These days, I enjoy the idea of any meal as a celebration. Items like cloth napkins and placemats simply make me happy, and once I got into the habit, I began using them every day. On our weekends in Michigan, Roy and I set a beautiful table most nights. Here’s a fun memory: Fourteen years ago, on our first date, I mentioned that I happen to set a lovely table, and he recounts that moment often.  I hate to exaggerate, but I think it pretty much cinched the deal! We’ve been creating beautiful tables together ever since.

People love to collect everything from vinyl to crystals to ornaments, but I collect items for the table. Table settings don’t have to be costly. You can find pieces in your mother’s cabinet, at a garage sale, or at a discount store. Many of my most-loved items were on sale at places like World Market, Bed Bath & Beyond, or Pottery Barn. For me, it’s all about mixing and matching—there’s absolutely no need to have each place setting look identical.

I love placemats! One prerequisite is that they must be pretty. Texture is essential. If you do nothing else, a beautiful placemat and a napkin will get you started. I like casual placemats, placemats with gems or sequins, and placements made with woven grasses. They make such a difference in my enjoyment of a meal.

Click below for some great placemat options:
Metallic beaded placemat, placemats for kids, festive placemats, jute placemats, click here and here for beaded placemat options, or click here, here, and here for more affordable options. 

There’s nothing better than having special flatware passed down through your family, but not everybody has that. I look for places like Chicago’s Posh that carries what they call “old hotel silver.” Nothing matches, but it all looks great together!

Cloth napkins simply make food taste better. The longer you have them and the more frequently you wash them, the softer and better they get! 

Click below for some great cloth napkin options:
Thin striped napkins, more striped linen, slate gray with striped edge linen napkin, black striped napkin, rainbow lined napkin set.

Napkin rings are truly like jewelry, and they tie place settings together.

Click below for some wonderful napkin ring options:
Gold beaded napkin rings, affordable pearl napkin rings, bunny napkin rings for Easter, botanical napkins rings, affordable beaded napkin rings.

Setting a beautiful table includes lovely lighting, and candleholders—whether votive or candelabra—make a statement and enhance the meal’s ambience. My beloved tabletop fireplace elicits so many questions on Instagram. (Click here for a lower price-point option.)

In addition, beautiful lamps can help make the table spectacular and the lighting magical, because let’s face it: overhead lighting is not ideal. I am a big advocate of finding creative, inexpensive ways to make your table glow.

In a world filled with stress and uncertainty, I love knowing I can create a sense of beauty and celebration at mealtime. It makes me feel good to have little things like this to look forward to. It's taken me half a lifetime to collect items I’m passionate about. There’s certainly no hurry—enjoy the treasure hunt! If you take your time and choose pieces that truly inspire you, you may end up with your own little collection that will make entertaining and sharing family times even more special.

Last-Minute Chicagoland Meetup! Come hang out with me Wednesday, April 6, at 7pm! I’ll be the in-conversation person at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, and I’m so excited to talk about food with the gals from The Modern Proper. Afterward, I’ll have plenty of time to hang out, and I’d be happy to sign your copy of my cookbook. I can’t wait to meet you—registration is necessary so click here, and bring your foodie friends!