Yes. I also like the extra layering of pattern or color they allow.

A friend found a 12 place set of antique white and and gold Limoges, with beautiful cobalt blue and gold chargers. Her table looks stunning, but so many people don't want the care of formal China or extra pieces anymore. I use chargers with both informal and formal settings. I agree with you Mtn, they can really enhance a table.

I love using them. I think they add so much interest to a table setting.

I love the way chargers look. I am not sure how to use them though. At restaurants the chargers are cleared away when the food arrives. How does this work at home? I would love to start using chargers- so please enlighten me folks.

I use them for Christmas--red--to add a pop of FESTIVE to my very plain ivory china. My kids HATE the added work to dig them out, clean them. Beauty is work!!

Abby, it is true that at restaurants they take them away before serving. At home though, in North America, they stay on the table until dessert is served. So, under any first courses and the main course, but usually not for dessert or a cheese course.

Not a fan, have always thought chargers are completely useless and don't think they add much to the visual effect. Then again the word tablescape is never coming out of my mouth or on my table LOL. Probably also a function of the fact I don't like a lot of visual clutter/overload and chargers fall into that category *for me*.

PS you asked ;)

I use them when I entertain, but not for our everyday dinners when it's just us here. I have red, silver, gold, black and wood chargers. The black I use just around Halloween. The wood during the Autumn months.

Chargers don't have to stay on the table until dessert. Sometimes they are whisked away after the first course is served, providing almost a tray for the (usually small) first course china.

I keep wanting to buy some chargers, but I usually end up loving my round palm placemats more with the dishes I choose. They are bigger and more casual, and everything fits on them: flatware, glasses, bread plate.

I do try chargers out whenever I buy a new type of plate. They just don't seem to go. Also I tend to get bugged by the layers of height, and imagine more banging and chattering and clanking and accidental flipping....

I love my layered wavy plates though, which is a similar concept.

I heard the Post cousins discussing chargers on their podcast (Awesome Etiquette) in the context of table clearing etiquette & they stated chargers are often used so a table setting won't be "bare" between courses...

Thank you miniscule and Mnt! Count me in the uses chargers category now! (I love, love, love dishes. It's a bit of a problem.)

I love dishes too! We did a massive downsize, but I still have 3 full sets of dishes, 12 place-settings or more. And I use them all. As does Mtn, I sometimes remove the chargers before the main course. We're having a small dinner party tonight, in honour of guests visiting from Asia - a Canadian ex-pat who is introducing his "intended" to Canada. The table is set, chargers included, and we are all set but for the final stages of cooking!

On the menu: appetizers in the LR (sausage stuffed mushrooms, crostini with tuna Provençal, smoked salmon on cucumber with Boursin); at the DR table, a first course of avocado with crab; main of beef tenderloin with caper-herb sauce, potatoes Anna, green beans and asparagus; pumpkin maple mousse with maple syrup and little cookies; and finally, local artisanal cheese and fruits. I hope they are hungry;)

What a lovely meal, minuscule! A fantastic inroduction to Canadian warmth and hospitality.

Entertaining this w-end, wished I had some wicker (or similar) chargers for an elegant but very casual dinner. Not enough time to go get some now

you can prob pick those up at a Pier1 Bossy

I went after posting here and what they had were $20 ea. Yikes!

I use them on occasion, but remove them after the first course. They serve a function, namely keeping the linens clean for the main course. Few of us have servants to allow us to follow the "rules" of charger use. Use them however you choose and just enjoy the dining!

I like chargers and have used them for dinners. However, I think I'm about the only one who appreciates and feels comfortable with them so I've stopped.

LOL, Shee, you do sometimes find people unsure about what to do with it if there is a pause before it is cleared. One reason I like to clear it with the first course in one maneuver.

Why are they removed before dessert?

Linelle, I do not know why they are removed before dessert. Perhaps it is just one of those customary practices that grow over time? Wow, Lynn, you have an impressive collection to choose from! Abby, thank you, the dinner was a success. The guests stayed overnight, and we will serve breakfast when they emerge. Their flights were at the beginning of the week, but she is still a little jet-lagged.

Score!!!! 1.99 @ HL

Nice colour choices!

I use them, but not all that often when it's just the two of us (and the placemats). My go-to's are some cheap gold and silver (12 of ea) I bought years ago at Costco I think that have held up really well. I don't even remember how much I paid for them but less than $20 a set. I also have some wicker ones but need more.

I think they are removed before dessert because dessert serving dishes are typically smaller and/or oddly shaped and don't really fit on a big charger well.

I think it's more they're just very casual and aren't used to chargers, layered pretty set tables, or any centerpieces. Some of the people I don't think care either way, but a few I think feel it's too fancy/formal. I'll still bust them out if the mood strikes for the one side of the family. I think I may try doing it at least once a week just for us, just because. I don't have a ton of extra storage space so it's probably best I don't get too carried away with dinnerware. :)

That said, I believe someone here suggested this site some time ago and I've been eyeballing this server spoon since. I think it's so dang pretty. And I JUST realized it's now unavailable...ack! Wonder if they'll bring it back.

oak leaf serving spoon

sooo pretty.

Shee ... these are similar: http://bestamericanarts.michaelmichaudtableart.com/spoons-servers/58-asparagus-salad-servers.html

I've really been into Sabre lately and bought a bunch of their serving pieces in aqua for the beachhouse