After two decades of watching and helping my mother set the table in the dining room,

I grew to love making a beautiful table setting.

If there is ever any confusion as to how to set the table Emily Post is always a good source to check.

This is the diagram for a three-course meal. Post calls this the “informal setting” but it works as formal at my house.

In case the Queen is coming use this one instead…

I chose the Herend Chinese Bouquet in Raspberry for my china and my sister chose it in green.

I don’t think that all of the plates need to match perfectly. I use a mix of first course and desert plates.

I was given antique desert plates from England for a wedding gift, which are a wonderful addition.

If your pattern is more bold and contemporary then adding a colorful band to an ordinary white tablecloth gives it some additional flair.

A more contemporary pattern that I think is pretty is from Thomas Goode in London.

If you haven’t been and love china put it on your list for next time you are there.

Mixing colored glasses is another way to add dimension to a table.

I absolutely love plates with dragons on them. The Meissen Ming Dragons are my favorite.

A few more of my favorites are those from Anna Weatherley

and Herend’s Queen Victoria

Do you love china too? What do you set with?

Also, check out Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Backporch!

Photo Credits: Southern Accents (1,6,7) , Emily Post (2,3),  Scully & Scully (4,10,11,12), Charlotte Moss (5), via coco cozy (9), Thomas Goode (8,13)