More than just a tool set for eating, flatware helps set the stage for a meal.

“Flatware is part of the overall look of the table,” said Yifat Oren, an event designer based in Los Angeles. And as such, it helps strike the right note at dinner parties, from casual get-togethers to formal celebrations.

But, yes, your knives, forks and spoons are also tools. So when you’re choosing them, you need to consider more than just looks.

Ms. Oren, for instance, likes utensils that have some heft. “I don’t like eating with flatware that is too light,” she said.

She also looks for handles that are easy to hold. “Some of the modern ones are very narrow and thin, which actually makes them difficult to eat with,” she said.