Entertaining

Entertaining

Dress an outdoor table for a breezy afternoon

Choose low, stable pieces and let the weather determine what stays on the table.

Entertaining

Choose cloth napkins for the way you entertain

Consider size, texture and laundering before choosing a color that matches the table.

Entertaining

Which serving dishes earn their cupboard space

The most useful serving pieces are the ones that suit your meals, fit your table and return easily to storage.

Entertaining

Make borrowed chairs work around one table

Different chairs can share a table comfortably when seat height and movement come before appearance.

Entertaining

Give an open-plan gathering a few clear destinations

Give a large shared room a few recognizable places to sit, serve and set things down.

Entertaining

Put a sideboard to work during dinner

Clear the decorative display when a sideboard needs to become a working surface.

Entertaining

Place flowers where they will not crowd the food

Use the room around the table when the meal needs the center for itself.

Entertaining

Gentle table lighting without dark place settings

Keep the table readable while allowing the rest of the room to feel softer.

Entertaining

A short reset after the guests have gone

Put away what needs attention and leave the decorative rearranging for another time.