China Cabinet Essentials & How to Style Them

CHINA CABINET

I recently shared, 5 tips for finding the right furniture piece, you can read about that here. Today I want to take you inside my china cabinet and share with you my dining room essentials and how to style them in your china cabinet.

Eating is essential to living. My philosophy is celebrate that daily task but making everyday meals something special. Building a dish collection that can be used daily, for every occasion AND for entertaining, is crucial.

Here is a basic list of what you will need to fill your china cabinet so you can entertain with ease!

China Cabinet Essentials

1. A set of white dishes {dinner plates, salad plates, bowls}
2. Set of glassware {stemware & tumbler}
3. Set of Silverware {gold and / or silver}
4. Napkin Rings
5. Chargers
6. 3-5 Serving Platters
7. Large Pitcher
8. Cake Plates
9. Votives & Candle Sticks
10. White Napkins

***There is a detailed source list at the end of the post so you can stock your cabinet with my exact essentials.

A set of white dishes is so versatile! They can be dressed up for a fancy meal or dressed down for a casual one. Below are photos of the same dishes styled for different occasions …

Here is another example

Notice the dishes are the same, I simply switched out the silverware and stemware to give each place setting a different feel.

Store your dishes and chargers in your cabinet by stacking them together. Nestle votives together for a charming vignette.  Votives create a lovely ambiance for your guests to dine over. Chargers add a finishing touch to your tabletop.

Arrange smaller plates in large, glass display boxes to keep them dust free and to give height and sparkle to your cabinet.

Store your napkin rings in beautiful canisters.

Stack dessert plates on top of cake plates. Tuck larger serving platters behind dishes, they will take up less room in the back and they will also act as a beautiful backdrop for your other dishes.

Stemware, glasses that stand on a footed base, lend themselves to a more sophisticated table. You will use these anytime you want to dress up your table. A set of tumblers can be used for daily meals or in collaboration with your stemware on a fancy table. They are a basic essential that you can use in countless ways.

Glassware

Group your stemware and glassware together in your china cabinet. This will give you cabinet a clean, organized look.

Your silverware is really the jewel of the table. Gold creates a sparkle that instantly dresses up your place setting.

Silver-plate, stainless and silverware can be used in either a casual or dressy occasion. If your budget only allows you to purchase one, start with a silver – plate or stainless set first. You can invest in a gold set later.

Pitchers serve a couple of purposes, obviously to serve beverages, but they can also double as vases for centerpieces.

Dessert. The final and favorite part of the meal! I believe that everything tastes more delicious when served on a cake plate! That is why I have them in every size! Cake plates can be used to display more than sweet treats. Use them to serve mini quiche, stack pancakes, present a yummy ham, be creative with this china cabinet essential.

Now go stock your china cabinets and set a pretty table! Whether you are serving yourself, your family, an intimate group of friends or the whole neighborhood, if you stock your cabinet with these essentials, you will be ready for any soiree that comes your way!

ROOM SOURCES

DISHES

PAINT

Ralph Lauren’s Edwardian Linen mixed by Dunn Edwards