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Eating dinner outdoors is all fun and games until somebody drops one of your favorite plates on the ground. But you don’t have to put your delicate dishware in harm's way or settle for kid-friendly plastic if you want to dine under the stars this summer. There’s a happy medium and it’s called melamine.
In the simplest terms, melamine is a very hard plastic that could easily be mistaken for ceramic or stoneware. It also happens to be lightweight and incredibly durable. You can try to scratch it, you can definitely drop it, and you can even put it in the dishwasher (just don’t put it in the microwave or put any food hotter than 160º on it, though that shouldn’t be an issue in the summer when we’re not eating French onion soup).
Melamine dishes are usually very inexpensive; you can get cute dinner plates for around $3 a piece, though you can certainly spend more if you want. And no matter your style, you’re likely to find at least a few festive options that will match the vibe of your outdoor dining setup (or your indoor setup if you’re looking for something shatterproof that doesn’t feature cartoon characters).
Save your stoneware and ceramic this summer and opt for these unbreakable, lightweight melamine dishes you can use on the patio, pack in your picnic basket, and even toss in your pool bag.
Bright and bold
Your outdoor table is a great place to experiment with going a little (or a lot) outside of your comfort zone design-wise. So if you love the idea of bright colors and bold patterns, but you’re not ready to commit to such a striking look for your everyday dishes, consider one of these dramatic designs.
Bold patterns
For a little less drama, consider a bold pattern in a more subdued or neutral color (yes, green is a neutral now).
Fun florals
These floral melamine dishes feel festive and summery but not too over the top.
A hand-painted look
With a high-gloss finish and a pattern that looks like it was painted on by hand, these melamine dishes are nearly indistinguishable from ceramic—at least until you pick them up and notice how lightweight they are.
Stylish solids
Even if you go for a bold hue, solid-color melamine plates are still subtle and sophisticated.
More interesting neutrals
Beige seems a lot less sad when it’s presented in an interesting shape or texture like with these neutral melamine plates.
