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Add Flavor To Dining Table

(ARA) There's just something about gathering for a meal that invites conversation and evokes laughter.

From dinner parties to family celebrations to even the simplest family meal, the dining table is the heart of the home and redecorating your tabletop can add an inviting flavor and style to dining.

"Dining areas are fun to decorate because you can express something personal about your family," said Robert Zollweg, corporate creative director for Libbey, a tableware producer. "The most important thing to remember when decorating is to make your decor a true reflection of you."

Your tabletop accessories can add personality and pizzazz to your family's own gathering place on a reasonable budget. According to Zollweg, some of today's most popular tabletop themes include:

Seasonal: Each new season brings a wealth of new colors for decorating. Create the ambiance of a beautiful spring day or a crisp fall evening using the colors of the season, along with hand-gathered or silk leaves for decoration.

Patriotic: Never has Old Glory been more inspiring than she is now. Extend your patriotism to the tabletop with red, white and blue accessories, along with flag-inspired dinnerware and glassware.

Classic Gourmet: Create an upscale tabletop with crisp white dinnerware featuring clean lines, coupled with classically designed flatware. Continue the look with a simple fruit bowl as a centerpiece.

Here are other tips and ideas to enhance your dining experience:

Grin and bare it. Many times, beautiful tabletops are hidden under dated tablecloths. If you have a wooden table, consider getting it restored to its natural beauty.
Stack it up. To give your tabletop a modern look, stack all dinnerware to be used during the meal. Stacking largest to smallest -- dinner plate, salad plate and bowl on top -- adds a festive look.
Creative presentations. Consider alternative uses for everyday items to give a new twist to your tabletop. Don't limit your glassware to beverages only. Serve a sweet treat in your favorite goblet, martini or margarita glass. Or arrange several patterned glasses for impromptu vases, creating a simple, yet elegant centerpiece using an assortment of styles and sizes.
Create a fiery ambiance. Decorating and lighting in the dining area play a large role in achieving the ambiance you want for entertaining. Since most of us aren't lucky enough to have a fireplace, create a warm, fiery atmosphere by placing votives and pillar candles around the table, as well as around the room on shelves or other small furniture.
Less is more. If your style is simple, accent your place settings with one focal point at the middle of the table. This could be a large vase of flowers, three-wick candle or hand-crafted centerpiece.
City sophistication. If you love the night-life attitude, add a little drama to your dining room. Black and white accents used in conjunction with bold flatware gives the feeling your décor is straight out of a Parisian restaurant.
Mix and match. Who said all your place settings had to match? If you have a collection of different styles, use them together to create a fun, casual atmosphere.
Accessibility. When rearranging, it's important to be able to bring food in and clear it away easily. Place your furniture so that doorways are free and clear, preventing accidents and making serving and clearing more efficient.
Comfort. For even your most formal meals, family and guests must be comfortable in their surroundings. Many people prefer their dining areas dimly lit to ensure a relaxing atmosphere. Comfortable furniture is also a must, so "test" chairs before buying them, or add decorative cushions to the ones you already own.