Buying a japandi dinnerware set: what to look for
You can recognise a japandi dinnerware set by three things: a calm, earthy colour palette, an irregular or organic shape, and a glaze that turns out slightly different on every piece. It's tableware that brings the wabi-sabi philosophy to the dining table — beauty in imperfection, rather than the uniform perfection of a mass-produced set.
Buying a japandi dinnerware set is usually a matter of mood first, price second. Still, there are a few practical points that make the difference between a set you'll enjoy for years and one that loses its shine after a few trips through the dishwasher.
1. Material: stoneware or porcelain?
The two main materials in japandi tableware are stoneware and porcelain.
Stoneware is thicker, sturdier and feels earthy — well suited to an everyday, informal table. The Cosmos line is a good example: hand-shaped stoneware with an organic beige glaze, where every edge runs slightly differently.
Porcelain is finer, lighter in weight and looks more refined. It suits a slightly more formal setting without losing japandi's warmth. Elite (reactive glaze, teal on dark) and Aura (light blue, with a thin gold-toned rim) are examples of this.
Neither is "better" — it's a choice between everyday sturdiness and refined lightness.
2. Glaze: reactive or hand-painted?
Reactive glaze forms because the glaze chemically reacts with the kiln and the underlying material during firing. The result: no two pieces are exactly alike, with colour gradients you can't replicate by hand. Elite and Aura use this technique.
Hand-painted tableware (like Zafiro in deep ocean blue or Velvet in pink and white) visibly carries the movement of the brush. This feels more personal and rustic than reactive glaze, and is often produced in limited runs — once a line sells out, it doesn't come back.
3. Price: what does a japandi dinnerware set cost?
Individual pieces cost €9-14 each with us. Complete sets start at €55 for a 4-person Aura set, and range from €90-145 for 4 people to €145-215 for 6 people with Cosmos and Elite. For 8 people (Cosmos and Elite only), prices go above €250. Zafiro and Velvet, both hand-painted and while stocks last, cost €90 for a set of 6.
4. Set size: start small or go complete right away?
Still unsure about a style? Start with a single piece instead of a complete set right away. That way you can see and feel the material and glaze in your own kitchen before investing further.
Already know a line suits you? Then a dinnerware set for 4, 6 or 8 people is more efficient, with options ranging from a compact Morning or Simple set to a full Complete set with dinner plate, deep plate, breakfast plate, dessert plate and bowl.
5. Practical: dishwasher, microwave and care
A common assumption is that handmade tableware is more fragile. For most japandi lines that's not the case: dishwasher and microwave safety is now standard, even for hand-shaped stoneware. Do avoid extreme temperature swings (a cold plate straight into a hot oven) to prevent hairline cracks — that applies to almost all ceramics, not just japandi.
"Beautiful dinnerware set of high quality. A few items arrived damaged, but this was resolved smoothly. Communication was very pleasant and personal."
— verified review, Cosmos dinnerware set
Frequently asked questions
Is a japandi dinnerware set more expensive than regular tableware?
Prices vary, just as with regular tableware. Individual pieces cost €9-14 each, complete sets for 4 people from €55 (Aura) to €90-145 (Cosmos, Elite), and for 8 people above €250.
Can I combine pieces from different japandi lines?
Yes, as long as the colour palette and shape language work together. Many people combine, for example, a neutral base set with a single striking piece in a different glaze.
Why does my plate look slightly different from the photo?
With hand-shaped or hand-painted tableware, small differences in shape, glaze thickness and colour depth are part of the process — that's not a flaw, that's the essence of wabi-sabi.