Let’s turn our attention away from pretty kitchens for a minute (hard, I know), and look to something that you inevitably find in those rooms: tableware. Available in a mind-boggling array of materials, styles, sizes and colours, choosing it can be almost as taxing as choosing a backsplash or cabinets. One question will always pop up, though.

White or coloured?

Traditional wisdom says that white is the only way to go. It’s clean, minimalist and shows off food to its best advantage. It certainly can be beautiful, as in the Sophie Conran for Portmeiron collection, used by my own stylish sister:

But white tableware can also scuff, scratch and stain easily. Luckily there are alternatives if colour (or practicality) is your thing. A beautiful neutral, as in this Vera Wang for Wedgewood Naturals range, can look lovely:

As can a fun or bold print. I like the graphic-yet-natural feeling of Rachel Barker’s range:

So, where do you fall on this debate? What do you look for in a set of tableware?

(All images in this post from John Lewis)