1. Whiteout
So long platinum bands and stainless steel. All-white dinnerware is becoming more and more popular, and crisp white dinnerware patterns, linens and housewares are everywhere in stores. The white trend is even making its way into appliances: Cuisinart, Bodum and Breville have new appliances in sleek white. One advantage we love: it’s easy to bridge the gender gap -- just add in accents like bold dessert plates, flatware or bright napkins.
We like the idea of mixing and matching -- registering for six place settings in one color and six in another.
2. Colored Glassware
If clear goblets are too boring for your table tastes, you’ll be relieved to hear that colored glassware is in, too. From rich solid hues like DVF’s and Mikasa’s deep blue, plum and amber glassware options to Riedel’s and Libbey’s ombre-inspired glassware, color is the clear choice. Take it a step further and try mixing and matching your colored stemware. As long as you keep glassware in the same tone, you’ll pull off a cohesive look.
3. Shape Shift
Color isn’t the only new kid on the block. Designers are also having great fun reshaping traditional forms. Wine glass guru Claus Riedel has a quirky decanter that requires you to insert your thumb into the base in order to pour from it. Villeroy & Boch and Portmerion both have white dinnerware sets with unusual silhouettes. Elsewhere, champagne glasses are making a hot comeback in their former coupe shape as opposed to the traditional flute style.
4. Haute Housewares
It seems as if every major fashion designer has a line of tableware these days. Kelly Wearstler, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Spade and DVF -- there’s no shortage of haute couture names in tabletop. We love Versace for ornate dinnerware and Calvin Klein for sleek minimal looks. Even Rachel Bilson has designed a line of dinnerware -- called Edie Rose -- for Macy’s. Try it out if you like a pattern and, who knows, maybe it’ll be a collector’s item one day!
5. Pretty Patterns
This year, patterns are huge. Dots and stripes appear in almost every permutation. From floral-inspired designs to birds in fresh greens and blues, we love it all. We’re also seeing a lot of beautiful chinoiserie (have you seen Jasper Conran’s turquoise inspiration?); we think it’s the next toile.
6. Retro Style
Turn back the clock with chrome details and bubblegum colors. Retro designs and colors are hot on the housewares circuit. Choose from one of KitchenAid’s rainbow of color options or Hamilton Beach’s creamy pastels to make a countertop style statement. Perfect for summer, Waring just introduced a line of retro appliances like snow cone and popcorn makers!
7. Trendy Touches
Pantone’s color of the year, Tangerine Tango, is turning heads in the design world. Cuisinart is coming out with a vibrant orange colorway this year in all their classic models. You’ll also see it in lamps, textiles and dinnerware across the board. The bold hue adds a refreshing pop of color that’s gender-neutral and easy to mix and match.
8. Metallic Details
Gold, silver, bronze -- choose one metal or mix all three for a luxe touch to your registry. From gold flatware to platinum-banded china, metallic tableware can fit any couple’s style: modern, traditional or casual. For example, Nambe’s Bronze Collection is the perfect balance of a rustic neutral in a modern shape. Bonus: Advances in technology have made the metallic choices more user-friendly, and often microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
9. Watercolor
Florals and soft designs are trending in fashion and also in housewares. The big dinnerware designers like Lenox, Mikasa and Richard Gnori all have collections featuring the painter-style designs trendsetters are fawning over. The best way to pull off this trend is to register for watercolor designs as accents: Think about registering for dessert plates, coffee mugs, a hand towel or a serving dish instead of a duvet cover or five-piece place setting.
10. Metal & Wood
Wood accents have been popular for a while, but now designers are introducing sophisticated collections that mix metal with wood. Michael Aram, Dansk and Nambe are leaders in the tabletop market showcasing modern and ornate designs like serving bowls, utensils and decorative objects like lamps and frames that mix both wood and metal construction. The result is a unique and high-design look that’s easy to incorporate into a living room, bedroom or dining room table.
-- Sarah Newell
See More: Registering for Wedding Gifts , Table Settings