Rice is a Danish brand founded by Charlotte Stockmarr, who has worked with a clear design language from the very start: bold colours, playful shapes and materials that last. The range spans from melamine plates and acrylic glass to ceramic candlesticks, hooks and disco balls. The melamine products are almost indestructible in everyday use, whilst ceramics and glass deliver the same colour intensity in a more classic material. An obvious choice for families and anyone who wants an alternative to muted Scandinavian minimalism.
Most Scandinavian homeware brands operate within a fairly narrow colour palette — ivory, dark oak and dusty terracotta. Rice has consistently chosen the opposite path. Since the beginning, the Danish brand has delivered products in the colours otherwise missing from everyday life: deep cobalt blue, warm yellow, clear pink and clear green. The result is a range that appeals broadly — from families with children who need durable tableware, to design-conscious adults who simply want more colour on the table.
Who is Rice, and what's the philosophy?
Rice was founded in Denmark by Charlotte Stockmarr. From the outset, the DNA was clearly defined: colour, joy and products that actually get used. It's not a brand that designs things to sit on a shelf gathering dust — the purpose is everyday use.
The choice of materials reflects that ambition. Rice works primarily with melamine, ceramic, glass and acrylic. Melamine is interesting because it combines low weight with extreme durability: the material withstands drops and knocks that would shatter ceramic instantly, and the surface is easy to clean. The ceramics in the range, on the other hand, are heavier and feel more classic, but are produced in the same characteristic colours and patterns.
The target audience is deliberately broad. A family with three children and a homeware enthusiast without children both buy from Rice — just for slightly different reasons. It's rare for a brand to manage that balance without compromising its design identity.
Tip: If you want to mix Rice with other brands, Kitsch Kitchen and Bloomingville work surprisingly well as a counterpoint — they both have colourful accents that complement Rice's palette without copying it.
Glasses and drinkware
Rice glasses is one of the brand's most sought-after categories. The glasses come in two main material types: mouth-blown glass and acrylic glass. Mouth-blown glass has an organic, slightly uneven surface characteristic of the craft — no two glasses are identical. Acrylic glass, on the other hand, is nearly indestructible and weighs significantly less, making it the obvious choice for the garden, the terrace, or for children.
The colour palette covers most of the spectrum: clear, transparent shades as well as deeper coloured glass in blue, green, yellow and pink. Many choose to mix four to six colours on the table rather than match them, which gives an informal, lively table setting. It's a style that doesn't require buying a complete set — you can start with two and expand over time.
See also the wider selection of colourful glasses and acrylic glass at Dims Studio, if you want to compare across brands.
Plates and cups
Rice offers plates in two primary materials: melamine and ceramic. The melamine plates are manufactured in accordance with EU requirements for food contact materials and are tested for everyday use. They weigh roughly a third of an equivalent ceramic plate and withstand drops far better — a practical argument that matters for families with younger children.
The ceramic variants have more weight and a kind of authority on the table that melamine can't replicate. The glaze is thick and saturated, and the colours appear deep rather than poster-bright. The two material types can easily be mixed on the same table — the contrast in texture actually gives an interesting visual depth.
The cups follow the same pattern. Solid, well-made and built to be used daily. A set of 4–6 cups in mixed Rice colours typically costs significantly less than an equivalent monochrome porcelain set of comparable quality.
Jugs for everyday and celebrations
Rice jugs comes in melamine, ceramic and acrylic. The melamine jug is the sturdy everyday option — easy to handle, hard to break and simple to wipe clean. The ceramic jug suits a more formal table setting, while the acrylic jug logically belongs on the terrace or by the pool, where glass isn't wanted.
The design is simple. Rice lets the colour do the work rather than adding decorative elements that can break or gather dirt. It's a design choice that gives the products a long lifespan without them seeming dull.
If you fancy comparing with other colourful jugs, the jug category at Dims Studio can give you a broad overview across manufacturers.
Candlesticks and hooks
Candlesticks
Rice candlesticks come in ceramic, glass and metal. The shapes are understated — it's not the candlestick that's the design object, it's the colour. A single pink ceramic candlestick on a white table can shift the room's tone markedly without requiring a whole restyle. The colours typically include pink, yellow, green and blue in clear, saturated shades.
Placement plays a role. A group of three candlesticks in three different colours gives more visual interest than three matching ones — and the Rice range is designed for exactly that kind of eclectic combination.
Also see coloured candlesticks generally, if you want a broader basis for comparison.
Hooks
Rice hooks are made from coloured ceramic. They're compact, sturdy and fitted with standard screws. For a hallway or a children's room, they're a simple intervention: a row of four to six hooks in mixed colours adds a visual element without taking up floor space or requiring furniture.
An alternative use is the children's room, where low-mounted hooks give children independent access to coats and bags — and the colour helps with identification.
Disco balls and LED lights
Disco balls
Rice disco balls are one of the products that best illustrate the brand's approach: take something everyday or nostalgia-tinged and turn it into home decoration. The balls come in several sizes and colours and are designed to hang as a permanent decoration. When they catch daylight or artificial light, they scatter reflections around the room — an effect that's scalable; the bigger the ball, the bigger the circles of light.
See disco balls together to compare sizes and colours.
LED lights
Rice LED lights are battery-powered and come with a flame-simulation effect. They're particularly well suited to places where candles are impractical: the children's room, a densely decorated shelf or a covered terrace. Battery life is good on most ranges, and they don't require any cabling.
Materials and care
A practical question comes up regularly with Rice: what can go in the dishwasher?
| Material | Dishwasher | Microwave | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melamine | Yes (low temp.) | No | Avoid tumble drying above 70°C |
| Ceramic | Hand wash recommended | Check product | Coloured glaze may fade with frequent machine washing |
| Acrylic glass | Hand wash | No | Machine washing can scratch the surface |
| Mouth-blown glass | Hand wash | No | Thermal shock can damage the glass |
| Metal (candlesticks) | Hand wash | No | Moisture can cause stains when machine washed |
As a general rule of thumb: melamine is the most robust material for daily machine washing, but even here you should avoid high-temperature tumble drying. Always check the specific product's instructions, as Rice continuously updates its material specifications.
Frequently asked questions
Are Rice melamine products safe for children?
Yes. Rice melamine complies with the EU regulation on food contact materials and is tested for daily use. One important exception: melamine must not be used in the microwave, as the heat can release chemical compounds from the material. For cold and lukewarm food and drink, there's no issue.
Where is Rice designed and produced?
Rice is designed in Denmark by Charlotte Stockmarr and her team. Production takes place with selected partners internationally. The brand controls design and quality assurance itself, and all products must comply with EU standards for materials and food contact.
Can Rice be mixed with other brands on the table?
Yes, and that's actually a strength of Rice. The clear, saturated colours act as anchor points in a table setting that also includes more muted pieces from other producers. Ceramics from Bloomingville or dishes from Caja Company are frequent combinations that balance the colour intensity well.
What's the difference between Rice acrylic glass and mouth-blown glass?
Acrylic glass is lighter, more impact-resistant and better suited for outdoor use and children. Mouth-blown glass has an organic, handcrafted texture — no two glasses are identical — but it's fragile and requires hand washing. Both are available in the same colour range, and they can be combined on the table.
Are Rice disco balls only for party use?
No. Rice disco balls are designed as permanent home decoration. They can be hung in a window, above a dining table or in a children's room and work as a permanent, visual element. The effect varies with the lighting conditions: in direct sunlight, the reflections are intense, in dim artificial light more subtle.
What do Rice products typically cost?
Rice spans a wide price range. Individual products such as hooks and candlesticks start at the lower end, while larger sets of plates or mouth-blown glass are correspondingly more expensive. The melamine range is generally cheaper than ceramic variants of similar size. Specific prices are shown on the current product page.
Summary
Rice offers a consistent design universe that is unusually broad in its material range: melamine for everyday use, ceramics for table settings with more substance, acrylic and mouth-blown glass for drinks, and metal and ceramics for lighting and hanging decorations. Common to the entire range is a colour palette that doesn't compromise — it's saturated, clear colours, not muted tonal variants.
That makes Rice a natural choice when you want a home décor with a clear visual standpoint. You don't need to fill your entire home with Rice — a single row of hooks in the hallway, a set of glasses in three colours or a candlestick on an otherwise monochrome table is enough to feel the difference.
Explore our range of Rice products, including candlesticks, jugs and ceramic hooks.
