DINING Set the table tastefully for your lifestyle

A little effort goes a long way to make the table look appealing.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
The "accessories" on a dining table can enhance the eating experience. If you're on a diet, a nice setting might supply a little extra visual pleasure to substitute for the oral pleasure of which you are being deprived. Even if not on a diet, an artistically dressed table is always nice to behold.
What works for you
Start by choosing the kind of china that best suit the type of food your family enjoys. Simple foods look and taste best on simple country pottery. Buying a pattern that is easy to match is the best bet. That way mix-and-match pieces can be added as the family grows or as dishes get broken and need to be replaced.
Buy extra soup bowls, as they have great versatility. Besides holding soup, they can be used as salad bowls, liquid condiment holders, small serving dishes, chip bowls and so on.
Large glass mugs and large wine glasses are the best bet for informal dining. Anything can be served in them, from water to wine, Coke to cranberry juice, with a gracious and generous feeling.
Set the mood
The table covering can be anything that inspires the palate. Try sheets, bed coverings or any material on which a hem can be sewed. Go ahead: get creative, be dramatic. This "tablecloth" can set the mood.
Bring color to the table via cloth napkins. Give each person two napkins slipped into one napkin ring. Use two different colors, two coordinating patterns or one patterned and one solid-colored napkin. A colorful setting can be achieved with little effort this way.
Fresh flowers are always nice to have on the table. Remember to keep them reasonable in size. If they're too bushy, it is tough to see and talk to each other through them. That sounds obvious, but we've all been to restaurants where the centerpiece inhibits communication. Of course, that could be an asset if the person you're dining with isn't pleasant.
Dessert dishes can be different in style and weight from the rest of the china. Lighter, more delicate plates make the dessert seem lighter in calories. A little self-deception? Yes, but why not? We only live once.
Going back to the versatile soup bowl, it can be used as a dessert dish if the dessert is ice cream or other such runny after-dinner delight.
Added touches
Here are a few more ideas to inspire ingenuity:
UWhite china makes any food look good as it will not conflict with the color of the food.
UWhen serving coffee, set the mood by using either fancy French china or down-to-earth mugs.
ULacy tablecloths bring a romantic approach to the dining experience.