch of fun to your dining experience. Pink is a good choice because it works brilliantly with colours you often see on your plate, like green and the light organic browns. We can confirm it looks absolutely amazing with mushroom dishes and salad!
We find our customers value their pink set most when it’s just them and dinnertime becomes just a little bit more glam and fun.
Guests also love the way a table is transformed by a subtle pink set and it can really get your dinner with friends off to a super fun start.
Black dinner plates - you’re kidding yourself!
Black and very dark dinner plates have been shown in studies to give the impression of bigger portion sizes.
So you can kid your guests you’re feeding them more if you’ve run out of grub! Or convince yourself your diet sized portion is actually a feast.
But dark plates can look like you’re trying too hard to convey sophistication and elegance.
Also, black as a colour in food and cooking is traditionally associated with bitter flavours and burnt food.
In general black or very dark dinner plates can be a bit gloomy and unappetising.
So what colour dinner plate should I choose
In general, pick colours that support and enhance your great culinary creations and are overwhelming or even detracting from them.
Lets face it you’re not going to choose a dish based on your plate colour and nor should you.
The trick is to get something that is going to make you feel good and give your guests the vibe you’re looking for
But when guests are round and presentation is important, pick a element of the meal ora garnish to match the complement the colour to bring it together.
Something vibrant that works well with the plate colour will really make s song visual impacts
For more info on Harmonising your food with the plate colour for an ace presentation look, read this blog.
