The Only True Dinner Plates Are White

[Mysterian]

I was killing time in the homeware district of my local big Sainsbury's today when I stumbled upon the dinner plate selection. I was distressed to see such a myriad of patterns and hues flagrantly displayed. Why would anybody want anything but clean clear crisp white plates? I don't want to accidentality misplace a nugget or waffle fry amongst a geometric jungle of shapes and shades. Surely the beauty of a blueberry pancake would be dulled when presented on a blue and white oriental landscape? And you can tell when white plates still have congealed egg on them from the other day.

AIBU?

Obviously not, but why do shops sell stuff like that?

Agree.

Mine are inherited and beige. They’re awful, but I can’t bear the waste of swapping them for proper white ones.

I like patterned plates because I am of an age where I’m not likely to not be able to see something on a plate, and life is too short for dull and boring.

Because I have cool ones from Asda. White with black print. They're forests but weird ones so owls have horns etc. then the next print was similar vibe but underwater

I'm not a huge fan of coloured or patterned plates, but no- I think food looks better on a black plate.

You should’ve seen the plates my mum used to serve dinner on in the 80s 😁

Agree! Plain white and smooth. Mine are round but with a sort of twist on the edge.

Many terrible things were done in the 80s. It's our duty to remember them and not repeat those mistakes.

I hate all white anything. Plates, walls, towels, bedding. Boring and depressingly clinical all of it.

Worst of all is when people say a white babygro is the best outfit for a baby. So many beautiful patterns and colours I'm baffled when anyone chooses white.

I have both those sets!

We needed 2 lots so got one of each pattern.

I don't want plain white boring plates, I'm not entertaining fancy people with fancy dinner parties, have the occasional 9yr old round for fish fingers chips and beans but that's about it, so no need for grown up refined flatware.

Dinner plates of yore - including those in swanky restaurants and aristocratic households - often had classy patterns. What remains of my parents wedding dinner service has a pattern. We still use our wedding everyday dinner set, it’s patterned. I also have a white smart and simple dinner service.

Im afraid the ones I don’t like are chunky Denby type stuff or anything that is gritty in finish. Basically 70s stuff.

I also don’t like grey or white lasagne dishes.

I hate black plates or square ones

I have a set of plain boring white plates that very rarely get used. Much prefer something a bit different. My favourite ones were blue ceramic with a gold edging-alas I only have one of those left.

Still eating off 70s Denby. Sigh.

sorry NEW2024 we have Denby but ours are a compromise plain white in the middle with a dark green rim

Same, I have only ever had black crockery since the 70s. Food looks so much more colourful on black plates.

Plain white plates are boring. I like a nice 1970s plate. I buy them from charity shops. My favourite are oval steak plates.

This is Peak Mumsnet. It's like some fearsome ancient Greek punishment for MNers. Condemned to suffer the indignity of non-white plates forever because you "hate waste" just that much.

I'm bedridden with covid and this has cheered me right up 😂

I had a white square dinner set. Hated it. Gave it away on the local upcycle page.

Through ebay I now once more have a full set of the very much loved dinner set I bought in 1995 in Makro. I love it

People are talking about "square" plates too. terrible. Then you have to constantly think about which way round they are. Extra stress.

(I would allow oval plates, but only for a decent sized fry up.)

Chevron??!

I was once served dinner on a black square plate. I still wake up screaming.

I will be your worst nightmare, OP, as I have this collection, including the plates.

I bought some white plates from IKEA the other day for my mum and it depressed me.

Those are beautiful. How can anyone look at those and think, "nah, white is better"? It makes no sense.

Plates are preferable if they are white. However a plain colour with another band of colour is not a big deal. What I really hate are plates with coloured patterns….they are so wrong from every angle I can think of.

Thank you

And I agree!