Guest Picks: Create a Beautiful Table for Entertaining or Eating Solo

Dining should always be a pleasing experience, even if you’re by yourself. And having the right assortment of dishes, silverware and serving pieces always adds value to the meal. I love to be the proverbial “hostess with the mostess” and frequently have people over to my house for brunch or dinner. Using the serving pieces I have accumulated in my life always gives me great pleasure, even if it means a lot of hand washing after the company leaves. Here are some great selections for you to consider adding to your dining artillery. Each could add just add the right spark to inspire you to sit down to dine in your home. — Gail from Dezignlicious

Uno 4-Piece Place Setting, Uno Chili - $32No doubt about it, this fabulous red dinner service is just the thing to add pizzazz to your dinner table, day or night.


Origo Serving Bowl, Orange - $75Talk about fun and festive. This bowl could be used for just about anything, from nuts to fruit to vegetables.


Aarne Champagne Glasses, Set of 2, Clear - $65Get ready to ring in the new year with these stunning champagne glasses. In keeping with a more modern aesthetic, they’re stemless.


Bianca Bead Square 16-Piece Dinnerware Set - $79.99Plates with different shapes make for interesting dining — square plates have been popular in better restaurants for years. The beaded trim on this set makes these ceramic plates seem more contemporary.


16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Blue - $79.99How pretty are these? They would be great in a country house and would mix perfectly with white dishes. I love that the set has only mugs and not cups and saucers — today’s preference.


Riedel Vinum Tasting Glasses, Set of 4 - $99.95If you are semiserious or very serious about wine, you must drink it out of stemmed glasses. Reidel makes quality wineglasses for a reasonable price; they have always been my glasses of choice.


Cutlery Carrier With Chalkboard Label - $29.99This is a quirky item, but I wish I’d owned one when I invited my large family to my summer house this year. It would also be great at an informal dinner, with or without kids.


Wood Thoro Natural Wood Bowl - $217.80I love furnishings that defer to the influences of the natural world. How beautiful would this look filled with fruit or chips or a wonderful salad? This piece scores a 10-plus.


Monumental Turned Wood Bowl - $350An oversize bowl is simply a must in the kitchen, and this one is monumental in dimension. It would come in very handy when serving salad to a large crowd — or fill it up with anything else you need to put out in large quantities when entertaining.


Jewel 2-Piece Serving Set - $35In my mind you can’t ever have too many different serving pieces. I have a collection of some that I inherited from my mother and several that I have purchased for myself. Food always looks and tastes better when served with attractive tools — and trust me, people notice this!


Distressed Wooden Serving Tray, Bourbon Pecan Finish - $75Here I go again falling for the natural look. I can’t help but be attracted to pieces like this tray, especially for a beach or country house.


Orange and Gray Graphic Floral Custom Placemat Set - $48These placemats are really charming. They caught my attention because of the colors and the contemporary design. You could build your whole tabletop around them.


Chilewich Rectangle Metallic Lace Runner, Silver - $100A runner down the center of a table is a lovely way to dress it up. Just add some long candleholders in the center or a collection of fabulous glass bowls, and voilà! Runners also come in handy for protecting the tabletop finish.


Latte Macchiato Amore Mio Cup and Saucer Set - $20This set should put a big smile on the face of any espresso drinker. It would add just the right Italian touch to any event. I love the shape of the cup.


Python Print Napkins, Set of 4 - $80With the snake print and neutral color palette, these are very cool napkins. You’ll be able to use them with any of your dishes or flatware.


Alessi Dressed Round Tray, Black - $75You can’t go wrong with having a serving dish like this one, made by Alessi. Chic and modern, it would complement many a table setting.


Tiny Bowls, Black With Red Flurry, Set of 4 - $120I never have enough small bowls for serving condiments, appetizers and the like to my guests. These are delightfully painted and would come in handy for soup as well.


Alligator Oblong Tray - $55You do love the alligator, right? How fun would this be for serving appetizers to your guests? This is another terrific extra to have in your kitchen for entertaining.


Flowering Teapot Set - $24.99I purchased a tea set just like this in Montreal last year, and it is simply divine to put out when you have company — or when you just want to treat yourself to the pleasure of a cup of delicious tea.


Silver-Plated Hammered-Copper Pitcher - $343A gorgeous pitcher like this is the fashionable way to serve water (or any beverage) to your company. Just forget about those plastic bottles, please — definitely déclassé!

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Rectangular Upturn Flatware Set - $410The chunkiness of this flatware set is appealing and the extreme modernity is terrific. If you like to set a modern table, then I think this set is perfect for you.

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