5 Tabletop Trends That Are Quietly Replacing Your Basic Dinnerware

I always look forward to The New York Tabletop Show every spring and every fall. Maybe it’s because I love a good dinner party and seated brunch — and a gorgeously set table really can really set the tone for what’s to come by making any meal feel special. This season, though, I skipped the trade show and went straight to the source — to the charming global headquarters of one of my very favorite tableware and decor brands, Villeroy & Boch — to get the scoop on all of the latest tabletop trends. Turns out the iconic European design house, which started as a family pottery and has been producing premium porcelain and more for over 275 years, has a collection that speaks to just about every major movement in design right now.

Before talking trends, though, I want to get into the why and how of it all for a little background. As I mentioned, as part of a small group of editors, I traveled to Mettlach, Germany, the location of Villeroy & Boch’s historic headquarters called the Old Abbey, a former monastery that’s absolutely gorgeous architecturally-speaking. There, our group was treated to a very behind-the-scenes experience so we could understand the artistry central to this iconic tableware brand.

First up, we visited the brand’s just-remodeled, open-to-the-public museum, Villeroy & Boch World, to learn about the company’s founding in 1748, which also gave us a primer on its production process and product offerings over the years. Then we got to visit the company’s nearby factory — Villeroy & Boch makes its premium porcelain at its own facilities in Germany! — to see the manufacturing process up close and personal. Finally, we chatted with the brand’s design team to understand how they distill trends from trade shows, the fashion world, the company’s own archives, and more to create the pieces you see below (and any time there’s a new collection launch, since several get rolled over the course of a calendar year).

One of the things I found so compelling is how much care the brand puts into making its porcelain from start to finish. Villeroy & Boch’s porcelain is way more durable than run-of-the-mill ceramic. Each piece gets created — and fired and glazed — with proprietary methods and special ingredients to make what you see here, and molds have to be so precise, since pieces shrink in the kiln.

The company invests a lot of time and energy into quality control, starting with what it takes to get sizing — and shrinkage — right. A plate, for example, shrinks by about 12 percent (you can see that shrinkage in the image of the two plates being held up, side-by-side above). That means designers have to take this into account when they are coming up with shapes, motifs, and more for pieces. A lot of trial and error can be involved, but you know you’re getting a modern heirloom when you unbox one of the finished products.

The other thing that shocked me is just how much the human touch is present in these pieces. Of course, certain processes are automated, but decoration is done with hand-painting or the hand-applying of decals. Many of the artisans train for months before they can attempt certain techniques. A lot of the quality control is performed by humans as well; pieces actually have to pass a sound test to make sure they are structurally correct. So it’s not just about looks; performance is at the heart of Villeroy & Boch, too.

Let’s get to the trends, though, because that’s probably what you’re most curious about. Each of these collections from Villeroy & Boch touched on the biggest tabletop trends I’m seeing right now. And you can shop right from here to bring it all home for your next meal. 

Sure, you can still buy dinnerware in sets, but the most stunning tablescapes today are looser and far less matchy-matchy than you probably grew up with. That’s where one of Villeroy & Boch’s most recent porcelain launches, the Fleur collection, comes in. 

Inspired by flowers, think of setting your table with this collection like assembling a bouquet of blooms. No two arrangements are ever exactly the same, and that’s the exact premise behind the collection. Most of the pieces feature a sweet, petal-like scalloped border, and some have circular centers and other little flourishes. 

Pieces come in four colorways — fuchsia, yellow, green, and a purplish blue — and the beauty is that you can order items in any color combinations you want, then stack them on the table in any way you see fit. Plenty of serving dishes and bowls are also available, too, so you could buy just a few items and mix them in with whatever white dishware you have, if you want to start small with this assortment. I could also see just buying dinner plates and/or salad plates, and building out your collection from there, too. 

You can go for a chic, monochromatic look with pieces all in one shade, or create a lively combination with pieces in two, three, or even all four hues. The collection feels perfect for spring or summer, considering the pastel palette, but you really could use them year-round. I could even see riffing on a traditional holiday tablescape with these, if you chose to go with just the green or pair the green with the pink. Want more of a wintry vibe? Select all blue. 

This collection has been so popular, Villeroy & Boch will be adding accessories to round out the tableware offerings soon. You can expect things like coordinating vases and even textiles in the weeks and months to come. 

Is quiet luxury your style profile? Then the Afina collection is your match. Designed by Christian Haas, the celebrated industrial and interior designer, this gorgeous, off-white colored porcelain collection speaks to the calm, minimalist vibe that a lot of people are after in their interiors — and on their tables. Inspired by the rays of the sun, which you can see in the repeating, concentric, beam-like, linear design that wraps around various parts of the pieces, Afina is simple, modern, and light. The collection is tone-on-tone, but it’s anything but boring.

Small-space living — and smart meets stylish storage — has taken over Instagram and TikTok feeds everywhere. Now this trend is coming for the dinner table, thanks to Villeroy & Boch’s La Boule. 

This nestable dining set, which features seven pieces that stack into a striking, globe-like art sculpture for your table, comes in a slew of different designs for every different aesthetic. And it truly turns your table into an interactive moment, especially when you let guests get in on the fun of separating each of the bowls and dishes to set the table once you sit down for a meal. Even better, you can store sets assembled to save space on your shelves.

Want this fun party trick in an even smaller size? Villeroy & Boch now sells a La Boule Petite line. This pint-size version works the same way and is perfect for serving olives, nuts, candies, and sauces. The mini makes a really great gift, in my opinion, since you can find a style that probably will work with just about anyone’s current dinnerware. 

If the Fleur collection is all about making a modern bouquet on your table, then Petite Fleur is the pick for more traditional china vibes with cottagecore undertones. Pieces feature a dainty garden party of tiny blooms and posies, trimmed with a pink border that wraps around each piece. The plates also feature an eye-catching, gently curved edge in relief; nobody does details like this quite like Villeroy & Boch.

I could, of course, see buying a whole set of these sweet plates, bowls, and mugs. But I also think just a few of the larger dishes could dress up a table for serving brunch or apps at an apartment movie night. 

I’d be remiss to leave out the latest addition to the Perlemor collection, a handmade pottery-inspired assortment that references the sea with its current sand, alga, and coral colorways. Now, Perlemor is embodying the ocean water directly in a new tranquil blue shade, which totally changes the look of the table by making it feel more classically coastal. These pieces will also feature this collection’s signature, perfectly imperfect glazing technique that adds just the right amount of shine to a tablescape. 

This nautical blue is hot off the presses and a total sneak peek, since it’s not available in the United States until June. I can see it being used for special summer gatherings or even as everyday china, considering just how much people love the color blue.