Japandi dinnerware set: what it is and which set suits you
A japandi dinnerware set combines the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy — beauty in imperfection and simplicity — with warm Scandinavian minimalism: calm shapes, natural colours and materials that stand the test of time. No bright glaze, no excessive decoration, just tableware you'll enjoy using for years, where every piece is subtly different.
At Wabi-Sabi Livingware you'll find five collections that translate this style into tableware: Cosmos and Elite, hand-shaped or hand-glazed, available as a set for 4, 6 or 8 people; and Aura, Zafiro and Velvet, each in a fixed composition for 4 or 6 people. Below you'll find what to look for when choosing a japandi dinnerware set, and which of our collections suits your table.
What makes tableware "japandi"?
Three characteristics keep recurring:
Imperfection as a design principle. Hand-shaped or hand-glazed tableware has a slightly different edge, colour depth or texture per piece. That's not a manufacturing flaw but the core of wabi-sabi: beauty in the irregular.
Muted colours and shapes. Organic beige, earthy tones, soft blue — colours that fit any interior, from warm-rustic to sleek-minimalist. No busy prints, no bright contrasts.
Material that carries the story. Stoneware, porcelain or hand-painted ceramic, made by artisans. It's not about cheap mass production, but tableware whose craftsmanship you can feel.
Our japandi collections
Cosmos — hand-shaped stoneware with an organic beige glaze. Every piece is shaped by hand rather than cast, so no two plates are exactly alike. Available as individual pieces (€9-14) and as a set for 4 people (€100-145), 6 people (€145-215) or 8 people.
Elite — porcelain with a reactive glaze, slightly more refined than Cosmos. The glaze reacts unpredictably during firing, giving each piece its own colour gradient. Also available as individual pieces (€9-14) and as a set for 4 people (€90-135), 6 people (€125-195) or 8 people.
Aura — light blue porcelain, deliberately sleek and uniform. The calm counterpart for anyone who prefers a consistent table setting without variation between pieces. Available as a set for 4 people, €55.
Zafiro — hand-painted ceramic in deep ocean blue. Last stock: this collection won't be remade. Available as a set for 6 people, €90.
Velvet — hand-painted ceramic in soft pink and white. Also last stock. Available as a set for 6 people, €90.
Comparison at a glance
| Collection | Material | Glaze | Set size | From | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmos | Stoneware | Hand-shaped, organic beige | 4 / 6 / 8 people | €100 | In production |
| Elite | Porcelain | Reactive, teal on dark | 4 / 6 / 8 people | €90 | In production |
| Aura | Porcelain | Sleek, uniform, light blue | 4 people | €55 | In production |
| Zafiro | Ceramic | Hand-painted, ocean blue | 6 people | €90 | Last stock |
| Velvet | Ceramic | Hand-painted, pink/white | 6 people | €90 | Last stock |
And then there are the coffee cups
If one product shows the wabi-sabi philosophy in its purest form, it's our coffee cups, inspired by the Japanese chawan. Unlike the rest of the range — designed in Spain, made in Turkey or China — these cups are Japanese craftsmanship from start to finish: entirely hand-shaped and hand-glazed by artisans in Japan. Five variants (Caramel, Cypress, Eclipse, Swept Earth, Winter Drift), each €22, with its own glaze, and no two cups exactly alike. A compact, affordable first introduction to wabi-sabi, or a lovely addition alongside a dinnerware set.
Which set do you choose?
Also browse all our complete dinnerware sets on one page, or read our full buying guide comparing material and glaze if you're specifically looking to buy a set — below is a short overview per situation.
- Want to get acquainted first without buying a set or individual piece right away? Start with a Japanese coffee cup — the lowest-threshold first step.
- Still unsure, or want to start small? Start with individual pieces from Cosmos or Elite. Both stay in production, so you can add to them later without issue.
- Fixed group of 4? Cosmos, Elite or Aura all work — Aura if you want a sleek, consistent set; Cosmos or Elite if you enjoy the variation between pieces.
- Fixed group of 6? Cosmos, Elite, Zafiro or Velvet. Choose Zafiro or Velvet if you want a distinctive colour and hand-painted work, and keep in mind this is the last stock.
- Large table (8 people)? Cosmos and Elite are the only two collections that go up to 8 people.
Combining japandi at the table
Japandi tableware combines well within the same collection — dinner plate, dessert plate and bowl from Cosmos or Elite naturally look cohesive thanks to the shared glazing process. Combining across collections also works, as long as you stay within one colour family: organic beige (Cosmos) and light blue (Aura) side by side works better than Zafiro's deep blue next to Velvet's pink.
Frequently asked questions
Since when has the term "japandi" existed?
The style itself is older, but the term "japandi" (Japan + Scandi) has been used in interior design media since around 2016-2017 to describe the combination of Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetics and Scandinavian minimalism.
Is japandi tableware always handmade?
Not necessarily — the term is about style, not production method. At Wabi-Sabi Livingware we deliberately choose hand-shaped or hand-glazed work (Cosmos, Elite) and fully hand-painted ceramic (Zafiro, Velvet), made by artisans in Turkey and China, and for the coffee cups, in Japan itself.
How many collections does Wabi-Sabi Livingware have, and what's the price range?
Five tableware lines (Cosmos, Elite, Aura, Zafiro, Velvet) plus a separate line of Japanese coffee cups in five variants — ten product lines in total. Prices range from €9 for a single piece to around €280 for the largest Cosmos set for 8 people.
For practical questions about shipping, dishwasher use, origin and food safety, see our FAQ.