skip to main content
CYBER WEEK EXTENDED
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat Room
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolPorchBalcony
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroomHome Theater
Small RoomsSmall BathroomsSmall KitchensSmall BedroomsSmall Living RoomsSmall Closets
More RoomsExteriorEntryHallHome OfficeStaircaseBasement
LaundryGarageShedGymHome BarPlayroomWine Cellar
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesRemodeling GuidesDecorating GuidesPopular StoriesBacksplash Cost GuideBathroom Remodel Cost GuidePool Cost GuideCost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & AfterPollsGardenweb
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
COMMUNITY
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
FIND PROFESSIONALS
DESIGN & REMODELING
Architects & Building DesignersDesign-Build FirmsGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersInterior DesignersKitchen & Bath DesignersKitchen & Bath RemodelersLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsSwimming Pool Builders
OUTDOOR & GARDEN
Landscape ArchitectsLandscape ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersDeck & Patio BuildersStone, Pavers & ConcreteFence ContractorsDriveway InstallationHot Tub & Spa DealersGardeners
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Building SuppliesCabinets & CabinetryCarpet DealersDeck & Patio BuildersDoor DealersFireplacesGarage Door SalesHandymanHardwood Flooring DealersPaint & Wall CoveringsSiding & ExteriorsTile, Stone & CountertopsWindow Dealers
HOME SERVICES
Air Conditioning & HeatingElectriciansFurniture Repair & UpholsteryGarage Door RepairGardeners & Lawn CareHome StagersMoversPaintersPest ControlPlumbersRoofing & GuttersSpa & Pool MaintenanceTree Services
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor ProfessionalsAdvertise
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
CYBER WEEK EXTENDED
Up to 70% Off
Ultimate Dining Room Sale 
Up to 75% Off
Ultimate Outdoor Sale 
Up to 60% Off
Ultimate Vanity Sale 
Up to 70% Off
Kitchen and Appliance Sale 
Entertaining
Entertaining
What to Look for in a House if You Love to Entertain
Top Ideabooks
What to Look for in a House if You Love to EntertainHow to Create a Built-In Home BarModern Party Etiquette for Hosts and Guests15 Essential Tabletop Items for Entertaining
Appears in
Decorating Guides
See also
Weddings
Dining Rooms
Dining Rooms
Key Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining Room
Top Ideabooks
Key Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining RoomHow to Choose a Dining Table Light10 Tips for Getting a Dining Room Rug Just RightTrending Now: 10 Most Popular New Dining Room Photos
Appears in
More Rooms
Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Top Ideabooks
How to Remodel Your KitchenYour Guide to 10 Popular Kitchen StylesStash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage7 Tricky Questions to Ask When Planning Your New Kitchen
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
Kitchen of the WeekSmall KitchensColorful KitchensKitchen StylesKitchen IslandsKitchen CabinetsKitchen CountertopsKitchen BacksplashesKitchen LightingKitchen WorkbookKitchen StorageKitchen AppliancesWhite KitchensKitchen LayoutsKitchen SinksKitchen PantriesKitchen Makeovers

15 Essential Tabletop Items for Entertaining

Choose these basic serving and dining pieces and you’ll be ready to throw a dinner party or host a crowd

Laura Gaskill
Laura GaskillNov 29, 2019
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Get my bi-weekly email: https://www.lauragaskill.com/thesimplelist/
More
Whether you’re setting up your first home, downsizing or just hoping to streamline that overstuffed china cabinet, this guide can help you begin. With the 15 items on this list, you’ll be in good shape to host dinner parties and family gatherings with ease. What you won’t find here: holiday-themed dishes, oyster forks, martini glasses or any highly specialized items. Instead the focus is on versatile, key pieces you can use year-round at any occasion.
dk INTERIORS
1. White Dishes

Classic white dishes go with everything, from everyday cereal to a special holiday feast. A set that serves 12 is probably enough for dinner parties and family gatherings. If you have a small household but enjoy entertaining, consider adding a caterer’s boxed set of extra dishes that you can pull out as needed.

2. Candlesticks and Unscented Candles


Lighting candles at the table is one of the easiest ways to elevate a meal. Pick candlesticks or tea light holders that are low enough to easily see over and a box of unscented candles that won’t interfere with the delicious aromas of your meal.

Find candlesticks in the Houzz Shop
Studio Gorman
3. A Few Go-To Vases

If you only have room for three vases in your cupboard, go with these:
  • A tall cylinder vase for branches
  • A medium-size vase with a wide mouth for full arrangements
  • Bud vases for holding just a stem or two

Shop for vases on Houzz
Margaret Wright Photography
4. Versatile glassware, With or Without Stems

No room (or desire) for 10 different drink-specific types of glasses? Just choose one pretty goblet or stemless glass that can serve water, juice or wine with equal aplomb. If you want two types of glassware, go for a stemless option that can serve water, juice or cocktails plus a classic stemmed wine glass.

Browse glassware on Houzz
Lauren Leonard Interiors
5. Carafes

Glass carafes are ideal for serving ice water, juice or wine at the table. And if you pick a lidded version, you can easily pop the bottle in the fridge after your meal.

Find carafes in the Houzz Shop

6. Cake Stand

It may not seem like an essential at first glance, but once you own a cake stand you might be surprised at how often it gets called into service. Use one for cake (of course), but also for displaying store-bought pastries at brunch, holiday cookies, quiche or pie. And in between occasions, a cake plate is a pretty way to hold fresh fruit on the kitchen counter.

Shop for cake stands
Shop for Similar Carafes and Cake Stands
Ravenscroft Essentials Waldorf Water Carafes, Set of 2
Carat 2 Liter Carafe
La Rochere Bee Carafe Tall 34 oz.
"Zalli" Assorted Glass Carafe (Set of 6)
Elegance 12" Beaded Footed Cake Stand, Silver
Galvanize Cake Stands, 3-Piece Set
Mango 3-Tier Pastry Stand
Discover More Products
Item 1 of 8
Finch London
7. Flatware For a Crowd

Silverware takes up hardly any storage room, so you might as well have enough forks to feed a crowd! Up the number of your regular flatware set, or choose a second set to keep on hand specifically for entertaining.

Browse flatware
Space Craft Joinery
8. Oven-to-Table Baking Dishes

White ceramic baking dishes can take your casseroles and side dishes straight from the oven to the table, and look good doing it. Keep a few sizes on hand, plus trivets or hot pads to protect your table.

Shop for baking dishes on Houzz
French Connection Home
9. Wooden Boards

From slicing a few veggies to presenting cheese and charcuterie, wooden boards always earn their keep in the kitchen. Marble boards are handy (and gorgeous) too, but if you have to choose, go with the versatility of wood.

Find wooden cheese boards and platters in the Houzz Shop
Rikki Snyder
10. White Serving Platters

A few simple white platters in a range of sizes can handle most entertaining spreads. Aim to include at least one platter big enough to hold a roast turkey or other party-size main dish.

Browse white platters
John Lewis & Partners
11. Cloth Napkins

Cotton or linen napkins make your table look thoughtfully put together. Since napkins don’t take up much storage space, consider investing in a stack of them in white cotton or natural linen plus another set in a hue you love.

12. Tablecloth
A tablecloth not only adds another layer of texture and formality, it’s easier to slip on and more elegant than placemats. Natural linen or white is a versatile option that will work for any occasion, but if you want to add a second cloth, pick something in a rich hue or fun print.

Find table linens on Houzz
Terrain
13. Pretty Serving Bowls and Spoons

For foods that can easily slide off a platter — think salads and family-style pastas — serving bowls are what you need. Opt for at least two or three in classic white or a pretty pattern you love, plus as many sets of serving spoons.

Shop for serving pieces
Aidan Newman
14. Electric Kettle

An electric kettle can boil water for coffee or tea in a hurry without taking up precious space on the stovetop. And if there are too many cooks in the kitchen, you can move the whole coffee-and-tea-making station to the dining room.

Find electric kettles in the Houzz Shop
Tobi Fairley Interior Design
Shop for Similar Products
16-Piece Rioux Dinnerware Set, White
Canterbury Candlesticks, Set of 2, 10"
Reanna Vases, 3-Piece Set
Serene Spaces Living Small Flask Bud Vases, Transparent, Set of 4
Bodum Bistro 2 Pieces Mug, Double Wall, 0.3 L, 10 Oz
Graffiti Bedside Night Set
Galvanize Cake Stands, 3-Piece Set
Canyon 5-Piece Flatware Set
Delano White Oval Bakeware 13"
Deluxe Cheese Board With Metal Fleur-de-Lis Spreader
10 Strawberry Street Whittier 14" Platters, White, Set of 2
Fish Market Kitchen Dishtowels
Taco Truck
Objecto Electric Kettle, Black
Bodum Eileen Coffee Maker, 8 Cup, 1.0 L, 34 Oz
Discover More Products
Item 1 of 16
15. French Press

When you need to serve coffee to a crowd, it’s nice to have an extra coffee maker waiting in the wings. A French press makes the cut because it’s compact — and (bonus!) you can also use it to brew loose-leaf tea.

Find French presses on Houzz

Share: What’s on your entertaining essentials list? Please tell us in the Comments.

More
Make Your Checklist for Entertaining Season
8 Rules for No-Pressure Entertaining
Find an interior designer or decorator on Houzz
Comments (30)
See 27 more comments
  • judygilpin

    @Rick Miller, I love the look of chargers also, but stopped using them as the dinner plates slide on them. Very pretty, but not comfortable for the guests to eat from. I now use round grass fiber place mats to give the same effect as chargers.

  • Gigi Keyes

    I have all the above sans #15. I use either my regular coffee maker with K-cups for a small crowd, or my 60 cup coffeemaker/server for a big crowd.

    I also agree with the person who commented on having an ice bucket/tub. I have always used one but it was more practical than aesthetically pleasing, so I invested in a beautiful double-walled, hammered, copper tub that I keep permanently displayed on the top of my fridge.

    The one other item that has been of more use to me than I ever thought possible is the warming tray I bought on clearance for $10 about 15 years ago. There are instances when using chafers are too much of a hassle and that thing is great for keeping things at a ready to eat temp!

  • Diane Edwards

    granny4eight: When I was a young married wife, we bought an antique table that was pretty square but it had 4 leaves integrated. When open, a regular table cloth did not fit well so I went to the fabric store and bought (I forget how many) yard of a beautiful white on white linen and hemmed it. Voila! I am still using it all these years later - like 30 - although my Goddaughter now has the table and hosts large groups in her home. We pass tables around A LOT!

  • Related Stories
    Room of the Day: A Glamorous Space With a Bohemian Touch
    Room of the DayRoom of the Day: A Glamorous Space With a Bohemian Touch
    By Becky Harris
    Bold wallpaper, happy yellow, worldly finds and midcentury classics work in harmony in this San Francisco living area
    Full Story47
    Get Set for Happy Hour With a Stylish Bar Closet
    Decorating GuidesGet Set for Happy Hour With a Stylish Bar Closet
    By Bryan Anthony
    These 10 hidden bars keep the liquor under wraps and then open up for entertaining
    Full Story12
    How to Host a Big Holiday Meal in Your Not-So-Big Home
    New Year's EveHow to Host a Big Holiday Meal in Your Not-So-Big Home
    By Anne Colby
    Here are 7 things you can do to make your dinner party a success
    Full Story46
    Have a Seat in a Perfect Party Garden
    Outdoor KitchensHave a Seat in a Perfect Party Garden
    By Sarah Warwick
    This low-maintenance patio is ideal for welcoming friends, day and night
    Full Story32
    Room of the Day: Stylish Living Space With a Midcentury Twist
    Dining RoomsRoom of the Day: Stylish Living Space With a Midcentury Twist
    By Jess McBride
    Contemporary decor and modern touches combine to make a well-loved great room in Portland, Oregon
    Full Story24
    The 10 Most Popular Dining Spaces of 2017
    Dining RoomsThe 10 Most Popular Dining Spaces of 2017
    By Becky Harris
    Houzzers ate up these yummy dining spaces, ranging from super casual to traditionally formal
    Full Story24
    Multilevel Deck Rejuvenates a Backyard Entertaining Space
    Landscape DesignMultilevel Deck Rejuvenates a Backyard Entertaining Space
    By Alex Treaster
    An improved flow helps create a pleasing outdoor party area for a former chef and his family
    Full Story8
    Traditional Living Spaces Get a Contemporary Makeover
    Transitional StyleTraditional Living Spaces Get a Contemporary Makeover
    By Janet Paik
    Before and after: New textiles and wall treatments help update this San Francisco family’s living and dining rooms
    Full Story54
    Celebrate Fall With a Cozy, Cabin-Inspired Tabletop
    DIY ProjectsCelebrate Fall With a Cozy, Cabin-Inspired Tabletop
    By Margaret Wright
    Follow along as a stylist shares how to add cozy, colorful touches to your dining table for your next holiday meal
    Full Story14
    Modern Party Etiquette for Hosts and Guests
    Your First HouseModern Party Etiquette for Hosts and Guests
    By Laura Gaskill
    Learn the mannerly way to handle invitations, gifts and even mishaps for a party that's memorable for the right reasons
    Full Story388
    See 5 Bright Dining Rooms That Encourage Indoor-Outdoor Flow
    DoorsSee 5 Bright Dining Rooms That Encourage Indoor-Outdoor Flow
    By Lauren Dunec Hoang
    Features such as sliding glass walls and continuous flooring bring dining and living into the backyard
    Full Story20
    New This Week: 3 Breezy Dining Rooms Ready for Summer
    Dining RoomsNew This Week: 3 Breezy Dining Rooms Ready for Summer
    By Mitchell Parker
    These spaces welcome the warmer months with laid-back style
    Full Story8
    Room of the Day: A Place for the Whole Family to Gather
    Living RoomsRoom of the Day: A Place for the Whole Family to Gather
    By Brenna Malmberg
    A designer helps a Southern California homeowner hone her style and rethink her dining and living rooms for entertaining
    Full Story17
    Aubergine Walls and a Silver Leaf Ceiling Create Dining Room Chic
    Room of the DayAubergine Walls and a Silver Leaf Ceiling Create Dining Room Chic
    By Jess McBride
    High drama and glam are the order of the day for this dining room in an otherwise kid-friendly Boston home
    Full Story8
    Stylish Bar Carts and Cocktails to Make Your Spirits Bright
    Apartment LifeStylish Bar Carts and Cocktails to Make Your Spirits Bright
    By Annie Thornton
    A new book on the art of the bar cart shows how to dress up your entertaining station and mix seasonal drinks to match
    Full Story9
    Shop Related Categories
    Bar Stools & Counter Stools
    Bar Stools & Counter Stools
    Kitchen Faucets
    Kitchen Faucets
    Kitchen Sinks
    Kitchen Sinks
    Tile
    Tile
    Dining Tables
    Dining Tables
    Dining Chairs
    Dining Chairs
    Sponsored
    USA Cabinet Store - Chantilly
    33 Reviews
    Loudoun County's #1 Custom Cabinetry & Remodeling Resource
    People who liked this story also liked
    Room of the Day: A Glamorous Space With a Bohemian Touch
    Room of the Day: A Glamorous Space With a Bohemian TouchFull Story
    Get Set for Happy Hour With a Stylish Bar Closet
    Get Set for Happy Hour With a Stylish Bar ClosetFull Story
    How to Host a Big Holiday Meal in Your Not-So-Big Home
    How to Host a Big Holiday Meal in Your Not-So-Big HomeFull Story
    Have a Seat in a Perfect Party Garden
    Have a Seat in a Perfect Party GardenFull Story
    Room of the Day: Stylish Living Space With a Midcentury Twist
    Room of the Day: Stylish Living Space With a Midcentury TwistFull Story
    The 10 Most Popular Dining Spaces of 2017
    The 10 Most Popular Dining Spaces of 2017Full Story
    Multilevel Deck Rejuvenates a Backyard Entertaining Space
    Multilevel Deck Rejuvenates a Backyard Entertaining SpaceFull Story
    Traditional Living Spaces Get a Contemporary Makeover
    Traditional Living Spaces Get a Contemporary MakeoverFull Story
    Celebrate Fall With a Cozy, Cabin-Inspired Tabletop
    Celebrate Fall With a Cozy, Cabin-Inspired TabletopFull Story
    Modern Party Etiquette for Hosts and Guests
    Modern Party Etiquette for Hosts and GuestsFull Story
    • United States
    • ABOUT
    • CAREERS
    • MOBILE APPS
    • PROFESSIONALS
    • BUTTONS
    • ADVERTISE
    • SELL
    • Terms & Privacy
    • © 2019 Houzz Inc.