10 Essential Tabletop Accessories Every Southern Host Needs
PHOTO: HECTOR SANCHEZ; STYLING BY AUDREY DAVIS; PRODUCTS BY DILLARD'S
No matter the occasion, setting your table with intention sets the tone for a warm, comforting gathering. Small and beautiful details give eyes places to wander and make your guests feel simply honored to be invited.
Designers and professional event planners take this as fact. "I'm a big believer that being a Southern host means adding visual comfort and beauty to your tablescapes," says Shivani Vyas, designer and owner of Studio Vyas based in Macon, Georgia. "It's not just about adding pretty things but building an atmosphere that feels kind, gentle, and loving to all who experience it."
Even just a few pieces can help you achieve a picture-perfect and cozy table setting. If you're just getting your collection started, here are the essential tabletop accessories to focus on finding first.
Place Card Holders
Taking the time to create place cards for any dinner party or holiday gathering is well worth the effort, according to Audra Samnotra, designer at Social Swan Decor in Tampa, Florida.
"It is rewarding to write the names of your diners in script on artisan paper and slide them into place card holders," she says. "There's joy in personalizing your table through art. You don't need a better reason than that to assign seats, even if it's just family."
While folded place cards will stand up on their own, a set of place card holders can make even plain ones look dazzling.
Table Linens
While there's certainly nothing wrong with opting for beautiful paper napkins for more casual or larger gatherings, having a set of matching fabric napkins for more intimate dinners will really elevate the overall experience for all in attendance.
A matching or complementary runner not only looks beautiful on a table but also protects your table from scratches, stains, and stray candle drips. You can also opt to take things a more traditional route with a classic white tablecloth, which will match any occasion and servingware you choose for the evening.
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Chargers and Placemats
Chargers and placemats are other tabletop accessories that protect your table (and tablecloths). These accessories also create a beautiful layered appearance that makes everything look more put together.
Vyas personally loves using rattan chargers on her table settings during any season or occasion. "With their rich texture and timeless appeal, you can layer rattan placemats with other cheery doses of color and pattern," she says. "They are also easy to wipe down with a damp cloth and don't hold stains the way fabric placemats can."
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Napkin Rings
A good set of napkin rings can save you from having to nail your napkin folding technique when you're in a hurry setting the table. While there are beautiful ways to roll and fold napkins in a napkin ring, a simple triangle fold with a napkin ring around it is quick and looks stunning.
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Chic Glasses
Everyone deserves to sip their beverage of choice from a special glass. "Feeling fancy is part of the fun when sitting at a formal dining table," says Samnotra. "Make sweet tea a pinky-up sipping experience in beautiful glasses."
Investing in a lovely glass set for adults and a shatter-proof version for kids is a seasoned hostess move.
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Serving Dishes You Can Mix and Match
Bringing each course to the table in a nice serving dish rather than a cooking pan is always the way to go.
While your serving dishes should certainly look great together, it's unrealistic to think you can source and keep matching sets long-term. It's best to accept that things break and embrace a mixed-matched look from the start.
Kelly Neely, an interior designer based in Birmingham, Alabama, offers some tips for curating a collection that looks great together. "Find a color palette that mixes well with the decor in your home and focus on filling your party closet with trays, bowls and dishes that can be interchanged without interrupting the overall aesthetic," she says.
She also notes that it is helpful to choose serving dishes in colors and patterns that work year-round, like neutral serving bowls.
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A Large Collection of Utensils and Plates
When preparing for a dinner with guests, consider what you'll be serving each course on and take an inventory to ensure you have enough plates, forks, knives, and spoons to go around.
Neely suggests keeping a healthy supply of salad, dessert, and dinner plateson hand, as well as plenty of utensils so you can relax more during the dinner. "You’ll likely want a plate for appetizers, your main course, and dessert so that you do not have to do any cleaning while guests are there," she says.
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Charcuterie Board Essentials
Having a charcuterie board already set at the table for your guests to graze on while you're finishing up last-minute hosting duties can be a lifesaver. This is why both Neely and Vyas count charcuterie board essentials as tabletop essentials.
"A charcuterie board has become a staple at most gatherings," Neely says. Aside from having a large board as your base, she also recommends stocking up on plenty of small bowls for nuts, jams or honey and an assortment of cheese knives.
Plus, beautiful boards have a dual purpose. "Cheese boards can be a great decor staple to have in the kitchen on display when not in use," Vyas adds.
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Low Vases and Candle Holders
Some flowers and a few candles are all you really need to make a show-stopping centerpiece. You can't have too many taper candle holders or candle votives, and storing some spare vases in an easy-to-access spot is also helpful for those moments when guests bring flowers as a hostess gift.
There's a good chance there are some flower vases already hiding in your cabinets, but take a moment to check the height on them. Sticking to vases under six inches is a good rule of thumb to prevent your centerpieces from blocking conversation and eye contact.
Family Heirlooms
If there's one thing that can really make your table setting stand out while evoking wonderful memories, Samnotra says it is family heirlooms.
And these family heirlooms don't always have to be a super delicate set of plates or tea cups. "In my family, we have a wooden bowl that was hand-whittled by my great, great grandfather on his farm," Samnotra says. "It always has dinner rolls inside that are kept warm with a dish towel folded over the top."
