The New York Times - Set the table beautifully

A table with linens folded on top of it. There are also plates, forks, and flowers on the table.

Photo: Michael Hession

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or any other sort of dinner party this holiday season, you know that half of the work rests with the food—but the other half lies in making sure it all looks lovely.

A few small tweaks can go a long way. Tapered candles can provide warm, ambient lighting. Crisp, clean linens can add elegance to a folding table. And a beautiful wooden cutting board can double as a sophisticated platter for your charcuterie board.

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Whatever festivities are on the horizon for you, we’ve got recommendations for everything you need to host well.

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30(ish) Wirecutter-approved dinner party essentials→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

More for the table

Six sets of flatware on towels of varying color.

The best flatware

After handling over 300 forks, knives, and spoons over the years, we have favorites in a variety of styles: modern, retro, classic, and formal.

A stack of three plates: a large yellow plate, a medium-sized green plate, and a small blue plate, next to a dark blue mug, a narrow light blue mug, and a small yellow bowl inside a medium-sized green bowl.

The best dinnerware sets

Whether you prefer porcelain, stoneware, or bone china, we’ve done the legwork of finding some great sets.

The best drinking glasses

Our top pick—a timeless bistro-style glass that’s durable and lightweight—can really pull the table together.

Cheers! Our favorite wine glasses are dishwasher safe.

A video showing two people cheersing wine glasses.

Video: Michael Murtaugh

Proper glassware is more than just a flourish for your dining table. The right glass changes how you smell and taste wine. We’ve sipped out of nearly 100 brand-concealed glasses since 2014 to find this inexpensive yet elegant winner.

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The best wine glasses→

Plus: A beautiful centerpiece

A slice of Ombré Gratin, placed on a dish.

Photo: Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

This ombré gratin looks as good as it tastes. From NYT Cooking: “This stunning vegetarian Thanksgiving main dish belongs at the center of any table. Beneath a crispy, wispy golden crust of store-bought phyllo lies a gratin with layers of creamy autumnal vegetables in a colorful ombré pattern.”

You’ll need a 13-by-9 casserole dish to make this—ideally one that’s good-looking enough to go straight from the oven to the table.

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Our favorite casserole dish would work beautifully→

For more delicious Thanksgiving recipes, sign up for NYT Cooking’s newsletter.

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