Colorful Platters and Bowls

Colorful platters and bowls are an easy way to bring life to your dinner table. At Dims Studio you'll find a wide range of ceramic bowls and ceramic platters shaped like fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish, among others from Caja Company and &Klevering. The range spans from small spoon rests to large serving platters and serving bowls, and what they share is bold colors and playful motifs. Here's a guide to types, materials, sizes, brands and use, so you can find the right platter or bowl for your home.

Colorful platters and bowls: how to choose

A colorful platter or bowl is as much decoration as tableware. Most of the models in the range are molded, so a platter isn't just round, but shaped like a lemon, a strawberry or a fish. When choosing, it's a good idea to think in three steps: what the platter or bowl will be used for, which motif suits your style, and which size fits your table or shelf.

If the platter will be used daily for fruit or vegetables on the kitchen counter, a sturdy ceramic bowl with a simple motif, such as a lemon or a strawberry, is often the best choice. If it will instead be brought out for parties and serving fish, shellfish or tapas, you might prefer one of the more detailed fish platters or shellfish platters. If the platter is mainly decoration, such as a spoon rest or a small candy bowl, you can choose freely by color and motif without worrying much about function.

Types of colorful platters and bowls

The range at Dims Studio covers a wide variety of types, from fruit- and vegetable-shaped platters to fish platters, shellfish platters and candy platters. Below we go through the main types you'll find in the collection.

Fruit and vegetable platters

The largest group in the range is platters and bowls shaped like fruit and vegetables. Here you'll find lemon platters, orange platters, strawberry platters, grape platters, artichoke platters, eggplant bowls, garlic bowls, mushroom bowls and zucchini bowls, among others. Most are molded in ceramic, so the color and texture follow the motif, for example the yellow and green surface of a lemon platter or the red tint of a strawberry bowl. Fruit platters are typically used to gather lemons, apples or other fruit on the kitchen counter, while the smaller vegetable-shaped bowls are good for garlic, olives or nuts.

Fish and shellfish platters

Another large group is fish and shellfish platters, where the shape follows the animal. The range includes fish platters shaped like trout, perch and rainbow trout, as well as shellfish platters shaped like lobster, shrimp, crab and mussel. Several of them, such as the Snapper fish platter and the Shellfish platter with red lobster, are made of stoneware and have an ocean theme, ideal for a lunch or dinner featuring fish and shellfish. The trout spoon rests from Caja Company come in several color variants, including blue and rainbow, and work both as a small platter and as a spoon rest by the stove.

Spoon rests

Spoon rests are a special category of small platters shaped so a spoon, cooking spoon or knife can rest in a hollow in the motif. They come in many of the same motifs as the other platters, including lemon, orange, banana, garlic, mushroom, apple and fish. A spoon rest is a practical and colorful alternative to placing utensils directly on the table or stove while you cook.

Candy and sweet bowls

Candy platters and sweet bowls from &Klevering are deeper bowls intended for candy, sweets or small snacks on the coffee table or for dessert. They come in several sizes, from small to large, and have the same colorful, soft design language as the rest of the range.

Types compared

Type	Motifs	Typically used for	Examples
Fruit and vegetable platters	Lemon, orange, strawberry, grape, artichoke, eggplant	Fruit and vegetables on the kitchen counter, serving	Lemon platter, Orange platter, Strawberry platter, Grape platter
Fish and shellfish platters	Trout, perch, lobster, shrimp, crab, mussel	Serving fish and shellfish, party table	Snapper fish platter, Shellfish platter with red lobster, Lobster platter
Spoon rests	Lemon, banana, garlic, fish, leaf	Spoon or knife by the stove	Trout spoon rest, Orange spoon rest, Mushroom spoon rest
Candy and sweet bowls	Plain or patterned bowls	Candy, sweets, dessert	Large candy platter, Small candy sweet bowl

Materials: ceramic and stoneware

Most of the platters and bowls in the range are made of ceramic, while a few, such as the Snapper fish platter and the Shellfish and fish platter, are stoneware. Both materials are sturdy and suitable for everyday use, but each has its own character.

Ceramic

Ceramic is the dominant material in the collection. It allows for detailed, molded motifs with a smooth, glazed surface that makes the platters easy to keep clean. Colors on ceramic platters are often bold and saturated, giving the playful, colorful style the range is known for.

Stoneware

Stoneware is denser and a bit more rustic than regular ceramic, and is used especially for some of the fish and shellfish platters. It gives a slightly rougher surface and a sturdy feel that suits a festive table with fish and shellfish well.

How to care for your platters and bowls

• Always follow the care instructions for the individual product when washing, as glaze and decoration can vary from platter to platter.
• Avoid stacking heavy platters on top of each other, so the glaze doesn't get scratched.
• Let the platters dry completely before putting them back in the cupboard, so the colors stay vibrant as long as possible.
• Prefer a soft sponge over a scouring pad for the detailed, molded motifs.

Sizes: from small spoon rest to large serving platter

Size matters a great deal for what a platter or bowl can be used for. The range covers everything from small spoon rests to large serving platters and serving bowls.

Small bowl and spoon rest

The smallest models are spoon rests and small bowls, intended for single use by the stove or as a small decorative bowl for, say, garlic, olives or nuts. They don't take up much space and are easy to keep out on display in the kitchen.

Medium platters

The medium platters, such as many of the lemon and strawberry platters, are suitable for a portion of fruit, a starter or a smaller spread for several people.

Large platters and bowls

The large platters and bowls, such as the Fish platter in ceramic, large, or the Large lemon platter in ceramic, are meant for serving at parties or gathering a larger amount of fruit on the kitchen counter. See also our range of large platters and bowls and small platters and bowls if you're looking for a specific size.

Colorful platters and bowls for table setting and serving

Colorful platters aren't only for storing fruit. They're also an effective tool for table setting, because they add color and character to a table that would otherwise look neutral.

For lunch and everyday life

A lemon platter or a strawberry platter on the kitchen counter is a simple way to keep fruit visible and easily accessible, while also working as decoration in the kitchen. See more in our range of fruit bowls.

For the party table

If you're serving fish or shellfish for dinner, one of the larger fish or shellfish platters is an obvious choice, because the motif itself becomes part of the presentation. Feel free to combine several platters in different sizes and motifs for a varied, festive table. See also our serving platters and fish platters.

For dessert and sweets

The candy platters from &Klevering are made to gather sweets or small cookies on the coffee table or after dinner, and work well as a colorful accent on an otherwise calm dinner table.

Brands behind the colorful platters and bowls

The range brings together several brands, each known for colorful, molded designs.

Caja Company

Caja Company is behind the majority of the range and has specialized in molded ceramic platters and spoon rests with motifs of fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish. What the designs have in common is bold colors and a high level of detail in the motifs.

&Klevering

&Klevering is a Dutch design brand that supplies a large part of the fish- and shellfish-shaped platters as well as the candy and sweet bowls in the range. The brand is known for playful, everyday designs with a touch of humor.

Bloomingville and Creative Collection

Bloomingville, Bloomingville MINI and Creative Collection contribute with bowls in stoneware and ceramic in a somewhat more subdued, but still colorful expression, including chip and popcorn bowls and a flower platter.

Kersten and Rice

Kersten and Rice round off the range with individual platters, including a lobster platter and a small flower bowl, both of which fit the same colorful style.

How to use color in the kitchen and at the dinner table

Colorful platters and bowls are one of the easiest ways to bring color into a kitchen or dining room without requiring a major makeover. Because the motifs are already drawn from nature, such as lemons, strawberries and fish, the colors are rarely difficult to combine with the rest of your home. Below are a few ideas for how you can use them.

Build a color theme around one platter

If you have a single colorful platter, such as a yellow lemon platter or a red strawberry platter, you can let it set the tone for the rest of the table. Choose napkins, placemats or glasses in a related color, so the platter isn't standing alone, but becomes part of an overall color palette.

Mix several motifs on the same shelf

If the platters and bowls are used as decoration, it works well to gather several motifs on an open shelf or in a display cabinet. A mix of fruit platters, fish platters and spoon rests in different sizes creates a lively yet still cohesive look, because they share the same colorful, molded style.

Swap them out by season

Many use the molded platters as a seasonal detail, with a fish platter coming out in summer for shellfish and a strawberry or lemon platter staying out the rest of the year for fruit. This way you can change the look of your kitchen without buying new tableware every time.

Colorful platters as a gift

A single, colorful platter is often an obvious gift, because it's something most people can find room for, and because the motifs appeal broadly. A small lemon or strawberry platter is a nice hostess gift, while a larger fish or shellfish platter suits someone who loves hosting dinners. See also our range of gifts for mom and housewarming gifts for more ideas.

Which platter or bowl should you choose?

Situation	Our recommendation
Fruit on the kitchen counter every day	A medium or large lemon or strawberry platter in ceramic
Serving fish for dinner	A fish or shellfish platter, such as the Snapper fish platter or the Shellfish platter with red lobster
Spoon or knife by the stove	A spoon rest in a motif that matches your kitchen, such as lemon or fish
Sweets or cookies on the coffee table	A candy platter from &Klevering
Gift for someone who loves color in the kitchen	One of the smaller, molded platters, such as a strawberry or lemon platter. See also more hostess gifts
Festive table with shellfish	Several platters in different sizes and motifs, such as lobster, shrimp and mussel

Frequently asked questions about colorful platters and bowls

What's the difference between a platter and a bowl?

A platter is typically flat or only slightly raised at the edge and is used to spread out a presentation, while a bowl has higher sides and is used for something that would otherwise fall off, such as fruit, candy or salad. In the range, many of the models are something in between, where the shape follows the motif, for example a strawberry shape or a fish shape.

Can the colorful platters go in the dishwasher?

It varies from product to product. Always follow the instructions for the individual platter, as glaze and decoration can react differently to the dishwasher's heat and detergent.

Which platter is good for fruit?

For fruit on the kitchen counter, a medium or large platter works well, such as a lemon platter, a strawberry platter or a grape platter. The molded motifs mean the platter itself works as decoration when not in use.

What is a spoon rest?

A spoon rest is a small platter with a hollow shaped to hold a spoon, cooking spoon or knife while you cook. The range has spoon rests in motifs such as lemon, banana, garlic and fish.

Which platter suits serving fish and shellfish?

For fish and shellfish, the fish- and shellfish-shaped platters from &Klevering and Caja Company are ideal, such as the Snapper fish platter, the Shellfish platter with red lobster or the Lobster platter, which become part of the presentation themselves.

Are the platters and bowls handmade?

It varies from product to product, and the information can be found in the description of the individual platter. Since most are molded in ceramic, natural, small variations can occur from piece to piece.

Which size should I choose?

It depends on the use. For daily fruit or a portion for a few people, a medium platter is suitable, while a large platter is best for serving at parties or gathering a larger amount of fruit. For a spoon or knife by the stove, a small spoon rest is enough.

Can the platters be used as decoration alone?

Yes, many customers use the platters and bowls as pure decoration on a shelf, coffee table or bookcase, where the colorful motifs can stand out without needing to be used for food.

Which brands are behind the colorful platters and bowls?

The range brings together brands including Caja Company, &Klevering, Bloomingville, Bloomingville MINI, Creative Collection, Kersten and Rice, each contributing their own take on colorful, molded platters and bowls.

Do the platters go together on the table?

Yes, the platters and bowls are designed so several motifs and sizes can be combined on the same table without looking messy, because they share the same colorful, playful style.

Where can you buy colorful platters and bowls?

You can buy colorful platters and bowls online at Dims Studio, where you'll find a wide range of ceramic platters and bowls in fruit, vegetable, fish and shellfish motifs from brands including Caja Company and &Klevering.