Setting a Beautiful Table for Every Day

I love beautiful china and tableware. I have several collections and really no one with whom to share them. I didn’t start collecting them until well after my children were grown and now that I have them, I want to use, display, and share them.

My Fall Table

The Dining Room is the entrance to my small home. It’s what greets me when I come home and guests when they arrive. I believe it sets the expectations for the rest of my home as well.

I sit at the table on weekends and eat my breakfast. I can look out of the window and see the birds at the feeder in the Fall and Winter months and there isn’t a better way to start your day than that!

Setting the table beautifully encourages you to eat better, more well-rounded, and nutritious meals. Eating in front of the TV or a computer becomes a mindless activity. If I do this, I don’t find that I’m nearly as satiated and sometimes I don’t even remember what I ate. Sitting at a table that is beautifully appointed encourages you to savor your meals, reduces stress, and improves your overall well-being. There is a strong link between each of your senses and a visually appealing meal will simply taste better.

One of the things that has been lost in our busy every day lives is the building of rituals, especially those around meal times. Meal time is a great time to share highlights of your day with loved ones and listen to the stories of their days. I can also remember fondly “setting the table” with my sister growing up.

You don’t need to spend thousands to set a beautiful table. You can easily do this on a small budget, collecting items over time. I have beautiful sets of cloth napkins and table linens that I have purchased from local thrift stores (some with tags still attached). I have also purchased serving pieces and decor from thrift stores. In fact, very few of my items are new. In many instances I have found exquisitely expensive and quality items that I could never have afforded new.

My brother recently told me “collecting is in your bones.” It’s so true because some of my fondest memories of my dad are visiting thrift and resale stores with him and learning about his roots through the various items he collected.