better homes and gardens mistletoe dinnerware sets

Dark and Moody Plates Make Your Table Look Like a Dutch Still Life—In a Good Way

Set your holiday table with ceramics in rich, saturated colors pulled straight from a 17th century painting.

Amy Neusinger for Nickey Kehoe

A new line of dishware from Nickey Kehoe embraces color and simplicity.

White plates are an undeniable staple in a well-stocked kitchen. They go with any decor, they're typically easy to replace when they break, and they don't compete with the focal point of any meal—the food. For a chef, a plain white plate is an obvious choice because it doesn't detract attention from the color or texture of what they're serving on it. For the rest of us, a well-set table with great looking tableware can take some of the pressure off of the actual meal. And create that "wow" factor before anyone touches a fork.

If you're going for a mood, or looking to mix up your same-old table setting, adding a little deep, earthy color to your place settings can create welcome drama. This season, ocean blues, cranberry red, plum, and deep ochre are some of the colors popping up on plates everywhere you look. Like the best still life paintings of tablescapes from the 17th century, they are dark and brooding, and make even the simplest meal look like a feast.

Of all of the places people search for holiday table inspiration, an art museum may not be the most obvious choice.

But if you haven't browsed the permanent collection at the Norton Simon in Pasadena, California, in a while, you may want to make a trip there to see the museum's impressive collection of European paintings before you host your holiday feast. The vibrant red and cool blues of Louise Moillon's "Still Life with Cherries, Strawberries and Gooseberries" is one of the prettiest palettes we've seen. And it's easy to find dinnerware from brands like Heath, Crate & Barrel, Nickey Kehoe, and Williams Sonoma to match that mood.

The new seasonal collection from Heath Ceramics has a rich palette of plum and cranberry.

Set the table, dim the lights, put a match to some candles, and enjoy the way those shadows make everything—your guests included—look more delectable.

Here are some of our favorite new dinnerware staples for a deep, dark dinner party.

1 of 6 Courtesy of Nickey Kehoe

NK Ceramics

A new line of handmade dishes, serving platters, and bowls at Nickey Kehoe is finished in deep neutrals like blue-gray.

Nickey Kehoe Dinner Plate, Smoke, $78

2 of 6 Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

Scalamandre Plates for Williams Sonoma

Who needs flowers when their plates, like this Scalamandre set exclusive to Williams Sonoma, look like a Dutch Masters painting?

Dinner Plates, Set of 4, $79.95

3 of 6 Courtesy of Heath

Heath Winter Solstice Collection

Heath's Winter Solstice limited edition collection is glazed in deep tones like plum and cranberry.

Rim Dessert Bowl in Cranberry, $41

4 of 6 Courtesy of Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel Cove Dinnerware

Mix up your holiday table setting with some moody blues from Crate & Barrel's cove collection.

Cove Glazed Indigo Blue Dinner Plate, $12.95

5 of 6 Courtesy of West Elm

West Elm Kanto Plates

West Elm's Kanto dinner plates look like they were just pulled out of an ancient kiln.

Kanto Matte Glaze Dinner Plates, Set of 4, $58

6 of 6 Courtesy of Macy's

Denby Studio Craft Grey Jug

A rustic, speckled pitcher in an earthy gray finish looks at home on a moody table, filled with water, dahlias, or branches clipped from your backyard.

Studio Craft Grey Large Jug, $69

Read the 2021 Wine Issue Right Here!

Get one year of Sunset—and all kinds of bonuses—for just $24.95. Subscribe now!