How to Put a New House, a New Kitchen & New Dishes Together

This simple patterned dish might work well in a traditional style kitchen and house.

The exterior of your house can be a totally different style, theme and color than your kitchen and still look great if designed the way you like it. However, many people choose to carry the same theme throughout their house and kitchen and accessorize with complimentary dishes to match the style. Whichever option works for you, finding the style of your current kitchen may help you choose dishes and dinnerware that bring out the best of your decorating preferences.

Instructions

1. Determine your house style and decide if you want to carry the same theme, style and color throughout the kitchen, including your dinnerware. Styles include Traditional (Country), Romantic (Contemporary), Spicy (Southwest) or Luxurious (Formal).

2. Consider dishes in pastels or highly contrasted colors, like red and green patterns or blue and white to match a Traditional style kitchen. Royal blue and crimson red are also good dish colors for this country type style that can bring out the theme of the past in your decorating and color choices Everyday dinnerware in porcelain with light patterns, such as the Old Fashioned Wedgewood Blue Willow dinnerware from JC Penney or a solid color choice would compliment a Traditional style kitchen and house.

3. Match a Romantic style kitchen with contemporary and modern dishes. Inviting and romantic colors such as gold, silver, light green or brown, soft gray, red or cream colors in your dinnerware will accent this style very well. Either solid colors or patterns should match perfectly with this modern look. A solid black stoneware set is one ideal choice to emphasize the Modern style.

4. Accessorize a Spicy or Southwest style kitchen and house by using fun, bold, vibrant dishes in bright red, yellow and orange, turquoise, earth tones, terra cotta and gold. A combination of many bright colors works well with this style.The warm, fun colors bring out the excitement of your style. The Fiesta pattern of dinnerware comes in a rainbow of bright colors, like red, orange, yellow, purple, brown or green and is a perfect example of this Spicy style.

5. Pair a Luxurious or Formal style kitchen with dinnerware that matches the same elegance and sophistication for memorable entertaining experiences. Clean colors in dinnerware choice will continue this style if you select colors like white, beige, taupe or ocean inspired colors. Solid colors may work well or those with a soft pattern. Rich, deep, solid colors also look tasteful on a dining table in choices like burgundy, dark green and brown. The formal style dinnerware in brands such as Pfaltzgraff or other fine china will compliment the Luxurious style kitchen and house.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having trouble determining your kitchen style, take the quiz at HGTV to find your kitchen style and tips on decorating and best color choices based on that style.

• Remember, most dinnerware can be easily adapted to any style kitchen by changing and accessorizing different colors of placemats, cloth napkins, tablecloths, glassware, centerpieces and other items. These days, most any combination of patterns and dishes are successfully paired together in any style kitchen and house.

References

• HGTV: Kitchen Styles: Which One Is Right For You?
• JC Penney
• What's Your Kitchen Design Style?