If you have the will but not the money to make your table look elegant, try this:
- Tablecloth and napkins
- Candles (a must)
- Clean and polished area where you will be dining
Take a deep breath and visualize how you want the table to look, mentally take five minutes and see what you can do to improve on it. Snip a stems off an ivy plant you have in the livingroom. No? Try a flower from the garden and a stem of the ivy and with a small stip of ribbon, tie it around the napkin.
We use dishes and cutlery we already have and make it work. Anything else is either from the Dollar Store (as in individual salt and pepper shakers) or from our own cupboards. It is always a win-win dinner.
Elbows and napkins and hats/caps, electronic devices
Remember to keep your elbows OFF the table. God made your arms so that they do bend in the middle thereby raising the fork/spoon to the mouth and not the mouth to the table. Just a hint, of course.
If, for nothing else but respect, take off your hat when you enter a home, sit at the table to eat or in a restaurant. I don’t care if you didn’t comb your hair. Go the Bathroom and wet it down. It truly is a sign of maturity and proper manners to see this take place.
It is so sad to watch a couple on a date – she’s all dressed up and looking fine and he is in jeans (not clean) scrunchy shirt and a stupid cap on his head, elbows on the table and uses a napkin like a hanky. Oops, did I just hit a nerve?
Use cloth napkins whenever you can. Looks and feels like you care about the people who are coming to your home. They can be inexpensive and they wash and iron up like a dream.
When you are out for a meal in a restaurant, the thing to do is to put everyone’s phones, etc. in the middle of the table, turned upside down. The first person to turn one of them over, pays the entire check. It only takes one misstep here to NEVER do it again. Remember you came out with them to enjoy their company, you don’t need to play with the phone until the meal is over and you have left the restaurant.
Later.
Festive Season Table Ideas
I have, very rarely, used bright red and green for the holiday table. I have used softer tones, neutrals, whites, softer sage greens.
These colours usually make the table look elegant, even though you might consider using paper plates. When using bright colours it is more light-hearted. If you don’t have napkins that match the table cloth, you can’t go wrong if you put out white cloth ones. BUT, they should be as bright a white as you can find. This gives a crisp look and shows you are starting to pay attention to details.
You can make napkin rings with a bit of a sparkle to create atmosphere. Always have candles and fresh flowers. You can laugh, I always have tulips in the house at Christmas. I like white but have used a soft pink. Depends on what I am using. Below is a setting for a “pre” Christmas dinner with friends,
Table Settings
To start with the basics. I will use a setting for four people. It can be for 20 people but the basics are the same. You will need a clean and freshly ironed table cloth. Correct sized napkins (22″-26″ for table); and for hors d’oeurves, a luncheon (14″ – 18″) napkin is best. This can be the same or contrasting colour. Get your candles and candle sticks ready, flowers either picked or ordered, cutlery should sparkle, glasses -wine, water, and/or liqueur should be handwashed in hot, soapy water and rinsed in warm water and vinegar, Dry with a clean, soft cloth.
My 12 year old granddaughter set the table the way she has seen done in our home. No help or aide was given and I am so proud of her. Now, you can do it too, Right?