The short answer: to choose a porcelain dinnerware set, first decide how many people you are serving, then the colour. A J/18 set contains 18 pieces: with three types of plate or bowl, six of each, it covers a table for six. Porcelain is usually finer and lighter than stoneware and earthenware; always read the sheet to see what each set allows, because care depends on the piece.
Porcelain, stoneware and earthenware: what changes
As a guide, and not a rule: porcelain is fired at a very high temperature and ends up dense with a thin wall, which is why it looks light and translucent at the edges. Stoneware is thicker and more rustic, with a workshop feel. Earthenware is the most porous and the most handcrafted, and needs more care with knocks and water.
| Material | Look | Weight (as a guide) | When it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | Fine, smooth, glossy glaze | Light for its size | Everyday and guest tables |
| Stoneware | Thicker, handcrafted feel | Heavier | Informal tables, open kitchens |
| Earthenware | Warm, irregular | Variable | Rustic or Mediterranean tables |
On dishwashers and microwaves, the rule is simple: whatever the sheet for the piece does not say, do not assume. None of the sheets for these four sets specifies that use, so before putting one in the dishwasher or the microwave it is best to confirm with us. Painted rims, such as the black on Atenea and Orla, are the detail that needs the most attention.
What J/18 means
J/18 stands for “set of 18 pieces”. It is not a size measurement, it is a count. What is useful is to look at which pieces make it up, because two sets of 18 can be very different:
| Dinnerware set | Material and colour | Pieces according to the sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Orla Dinnerware Set | White glazed porcelain with a fine black rim | 18: six 26.5 cm dinner plates, six 21 cm soup plates and six 19 cm dessert plates |
| Atenea Porcelain Dinnerware Set J/18 | White porcelain with a black edge | Three pieces: dinner plate, smaller plate and bowl |
| Calma Porcelain Dinnerware Set J/18 | Porcelain in greyish blue with brown details and an irregular earth-toned edge | Three pieces, with concentric lines |
| Mediterránea Dinnerware Set J/18 | Deep blue tones, contemporary design | The sheet does not detail the pieces |
Orla is the only one that breaks down the split. For Atenea and Calma the sheet names three types of piece, and 18 divided by three gives six of each, but that is our own calculation: if the split matters to you, ask us before buying.
How many pieces you need for 6 people
Six diners with a starter, main course and dessert use three pieces each: 18 in total. That is why a J/18 is the natural size for a table of six. If you host more people or change plates at every course, add a second set; if you mostly eat as a couple, a J/18 will last you years with room for breakages.
White or coloured: choosing the style
A white set with a black rim, such as Orla or Atenea, works with everything: it suits linen tablecloths, steel cutlery and glass. A coloured set, such as Calma or Mediterránea, leads on the table and asks for the rest to be calmer. Zaida sums it up with her usual approach: colour talks to “pieces that have soul”, and a handcrafted blue ceramic becomes “the accent that ties the whole room together”. Mediterránea, with its deep blues, plays that role on a white tablecloth.
An example: the table for six
The Livia Dining Table measures 180 × 90 cm, has an oval ceramic top and seats 6 people comfortably. On it, the Orla Dinnerware Set in J/18: six 26.5 cm dinner plates with the 21 cm soup plates on top. For drinks, the Blush Wine Glass in faceted pink, or the Jamaica Green Wine Glass if you prefer olive green, and the Évora Candlesticks in gold metal on travertine as the only point of sparkle. The white of the porcelain lets the other materials shine.
Limits
A J/18 will not do if you cook for many guests at once or want pasta plates and serving dishes as well: these are pieces that these sheets do not include. And porcelain, although durable, can chip with a sharp knock: if you have young children, consider an everyday set separate from your guest set.
Next step
See all the pieces for the table in Dressing the Table. If you want to complete the table with tablecloth, cutlery and light, first check the table sizes or write to our interior design studio.
Frequently asked questions
How do you choose a porcelain dinnerware set?
Decide how many people you are dining with, choose the colour to suit your tablecloth and glassware, and check the sheet for which pieces are included and what care they need.
What does J/18 mean in a dinnerware set?
It means a set of 18 pieces. For six people that equals three pieces per diner: dinner plate, bowl or soup plate, and dessert plate.
Which white porcelain dinnerware set do you recommend?
If you are looking for white, Orla (white glazed porcelain with a black rim) and Atenea (white with a black edge) are the two options in the shop.
Which modern dinnerware set goes with everything?
A white set with clean lines and a single detail, such as the black rim of Orla, combines with linen, steel and glass without competing.
Related questions
By Zaida Muñoz, interior designer at Zach & Decor · Updated 16/10/2026