Show WOMANS WOMAN'S WORLD Intelligence Artistry Helps I Set Dining Table Attractively By Ertta Haley TF IF just once in your life you 1 have set an nn attractive table you know that you are arc never con con- content content tent to sit down to one which shows no imagination or beauty Even simple everyday meals take on something special when they are served on a well appoint ed table The average homemaker mus musset must set the table many and almost almos countless times during her career caree as the head of her ner household I If it can mean fun for her and en en- enjoyment enjoyment enjoyment for the family then this thi task becomes less of a chore ant antmore and more of a hobby Each womans woman's family deserves her very best and especially in inthe inthe inthe the matter of table setting for they are arc the ones who sit down downto to eat most often Practice your skill every day with every meal even if its it's only a tray lunch for yourself your elf at noon and see how much pleasure there is in table setting Consider your table as carefully as a picture when youre you're setting it Start with a few well chosen items and add to them as your skill and interest increase With simple and even inexpensive accessories a you youcan youcan youcan can create tables that are interest- interest catching as well as important to the pleasure of dining In gathering china glass sil sil- silverware silverware sil- sil silverware and linens for the table have some idea of what you want or some motif in mind so that the items will be related Table ac ac- accessories accessories ac- ac accessories should harmonize with whatever period predominates in your home This does not mean match exactly your furnishings but at least have them the same in spirit and feeling so there is no lack of harmony present Y r fY 4 r i Set Sef every table dramatically Set the Dining Scene Carefully I I It does not matter which room you use for dining part of the kitchen a regular dining room or even the living room The room should be restful in the way its it's decorated and it should be ap ap- appealing appealing ap- ap appealing pealing so as to enhance your din din- dining dining ing pleasure Dining is more than just eating the food you need It is a way of doing ding it graciously It should be pleasant talk and relaxation and complete enjoyment To do this YOU must have a room for dining which helps you in these things If the room for dining is small use ruse just a single color on the thew walls Wall w This makes the room appear ap ap- appear apPear Pear pear larger If you go in for something that has design be certain certain certain tain it creates a n restful feeling rather than one of ness busy or jitters Have only the essential pieces of furniture fun ture in the dining room for when you set the table you add quite a a bit Ho bit to the room and you do not want it to look over fur Small dining rooms should have furniture appropriate in design and size so they do not make the room look overcrowded If you are starting to furnish then by byall byall byall all means get only those pieces f N Nr r and arId give the family your best which you need You can always add more as you get the room as aswell aswell aswell well as the money with which to purchase extra furnishings Keep accessories to a minimum Its It's poor taste to display much of ol your dishes glassware or oi o even silverware Only 0 n 1 y those pieces which are functional and decora decora- decorative decorative decorative tive should be displayed on shelves or glassed cupboards Tastefully Set Tables Use Decorating Principles Just as you decorate a room properly you will set your table These are time-tested time principles and you'll want to apply them for good taste as well as ns good sense For example if you have strong figured dominantly-figured dinnerware i It should have a plain background I Sturdy Table I pr 2 Whether these youngsters play games do clay modeling or col col- coloring coloring col- col coloring oring they need have no fear of harming the he many layered plastic table top that resists heat beverages or scratches Tubular steel legs hold up against vigorous activities A leaf added to this tillS extendable table makes it a dinette set which will serve six people ade ade- Use plain glass with it so the din din- dinnerware dinnerware dinnerware will stand out Or if you have lave ornate glassware combine it with plain dinnerware Two or or- ornate ornate ornate nate things together will give you too oo busy as ns well as too restless an atmosphere Do you have a cloth handed down from grandmother or great grandmother for special occa occa- occasions occasions occasions Display it to best advantage advantage advantage tage by bJ keeping china and glass- glass glassware ware vare simple Let the cloth tell its ts own story and without inter inter- Rich and very heavy silverware should be allowed to stand out in all its beauty set it on an table cloth and md combine with plain or at the most banded dinnerware and plain glass There should be a consistency of quality in everything which you use on your table Though both silverware and china cannot be elaborate in design their quality and craftsmanship can and should match if they're going to be used together or one will show off to disadvantage Take Take a tea table for instance You would not use delicate tea cups and nice silverware with inex inex- inexpensive in inexpensive ex- ex pensive cotton napkins would w o a u l I d you You do not have to be an expert to know that these just would not go together The same holds true of whatever kind of table able you set If you are just starting out and cannot annot afford fine and expensive table able accessories you can still have lave good taste and effective tables ables Those whose budget permits only pottery and textured cotton doilies or cloths will find that the luscious colors and good design can an lend a dramatic touch that is just as a effective in its way as asmore asmore asmore more expensive accessories Build Perfect Settings Piece by Piece In buying glassware you might start tart with a small plate seven or eight ight inches in diameter to use for or both desserts and salads Next choose hoose water tumblers with or without a foot whatever is in keeping with your taste and style of f home stemmed Long-stemmed hand-blown hand cry- cry crystal crystal stal tal is considered formal while low ow stemmed short-stemmed glasses are equally qually good in taste Some of the formal ormal modern patterns have low- low slug lug lines If you cannot buy a great va- va variety variety remember that finger bowls can be used for dessert or for holding small flowers and cigar- cigar cigarettes cigarettes ettes ash trays double as candle candleholders candleholders candleholders holders vases double as book ends When choosing things for dining have lave place settings put together for you using glass silver and china so that you can study the effect In this way you can cor cor- correlate correlate correlate relate table appointments for the sake of harmony You may not always want to use your best glassware and china for forthe forthe forthe the simpler meals but silverware can and should be used as it i gains jains beauty through use Select Breakfast settings that will go with it Decorative Arrangements Need to be Simple You will often like some decora decora- decoration decoration decoration tion for tables be these flowers figurines or a combination These should be low and simple You do donot donot donot not want to detract from the beauty b auty of the other things Flowers should always be real as anything else is an imitation of the real thing and imitation is just not in good taste Few flowers are often better than many and you'll find that birds and figures often make flowers go a long way There is so much available in inthe inthe inthe the decorative line A simple green plant in an attractive tu tu- tureen tureen tu- tu tureen reen bowl arrangements of birds birdson on a n mirror or carved woods or ceramic figures all these can be used effectively |