30 September 2024

5 Important Tips for A Beautiful Japanese Dinner Setting

Whether in a Japanese restaurant or a trip to Japan, you may have seen some stunning table settings that you just couldn't help but want to capture in a photo. The secret of the beauty of Japanese tableware lies in the harmony of various pieces of different colors and shapes. While many factors contribute to creating a balanced table, we will introduce five essential guidelines, complete with actual setting examples.

Contents

• Find a Theme
• Harmonize Tones
• Focus on Texture
• Mix Different Heights
• Use Trays and Placemats
• Additional Inspiration: Incorporate Professional Ideas

1. Find a Theme

First, find your favorite table setting theme. Do you want to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in a traditional style, or do you want to achieve a modern and sophisticated style?

MUSUBI KILN categorizes items according to the following four themes, so you may want to start by choosing one of these themes to suit your taste. This time, we chose the “Casual & Everyday” theme with a touch of earthy flair to create a table with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Traditional & Elegant

Stylish & Modern

Casual & Everyday

Natural & Orgenic

2. Harmonize Tones

Once you have decided on a theme, it is time to begin the journey to find your favorite tableware. First, choose one essential piece of tableware that you would like to use. If you are not sure which one to choose, you may want to start with a larger item such as a main plate.

After you have selected one favorite piece, look for other pieces that will compliment it in size, thickness, design and color.

Another rule of thumb you can follow is to match about three major colors in the first piece you chose. If your selection is a white porcelain plate with a beautiful cherry blossom design outlined with golden brown trimmings, include items in white, pink and brown for a simple color-matched spread.

We will be setting our table around pieces that match our bright yellow Mino ware plate. It is easy to set up a cohesive atmosphere when the entire table stays within five colors. From this perspective, we selected several items, including the following.

3. Focus on Texture

If you have chosen tableware that you like, but it somehow lacks cohesiveness when arranged together, you may find the answer to solve this by focusing on the texture of the tableware you have chosen. This also includes the thickness of an item.

We recommend that you unify the textures of the main tableware, such as plates and bowls, which have a large visual range. Deciding whether to use glossy porcelain or stoneware will create a coordinated table setting. This also includes the thickness of an item. In our setting, the thickness of the Tobe ware rectangular plates align with the thickness of the yellow stoneware plates.

Also, similar but different textures, such as bamboo and wood, may create a sense of imbalance. If they are large items, it's best to maintain just one kind of material.

Then, combining other small items, chopsticks, trays or cups with completely different textures, such as glass or lacquerware, often works surprisingly well as the contrast between small items with different textures can create a visual interest without disrupting the overall harmony of the table.

4. Mix Different Heights

When considering the layout of a space, the secret is to be aware of pieces with different heights. Adjusting to see how tall items are on the table adds a three-dimensional rhythm, enhancing the overall composition of the design.

The placement of taller bouquets on both ends, the slightly raised centerpiece, and the bowl on the plate gives movement to the whole tablescape.

5. Use Trays and Placemats

Trays are not a must-have item in table settings, but they can be useful if you want to add some flair to your setting.

In this setting, we used a wooden kumiko centerpiece to create a separation between personal and shared spaces.

If you are presenting a set meal style for each person at the table instead of this kind of party style, using a tray or placemat may also help organize the pieces together.

If you would like to know more about the items we selected for this table setting, please refer to the following article.

6. Additional Inspiration: Incorporate Professional Ideas

Creating a beautiful Japanese-style table setting becomes much easier when you keep these five points in mind.

However, if you're short on time, taking inspiration from professionals is a smart option.

MUSUBI KILN introduces many table setting ideas created by professional table designers. Choose your favorite style here and check out the items used.