Ingredients have been gathered, your feast is cooking-now it's time to set the table. Keep things simple with a pared-down palette and a few pops of color for a festive, modern presentation.

The dishes: White stoneware plates are mainstays of a well-appointed kitchen-they're cool, modern and add an artisanal feel to holiday feasts or weeknight meals. Our picks: Juliska 'Berry and Thread' dinner plates and bowls.

The glasses: For an eclectic drinking mix, serve water in sturdy highballs and pair them with nontraditional wine glasses, like the pretty painted ones below.

Fishs Eddy Floral Italian wine glasses

The linens: Personalized placemats make guests feel extra welcome (and give you strategic control over seating). For napkins and tablecloths, go minimal with plain white or simply patterned styles like our 'Thankful' table runner.

The utensils: While it's fun to mix and match, when you're serving a crowd it's easiest to grab a full set of flatware. This one from Cambridge has a woodsy, handmade look that fits well with our rustic theme.

The serving pieces: Stay with clean white and let your food add the color. Our picks: zestt 'Askew' serving bowls and platters.

Finishing touches: Hang a banner to add to the party atmosphere. For lighting: candles, candles and more candles. Now sit, savor and socialize!

Photography by Matthew Sumi
Copy & styling by Stefanie Frank