Bright

I have been lurking here for sometime and finally know an answer to a question.

#1. My feelings on the question of types of dishes to use is - whatever is pleasing to you! If I had the space for storage I would probably have dozen of dish sets but I don't so I have one set of good china and my choice of everyday dishes plus some seasonal pieces like Easter salad plates or the 4th of July dinner plates and glasses. When I want elegant I keep it simple and when I want fun I add "silly" fun things! The table setting is important at any dinner but the most important part is you and your guests!

Chargers: A charger functions as a resting place for bowls and plates and is usually larger than the plate/bowl it holds but not larger than any serving dishes. A charger is never used for food and can be of any material and doesn't have to match you dishes.

Placemats VS. tablecloths....here again it's up to you! I rarely use a placemat for a more formal dinner but I have seen some really beautiful table setting using them. I am "older" and was taught never to use place mats when serving anyone who didn't live in your home and never ever after lunch...now anything goes! And that is nice!

Hope this help but also that you get more input, but remember do what is comfortable for you and your guests.

PezaBelle

Any kind of dishes can be acceptable. Fine china will be easier to 'fit' into a fancy bridal shower tea, and Corell will be easier to 'fit' into a relaxed Memorial Day barbeque, but you really could use either one for either of those purposes with just a bit of effort.

You will want to asses your needs carefully when chosing tablewear. For most of us, versitile pieces which are easy to store are the backbones of tables. A few inexpensive items can then be purchaced to enliven things occasionally.

My everyday dishes are plain white. They are boring. However, I can enliven the table easily with any sort of centerpiece, table cloth, etc. I inherited my fine china from my grandmother. It is slate blue and grey. Just try working that color combo into your next Thanksgiving table!

Chargers can have a couple of purposes. They can be a border for your plates. Not really necessay, but it is a chance to add more color and such. The other purpose can be to make the table look set, even if you don't want the dinner plates out before the meal. Some people find a table set without plates looks forlorn. However, if you planned to serve the meal already plated, it would be silly to have plates there to begin with, just to remove them when everyone is seated.

I don't find placemats or chargers to be my style, and so manage quite well without either. For other people, those are some of their favorite pieces to play with. Neither approach is right or wrong. Find what speaks to your sence of style and run with it.

Bright, unless you're serving a very formal meal,you can use whatever type dish that appeals to you. If it's pretty and you like it.. go for it. I keep one set of fine china and all the rest is either ironstone,fiesta,corelle,etc. Candles,mirrors,and other small accessories can make any set of dishes look wonderful.I've got 2 really nice sets of silver and the rest is stainless steel in patterns that I love.
Tableclothes,placemats,chargers,etc. are not a necessity,but napkins are and nice paper napkins are perfectly acceptable.
After having one too many plate go "airborne", I've learned not to use chargers with young children ( and some adults ) :>)
I have also discovered that instead of spending mega bucks for chair covers that pillow cases will fit the back of almost any chair and can be "fancied" up with bows,etc. pinned to the back.
If my dishes are a solid color, I like to use pretty placemats to liven things up or a pretty charger to compliment the dishes colors.
To me, a tablesetting dosen't have to be about formality. It's a reflection of your home and your tastes and your individual style.

Susan

Thanks everyone for the comments. I can't go in a store (of any type) and not look at the dishes and accessories thanks to this site!!! Was in a Marshall's Home Store on Thurs... geeze I love that store!!! Didn't buy anything.. Dh was with me!! LOL! But drooled alot. Wish it was closer 1hr away... the opposite direction of work!

I have alot of dishes that are mix and match cause my main love is mosaics...so I buy onesies and twosies to break for projects.... now I feel guilty for doin it!!! Ooop's can't believe I told you all my little secret.

It's the linens I have a hard time finding what I like at a reasonable price... I guess half the fun is the hunt!! Also need a full set of silverware... (stainless)...

Bright, please don't break any beautiful rose plates! (Or if you do, don't let me know because it will make me feel sick.) LOL I just can't bear to think of all the beautiful dishes that get broken for mosaic. I can see if they are already chipped or broken, but not if they are perfect.

I'm like you, not really finding any pretty tablecloths at reasonable prices. Kathleen sure has collected some pretty ones. At one time, I even thought about sewing my own, but not sure about seams on them to make them wide enough using regular fabrics that are usually on sale--and the wider fabrics are usually allot more expensive. Maybe I'll have to settle for just making some pretty napkins and using solid color ready made tablecloths.

Luvs

Bright, check your thrift stores. Ours here usually have a decent selection of them and they average around $2.95 apiece. They occasionally have runners too. I've gotten around 30 tablecloths at the A.T.S. here. Walmart has a really nice selection of stainless here. You can buy a service for 4 for around $30.00 and a service for 8 for around $40.00 in some very pretty patterns.

Luvs, if you make your own tablecloths you can always use a runner to hide the seams if you have to. Or, your centerpieces should hide the majority of it. In the curtain section of Walmart they have inserts that go with the curtains hanging up on rods. They're in all kinds of patterns and solids and materials. I bought 4 that I really liked to use as table runners. I think I paid $10.00 each for them. That's cheaper than one runner ..lol !

Susan