Table settings are a common household subject. Undoubtedly each and every one of us has some degree of experience, good or bad, with setting a table. Table setting are often reflective of the cooks or hosts taste and what kind of decor they prefer. Setting a proper table takes a lot of skill and thought. The decor of the home can set the tone, the kind of food, the type of occasion and number of guests can affect the overall design and setting of a table. Protocol and etiquette rules play a role in the arrangement of tables as well, but sometimes rules are meant to be broken, especially if in search of a good time.

The most memorable evenings are those in which everyone around the table is engaged in conversation with their neighbors and laughter the sure tell sign of your guests having a good time. Great hosts are known for mixing their guests to create interaction with those you may not know. A strange fact is that at a dinner party one will enjoy the conversation of a stranger more than that of their habitual partner, therefore it is more than ok to split couples in a seating arrangement. The same holds true for dishes and how we adorn the tops of our tables.

As is true with most things, a good foundation is important. A great table setting may start with a beautiful linen or damask tablecloth or individual place mats. Atop that usually a charger is placed which creates a frame for your dishes. Chargers can be made of almost any material from sterling silver to mother of pearl, colored glass and even wood.

Old school rules advise to use a fine set of china for setting your table, but why not mix it up a bit. One wouldn't dress in the same color from head to toes, unless you are the reigning Queen of England, but you are not! It is fine to mix and match your dishes provided they are made from the same material. One could mix bone china with bone china, porcelain and porcelain, and ceramic with ceramic. The idea is to keep like materials together to avoid chips and scratches from different surfaces.

Mixing patterns can provide endless fun and creativity. While combining contrasting colors and patterns can give your table great interest, the combination of subtle colors and demure details can make for a chic and elegant presentation. You may also mix the color and patterns of your tablecloth and napkins as long as they complement each other. If you are adventurous and talented, yes, you can even mix polka dots and plaid.

Your selection of stemware and glasses are another opportunity for design. The alignment of glasses and goblets will be determined by the type of glassware and number of beverages served. Because glasses are vertical in proportion, they will stand out and give the table setting dimensionality.

Great table settings are never complete without a good dosage of floral arrangements, vases and even some objet d'art just for visual entertainment. Make sure your dinner table or banquet is creative, fun, and even a bit offbeat. As Auntie Mame would say: Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.