Table Setting Essentials

With the holiday season quickly approaching, I begin thinking about all of the many holiday gatherings that are quickly approaching as well. If you host any gatherings during the holidays, then you are familiar with the stress that can rise up when deciding on the details for bringing a welcoming and festive table together.

For those of us who host gatherings on a regular basis, we have our go-to table setting pieces that we use at every gathering. Those pieces make us happy and make pulling a gathering together quick and easy. For those of us who are newer to hosting gatherings, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and the temptation to buy every piece imaginable pulls at our desire to achieve a table setting that the Queen would be proud to sit down at. It can quite simply be overwhelming.

Over the years and without planning, I have slowly collected table setting pieces that have become my go-to essential pieces for any gathering we host, regardless of how large or small the guest list. I always aim for a table that is simple, welcoming, and that will put my guests at ease. And my favorite table setting pieces are the ones that offer the ultimate in flexibility so that I can weave in different colors, textures, and styles. Building on classic, timeless pieces also allows me to have fun and splurge on accent pieces as my tastes, my moods, the trends and the seasons change.

My go-to table setting essentials include:

• White dinner plates

• A mix of new and old silverware

• Round jute chargers

• Wine glasses

• Old fashioned or lowball glasses (these make great water, cocktail, or wine glasses)

• Petite juice glasses or mason jars (these are great for small low profile flower arrangements to add to the table)

• Neutral cotton tablecloth

• Glass or ceramic butter dish

• Salt & Pepper holder

• Round shallow woven basket (for bread!)

I wish I would have started long ago with a list of essentials to work toward instead of just collecting table setting pieces that I liked in the moment but then never using because they were too bulky, clunky, or just not really me. So, I encourage you to just start where you are and with what you have - it really is the best place to start because likely you already have pieces that you love and that make you happy every time you use them.

But really the most important thing to have in your table setting essentials collection is simply a heart that is open to inviting others to gather around your table and connect. That is truly all you really need!

Happy collecting and enjoy time spent gathering and connecting with those you love!
Michele