18 Fancy Items Your Grandmother Likely Had On Her Dinner Table

While placemaking will never go out of style, some of our ancestors certainly knew how to set a table. From elegant candles to bright baskets filled with fruit, grandmothers around the world have looked for ways to turn mealtimes into moments of beauty. Though intricately woven lace doilies aren't as commonly found on dining room tables today, butter dishes and salt and pepper shakers are here to stay. Even in the hustle and bustle of modern day living, the intentional display of polished silverware and fine china can turn a routine weeknight into a romantic experience.

You may not own antique vases or delicately carved crystal glasses, but let some of the finer tablescapes and retro kitchens of yesteryear serve as inspiration to turn this week's meals into a cozier routine. Your grandmother would agree: Dull dinner tables need to go. It is time to dust off pretty pitchers and look for serving stands at garage sales and antique stores.

A basic place setting can be made to be more welcoming with the gentle addition of linen napkins. When folded carefully and paired with silver utensil, this set up turns mealtime into a refined affair. From matching colors to seasonal themes, looking for patterns to spruce up parties, or bleaching linens to a pristine white, simple pieces of fabric can elevate any dinner and add a touch of elegance to brunch.

Placed under bowls or used as centerpieces, doilies not only protect furniture but add nostalgic whimsy to homes. Knitted or made from intricate lace, these small pieces of cloth can be traced to the 16th century. Nuns taught women to make doilies to sell, and over time, the charming fabrics were regarded as essential pieces of home-making. Doilies might be less common today but still deserve reverence. 

Dishes have kept butter fresh since the 1800s. With antique designs and modern patterns to choose from, you can find the butter dish that complements existing decor and makes a homey addition to kitchen tables. Storing butter in these cute containers not only protects it but holds the ingredient at room temperature. Whether smoothed over baked bread or onto a dinner roll, butter can last for up to a month in a butter dish.

A table filled with your finest dishes can turn a predictable midweek meal into a moment to appreciate, and we know grandmothers around the world would smile at the extra effort put forth. Why wait for a special event to set the table with beautiful plates? Vintage designs and delicate borders bring the glam and romance to the dinner table, no anniversary or occasion required.

Silverware that has been polished to its original sparkling beauty can upgrade any dinner table with a touch of refined elegance. Whether the utensils you own have been passed down from one generation to the next or you found hidden treasures at the local antiques dealer, even a few statement pieces placed onto the table can pay homage to the past while elevating the meal that has yet to be served.

Elegant taper candles add intrigue to any tablescape with little effort on your part. When set into engraved holders or antique candelabras, long candles can contribute to well-lit scenes that would make any grandmother proud. Brass or silver-plated candle holders can be paired with the rest of the table setting, and colored wax candles can be selected to match the season or holiday for an elevated approach to service.

Salt and pepper shakers have been around since the mid-1800s. Antique salt and pepper shakers in sterling silver can sell for several thousand dollars, but the ones gifted by your grandmother offer the kind of sentimental appeal that is priceless. While designs and materials of these cute dining table accouterments may vary, there's no denying the simple appeal that these handheld seasoning containers have when placed onto a dining room table.

A spoonful of sugar can help make meals and drinks more sweet, and what better way to facilitate this than with sugar placed within easy reach. Bowls filled with sugar can elevate morning breakfast spreads and add a special touch to coffee served after a meal. Antique porcelain bowls bring interest to any kitchen table, and modern designs can blend in seamlessly with spreads of hot and cold dishes. 

Most grandmothers know that a warm cup of tea can do wonders. When served out of a beautiful tea pot, pouring a cup of tea becomes both a revered ritual and a cherished pause in the day. Paired with matching mugs and a plate of homemade biscuits, the simple act of serving tea out of a pretty pot can transform a mundane afternoon into a moment of gratitude.

Sure, you can carry plates to the table and make multiple trips to and from the kitchen, but an elegant serving tray can make work more efficient and your table a bit more beautiful. Ornately carved designs or streamlined silver can help cart dishes and collect used plates with the kind of refinement our grandmothers channeled. When not in use, beautiful trays can spruce up spaces and help keep supplies organized. 

Beautiful pitchers and vintage vases are the easy touch that can help build pretty tablescapes and add gentle elegance to your home. Whether you've carried a seasonal bouquet home from the market or plucked fresh blooms straight from your garden, a collection of pitchers and vases can display seasonal buds throughout your home. When not in use, use pitchers to hold utensils and keep organized spoons and ladles within easy reach.  

Not only can a fruit bowl keep your fruit fresh, but the festival display of colorful fruits can brighten a kitchen table and add color to living spaces. Whether set out for easy snacks to grab and eat or used as a quick garnish for warm bowls of oatmeal, slices of cake, or dishes of ice cream, fruit bowls double as an organizational feature and decorating piece inside your home. 

Vertical serving stands aren't just for tea time. Whether you repurpose a silver cake stand for a brunch party or use a tiered piece to present canapés for wine night, these stacked storage options bring elegance to any table. When not entertaining guests, use these leveled pieces to display seasonal fruit, hold wrapped candies and snacks, or move the piece into your home office to organize supplies and knickknacks. 

What can be more inviting than a freshly made pie taken right out of the oven? Even if you have yet to master your grandmother's favorite boozy pie recipe, a beautiful pie dish can be used to plate store-bought treats or serve desserts a friend brought to the dinner party. When not in use, empty pie tins can keep puzzle pieces together or serve cookies and snacks during movie night. 

If you're looking to serve comfort just as your grandmother did, few dishes can rival a casserole dish. Made with your favorite recipes, these sturdy dishes can be carried directly to the table and set onto a pot holder for the kind of meal the whole family can dig into. Casserole dishes can be carried to friends' homes or used as part of Sunday meal prep to batch cook food for the week ahead. 

From delicately cut designs to sturdy geometric shapes, crystal drinkware is the kind of antique pass-me-down that will always hold appeal. Whether you've been gifted with a set of champagne flutes or have managed to preserve a collection of cocktail glasses, these pretty goblets can make drinking feel a bit more elegant. Mixed-and-matched pieces can offer just as much charm as uniform sets, whether you're serving teetotalers or booze-loving friends.  

Though glass bowls are often used to prepare meals, the temptation to carry these see-through containers to the table is strong. Whether used to serve fresh fruit salads or a grilled chicken salad made for lunch, the multi-use of glass containers knows few limits. These transparent basins can be used in and out of the kitchen for various culinary and household chores.

Bread baskets can serve as the ultimate symbol of practiced hospitality. While a fancy bread basket can turn toasted slices of bread into a presentation worthy of a restaurant, this simple addition to a dinner table provides a homey touch. When covered with a linen cloth, freshly baked bread can be kept warm and may make guests feel taken care of.