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A tea mug is more than just a container for a hot drink. At Dims Studio you'll find tea and coffee mugs in ceramic and stoneware with a handle, from face mugs and dog motifs to graphic quote mugs and soft colours from Bloomingville, Bloomingville MINI, Anna + Nina, Rice and Creative Collection. Here's a guide to materials, motifs, brands and sizes, so you can find the mug that suits your morning coffee, afternoon tea or guest table.

Tea and coffee mugs: how to choose

A good tea mug comes down to three things: the material, the motif and how often you use it. The material determines how durable the mug is in everyday life and how it feels in your hand. The motif sets the mood, whether you want a calm, plain mug for your morning coffee or a mug with a fun quote or a dog to put a smile on your guests' faces. If you use the mug daily, it can pay off to choose stoneware, which handles being used again and again. If the mug is mainly meant to dress up the table at a brunch or make a good gift, a motif mug with a graphic look can be the obvious choice.

The range at Dims Studio spans from plain mugs with a handle in green, blue, yellow, orange, purple and pink to mugs with faces, animals, flowers and text. If you buy several mugs, you can either put together a set in the same series and colour, or mix mugs from different brands for a more personal look on the dining table.

Materials: ceramic and stoneware

The mugs in the range are made from two main materials, ceramic and stoneware with a handle. Both materials suit hot drinks, but each has its own character.

Ceramic mugs

Ceramic mugs are the largest group in the collection and appear in Bloomingville, Bloomingville MINI, Anna + Nina, Rice and Creative Collection alike. Ceramic allows for detailed motifs and glazes in many colours, so you'll find most of the range's face mugs, animal motifs and quote mugs in ceramic. The surface is often smooth and easy to clean, and ceramic mugs suit both the daily cup of coffee and setting out when guests are over.

Stoneware mugs

Stoneware is a more densely fired material than regular ceramic, which typically makes the mug more resistant to everyday use and small knocks in the dishwasher or cupboard. Several of Bloomingville's mugs, including the Ninka and Milani series as well as the Safie and Willa mugs, are made of stoneware and come in earthy colours such as green, orange, blue and purple. If you want a mug you can use for your morning coffee year after year, stoneware is often the most durable choice. See the full range under stoneware mugs.

The materials compared

Material	Look	Best for	Examples in the range
Ceramic	Smooth surface, many colours and detailed motifs	Everyday use and guest table	Anna + Nina mugs, Rice mugs, Bloomingville series
Stoneware	Densely fired, robust feel in the hand	Daily coffee and tea	Ninka, Milani, Safie, Willa from Bloomingville

Caring for your tea mugs

Whether the mug is ceramic or stoneware, it lasts longest if you treat it with a little care. Avoid putting a cold mug straight into a very hot oven or microwave, as large temperature swings can cause cracks in the glaze over time. Rinse the mug before washing so tea film and coffee grounds don't stick to the glaze, and avoid harsh sponges or scouring agents that can scratch the surface. If the mug is decorated with printed text or a detailed motif, as several of the Anna + Nina mugs are, gentle hand washing can help keep the colours longer, even though many of the mugs in the range are also dishwasher safe.

Motifs and styles: from faces to quotes

Besides the material, it's the motif that gives a tea mug its personality. The range at Dims Studio covers several styles, so you can find the mug that matches your taste or the person you're giving it to.

Face mugs

Face mugs are mugs shaped or decorated so they take on a small face or figure. The Reeha woman mug from Bloomingville and several of the Anna + Nina cups have figurative motifs that give the mug character beyond the purely functional. This type of mug works well as an eye-catcher on the breakfast table or as a personal gift.

Animal motifs

Animal lovers will find several mugs with dog and animal motifs in the range. Anna + Nina has mugs with dachshund, labradoodle, poodle, corgi and French bulldog, while the Leopard mug in ceramic has a leopard pattern, and the Black Swan mug a graphic swan motif. Fiske cups from Bloomingville, sold in sets of two, feature a fish motif. The animal motifs suit dog and animal lovers well and often work as a fun detail at the breakfast table.

Quote and text mugs

If you like a mug with a wink, Anna + Nina has a series of mugs with text and quotes, including Shut up, Fuck Valentine, Fuck It, Hangover and Workaholic. These mugs have a graphic, humorous look and make a good gift for someone who loves a cheeky comment with their morning coffee, or a fun addition among more muted mugs on the shelf.

Flower, nature and food motifs

Several mugs in the range have motifs drawn from nature and the kitchen. Citron cup from Creative Collection and the Milani orange mug from Bloomingville MINI have fruit motifs in stoneware, Blomster cup and Merci cup from Rice have flower motifs in ceramic, and Palme cup and Lille hjerte cup from Anna + Nina have a palm and heart motif respectively. Isvaffel cup and Cherry cup, both from Bloomingville MINI, have sweetly inspired ice-cream and cherry motifs. These mugs suit a colourful and playful kitchen well.

Family mugs

For the breakfast table at home, Bloomingville has a Mor cup and a Far cup in ceramic, sold separately, which can be used as a simple set for the parents of the house or given together as a gift.

Plain and graphic mugs

If you prefer a calm look, you'll find several plain mugs in stoneware and ceramic in colours such as blue, green, yellow, orange, purple and pink, including Rosa cup, Shine cup and Amalia cup from Bloomingville. The plain mugs work well as a base you can build a mixed table around, or as a calm counterpart to the more graphic motif mugs.

The motifs compared

Motif type	Look	Suits well for	Examples in the range
Face mugs	Personal and figurative	Breakfast table, gift	Reeha woman cup
Animal motifs	Playful and dog-loving	Animal lovers, gift	Dachshund, Labradoodle, Corgi, Leopard, Black Swan
Quote and text mugs	Humorous and graphic	Gift, office	Shut up, Fuck Valentine, Hangover, Workaholic
Flowers, nature and food	Colourful and playful	Kitchen, brunch	Citron, Milani orange, Blomster, Cherry, Isvaffel
Family mugs	Simple and homely	Breakfast table	Mor cup, Far cup
Plain	Calm and colourful	Base in the service	Rosa cup, Shine cup, Amalia cup

Number and combination: build your own set

Because the range spans so many motifs and brands, you can use the tea mugs to build a set that fits your taste exactly, rather than buying a fixed set. One common approach is to choose two or three recurring colours or motif types and let them run across the brands, so the table still hangs together even though the mugs aren't identical. Another approach is to put together a fully matching set from one series, for example several Ninka mugs from Bloomingville in different colours, if you prefer a calmer and more cohesive look.

Sizes: mug, cup and espresso cup

Most mugs in the range are ordinary tea and coffee mugs in a size suited to a normal cup of coffee or tea. If you want a smaller cup for espresso, Bloomingville has a Paula espresso cup in stoneware in a pink shade, as well as a Leopard espresso cup in ceramic from Anna + Nina. The smaller cups are good for a strong cup after a meal or as part of a mixed set with mugs in several sizes.

Brands behind the tea mugs

The range of tea mugs at Dims Studio brings together several Scandinavian brands, each with its own look.

Bloomingville

Bloomingville is the broadest brand in the collection and is behind a large share of the mugs in both ceramic and stoneware, including the Ninka, Milani, Safie and Willa series as well as Mor cup and Far cup. Common to Bloomingville's mugs is a calm, colourful look with a focus on material and finish. See the full range under Bloomingville cups.

Bloomingville MINI

Bloomingville MINI is the collection's playful sub-brand, where you'll find mugs with motifs such as Isvaffel, Cherry, Milani orange and Agnes orange in stoneware and ceramic. The series has a softer and more playful look than the main Bloomingville series, and suits you well if you want a mug with a sweet or colourful motif.

Anna + Nina

Anna + Nina is behind several of the range's most characterful mugs, from the animal motifs with dachshund, labradoodle, poodle, corgi and French bulldog to the quote mugs Shut up, Fuck Valentine, Fuck It, Hangover and Workaholic as well as figurative mugs like Reeha woman cup and Leopard cup. The brand has a graphic and humorous look that stands out from the more plain mugs in the range.

Rice

Rice contributes ceramic mugs with a soft, colourful look, including Blomster cup, Merci cup and Oval firkløver cup. Rice is known for combining colours and patterns in a playful way, and their mugs suit a table that already has several colours and textures.

Creative Collection

Creative Collection is behind Citron cup and Berrie cup, both in stoneware and ceramic with a simple, motif-led look. The brand has a smaller range in this category, but the mugs complement the other brands well if you want a single fruit motif on the table.

Tea mugs for the breakfast table, the office and guests

Where the mug will be used affects which mug fits best.

For the breakfast table at home

For daily morning coffee or tea, a stoneware mug, such as Ninka or Milani from Bloomingville, is a solid choice, because the material handles being used again and again. Mor cup and Far cup are a good pick if you want a simple, personal set for the household.

For the office

At the office, a quote mug from Anna + Nina, such as Workaholic or Hangover, is a fun way to add personality to the desk. Choose a ceramic mug that's easy to keep clean if it's going to stay out between meetings.

For guests and brunch

Having guests for brunch or afternoon tea? A mix of several mugs from the range, for example flower and fruit motifs from Rice and Creative Collection, gives a festive, mixed table. See also our range of coffee mugs and tea cups if you're looking for a different shape or size.

As a gift

A tea mug is an obvious gift, because it's both personal and used daily. An animal motif from Anna + Nina suits an animal lover well, a quote mug someone with a sense of humour, and a calm plain stoneware mug someone who prefers a simple look.

Which tea mug should you choose? Our recommendations

Situation	Our recommendation
Daily use in the kitchen	A stoneware mug, e.g. Ninka or Milani from Bloomingville
Gift for the animal lover	An animal motif from Anna + Nina, e.g. Corgi, Dachshund or French Bulldog
Fun detail for the office	A quote mug from Anna + Nina, e.g. Workaholic or Hangover
Colourful brunch table	Mix motifs from Rice and Creative Collection, e.g. Blomster cup and Citron cup
Espresso after a meal	Paula espresso cup or Leopard espresso cup
Simple set for the parents	Mor cup and Far cup from Bloomingville

Frequently asked questions about tea mugs

What's the difference between a tea mug and a teacup?

A tea mug typically has a single handle and a simple shape meant for daily use, while a teacup is often part of a finer service, sometimes with a saucer. See our tea cups if you're looking for a more classic cup shape.

What materials are the tea mugs made from?

The mugs in the range are made from ceramic and stoneware. Stoneware is more densely fired and is often felt to be more durable for daily use, while ceramic allows for more colours and detailed motifs.

Are stoneware tea mugs dishwasher safe?

Stoneware is generally durable, but we recommend checking the dishwasher and microwave guidance on the individual product, as it can vary from series to series.

Which brands do you sell tea mugs from?

We sell tea mugs from Bloomingville, Bloomingville MINI, Anna + Nina, Rice and Creative Collection, so you can find everything from plain mugs to motif mugs with animals, quotes and flowers.

Which motifs can I choose between?

The range spans face mugs and animal motifs to quote mugs, flower and fruit motifs, family mugs and plain mugs in several colours.

What makes a good tea mug as a gift?

An animal motif from Anna + Nina suits an animal lover well, a quote mug like Workaholic or Hangover someone with a sense of humour, and a calm stoneware mug someone who prefers a simple look.

How many mugs should I have in a set?

It depends on the size of your household and how often you have guests. A set of four to six mugs covers most everyday situations, while more mugs give room to mix motifs when guests visit.

Can I mix several series of tea mugs on the same table?

Yes, many people deliberately mix mugs from different brands and series for a more personal, layered look. Keep the colours within the same palette if you want a calm, cohesive look.

Are there tea mugs in a smaller size for espresso?

Yes, the range has espresso cups such as Paula espresso cup and Leopard espresso cup, which are smaller than the ordinary tea mugs.

Do you have mugs with dog motifs?

Yes, Anna + Nina has several mugs with dog motifs, including dachshund, labradoodle, poodle, corgi and French bulldog.

Are there mugs that suit children?

The Bloomingville MINI series has a playful look with motifs such as ice-cream, cherry and fruit that can suit a younger audience, but the mugs aren't specifically marketed as children's tableware, so always check the individual product's description.

Where can you buy tea mugs online?

You can buy tea and coffee mugs online at Dims Studio, where you'll find mugs in ceramic and stoneware from Bloomingville, Anna + Nina and Rice, among others. See also our full range of cups.