Tablecloth + placemat + charger + plate = equals way too much for me to bother with, lol! It's really all about the food, isn't it?

I agree with natal - either the placemat or the charger, but not both. For a more formal feel, I would do the charger. Placemats pretty much say casual to me, unless perhaps you use them instead of the tablecloth, so the pretty wood of the table surrounds them.

Great deal on the napkins!

I found these googling, don't know if you are looking for something nicer. I have some pewter chargers that I got at an estate sale years ago cheaper than these, (hard to believe) but I also have some lacquered ones in gold for the gold-rim dishes and I use the pewter ones with my Blue Danube, etc.

These are $19.99 for 8. You can right click on the properties and follow the link

Maybe I'm an idiot, but all I got from the properties is a link to the pictures, nothing else. Peeling the url back step by step likewise didn't get me to where they're selling the plates. Can you please provide a link? Thanks.

About charger plates:

A decorative charger plate is an elegant and underused element of a place setting. Also known as a chop plate, service plate or underplate, a charger plate gets its Âdecorative label because it never directly touches any food; instead it functions as an aesthetic resting place onto which food-bearing dishes and bowls are placed. A charger plate is usually larger than a dinner plate but smaller than a food-serving platter. As it need not hold food, it can be made out of a wider range of materials than regular dishes. In addition to standard china, metal, wood, mother of pearl and even leather varieties can be found.

Charger plate etiquette varies slightly depending on the preferences of the host or hostess, but some general rules apply. The plate should be set when guests arrive, placed one inch (2.54 cm) from the edge of the table and between the silverware setting. Some hosts remove it before any food is served, but more commonly, soup and first courses are placed on the charger which is cleared before the entrée is served. Other hosts enjoy the appearance of the plate in combination with the dinner dishes and leave it on the table throughout the course of the meal. Most agree however, that the charger should be removed before the dessert course.

A charger plate is a terrific way to add color and texture to your dinner table. Though the plates are often associated with very formal dinners, they can be used for all occasions to spice up your hosting repertoire. A fine china underplate, sometimes part of a place setting package in bridal registries, is the classic choice for traditional, formal dinner parties. The pattern on these plates often complements the design on the other china, adding a second visual rhythm to the table. A colorful charger can revitalize your day-to-day dinner plates for a party. One with a harmonizing hue or made from a showy metallic material can add a less stuffy touch of class to an informal gathering.

Charger plates are an easy and inexpensive way to add seasonal variety to your selection of dishes. Holiday-themed chargers are commonly available. Alternatively, a mix of springy pastels and jewel-like winter tones will help you match the mood of any season.

here it is...
http://www.nextag.com/dinner-chargers/search-html

I am having a sit down for 23. I just bought 2 dozen chargers from Bed Bath and Beyond. 12 for $19.99. They are plastic of course but they are painted to look like metal. I am a self admitted snob when it comes to stuff like this, but I think they look pretty good. They have gold, silver and red. The red looks fake but the others look okay.

I'm with natal, it's all about the food and your guests. I'm not into chargers, IMHO I think too much fussing with plates and chargers is annoying to your guests but is the kind of thing that a guest would never mention if they were being polite. And with some hosts, it can be very pretentious. More to wash and store. Sorry that I'm being honest and not very diplomatic.

Sky

I think they are beautiful in both formal and informal table settings. I would not use them with place mats because I think they take the place of a place mat.

Chargers can be left on the table throughout most of the meal and act as as a frame for your china (much like a place mat acts like a frame or containment for an individual place setting).

I think chargers are especially striking when a silver or gold charger is used and white china with silver or gold rims sits on top - simple and elegant.

I have also seen colored chargers used in very whimsical holiday settings and they can really make a table look very special.

Decorating your table beautifully is part of decorating your environment. Special dining table accoutrement like chargers tell your guests that you took extra time and care to compose a beautiful table setting for them. I reserve the use of chargers for special dining times.

I always clear the dinner plates off the table before serving dessert...chargers are removed with the dinner plates in one movement and are therefore no extra work to remove.

Threegrad - I always enjoy your posts and if you invited me to your house for dinner on placemats and chargers with your pretty new napkins I would have a great time!

My formal china is cobalt blue from Fitz and Floyd and my DD bought me some red chargers for my birthday. Since we are a military family the red white and blue look fantastic!
This thread makes me want to haul out my "good stuff" again and have a party!!

I saw gold charges at Homegoods at a reasonable price.
I'm with threegrad, I'm sure her table looks lovely....Presentation is everything!
I think it's not only all about the food, but equally important is the presentation. I pride myself in setting a nice table, formal or informal, it's always interesting.
I set a nice table every night just for the two of us. Heck if you're going to eat good food that took time to prepare, enhance it with a nice table.
I also get a kick when my guests point out how nice my presentation is even outside on the deck table. Nice dishes,
colorful napkins, interesting napkin rings, and wonderful service dishes. It fun, interesting, and it's creative every day living.
A red tablecloth makes Italian food taste wonderful, as well as serving Margarettavills before a Mexican dinner....Your guests will tell you it's the best Mexican food they ever ate! LOL...
Joann

With one of our friends, no special effort is made and we dine "family style", and that's fine. I will admit, however,it does feel less special without candles and flowers. With those who set a beautiful table there is an added element of excitement, and festivity. The use of chargers, along with multiple courses, etc, only lose their charm when the host/hostess obviously feel over-worked and uncomfortable with the effort.

I saw these om target's site - I don't know if I could get them by Christmas though. The color works very well with the shimmery side of my placemats.

I love the chargers, but I hate placemats with ever fibre of my being.

I love chargers. I got some red chargers at Target last year and we use them when we have company over. I also found some pretty red and clear goblets that go great with them, and with my red and black dishes. It all makes for a lovely presentation. I do agree with pps that using placemats with chargers is a bit much for my taste.

I love them too! Last week Target had the same ones Linensnthings had..12 for 12.
I have several sets of ceramic, glass, silver plate brass, and just bought some of the lacquer ones for a very casual table.
Like Cattknap, I leave them on till dessert, then scoop it all up.
The biggest drawback is storage, the glass and ceramic take up a lot of room.
Although I prefer them on a tablecloth, when is is more casual and we eat at the kitchen table, I even use a placemat. I don't think it looks so bad, LOL!

Kathleen - I'm with you with regards to using matelasse place mats for everyday casual dining - they wash up perfectly and no ironing...I don't care to wash a tablecloth every day or eat on bare wood, so place mats work well.

Your place setting is beautiful and inviting.

I don't disagree with the visual pleasure of a dressed table, I'm just not comfortable when it's layer upon layer, but that's me. I do use cloth napkins on a daily basis along with placemats. Have tablecloths, but rarely use them.

I saw some beautiful quilted placemats at BB&B the other day, but fought the $7 price tag. I saw a flimsier version at Walmart today for $5. Guess I'll head back to BB&B with my stack of coupons, lol.

Kathleen, are those chargers still in your trunk? ;)

Kohl's has some round beaded placemats-cum-chargers that I like. Their website picture isn't coming up, but here are similar ones. I don't normally use placemats, but for inexpensive, these appeal to me more than the chargers.

I like all things sparkly, and I usually have to hold myself back, but I think these look good.

BTW, I am new to the placemat world, I just acquired some burgundy leather ones with an alligator look. I think I like them, but the jury is still out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Round beaded charger/placemat set

Not getting into the discussion on chargers because I think it's strictly a personal decision, based upon the purpose of the dinner, the guests, the plates and tableware used, etc.

However, last year I saw very nice chargers at Tuesday Morning. Very reasonable in price, and they looked very nice -- in gold and silver.

Good luck finding them and may your Thanksgiving be very special.

I am a charger vs placemat type of person. We have some gold chargers, and then cream and white china with a gold rim. I had originally bought them because my formal dining table has glass inserts and I didn't want the china to scratch them glass. But, then found I love the look. I think I found them at Target a few years ago.

Kathleen, I love your table setting. I'm addicted to dishes and love the pattern on yours and how the place mat picks up the same blue.

Okay, I must have just been abused by charger snobs. I've either had then removed right after I sat down to an overly annoying florish by the home owner - LOOK AT MEIf you leave them under and remove them with the dinner plate, then they are definitely a way to add some color or fun. So I have had my mind changed. Thank you.

BTW, I've seen those beaded placemats at Marshals and TJ Maxx recently but not in all those pretty colors that Kohls is selling.

sky

Natal, I just unloaded another stash I had in there from Villeroy and Boch!! The lower level, read basement, are the clearance items. I did well! Tune in at Easter to see what a beauty I got..I had seen it last Spring but it was waaaay to much...so I just wait them out!! LOL
I love the quilted placemats, and Catt is right they are a breeze to wash. I was in WmSonomas outlet Friday and they had some pretty paisley type for 70% off, so they were 2.48...wrong colors for me, but very nice!
Jaimies, I saw the beaded ones, they are pretty, more formal I think. WmSonoma and Lenox had them. I resisted as I have so many chargers...
Thanks, Catt. Those aqua rounds are from TJMaxx, and I always look for more. I think they were 2.50!! I like round with the round table they fit better.
The mats in this pic are from Kohls, on sale 1.99. They are also easy to keep clean. These are my everyday dishes, and this is where we eat everyday, or when we have just 6 for a casual dinner.
Like, Beth said, it is a personal decision, it is just 2 of us, so I can take the time to fuss a bit. And the presentation of the food is just as impt. imo.

There is another name for a charger - it used to be called a 'remove'. The idea of the charger was to fill the empty place on the table between the silverware, before the food was brought to the table and served. Once the food arrived, the placeholder plate was 'removed'. I grew up knowing it by that name.

I love placemats, use them every day. I do have an issue about ones that aren't large enough to house the dishes and all the silverware, tho. IMO, if you have a placemat it should be wide enough to have the silverware all the way on it.

I have round green ones like kathleen's yellow ones (and the same salt/pepper grinder as well! LOL). Mine are a bit larger, and because I don't have a charger plate on mine, the silverware all fits on the placemat. I love the look of placemats on a rich wood table, too.

Yes, Les, that is annoying that the silverware doesn't fit on the yellow..I have them in blue too. I will have to look for larger ones, or serve less courses! lol
Of course they fit on the rectangles, but I do like the look of the round.
I always thought the charger was removed too, but in researching it is correct to leave them if you like, as long as they are removed before dessert.

Sky, I share your addiction, but like I said, some buy a lot of shoes!. My friends think it is insane to have so many sets of dishes , chargers, etc, but the last I heard it isn't illegal! lol