“Entertaining can be stressful, especially when you don’t have the right things,” explains Ruth Runberg of R. Runberg Curiosities. “But when you have enough supplies in your arsenal, you can have fun playing with combinations of colors, textures, and patterns, and create a beautiful table and a memorable experience for your guests.”
Runberg’s well-stocked arsenal of entertaining supplies includes her varied collections of linens, china, silver, and glassware. Her etched brass chargers were a souvenir from a trip to Morocco. Her sterling-silver flatware, in a pattern she chose at age thirteen, was gifted to her pieceby-piece by her aunts. And her colorful glass tumblers were mouthblown by an artisan on the island of Murano in Venice.
So where does Runberg begin when setting her table for a special occasion? “Start with something you love and build on that,” she advises. Her holiday table was inspired by a Gregory Parkinson block-printed textile. “I love the rich colors and thought they would 
complement my dining-room walls,” she says. The textile wasn’t quite large enough to cover the table, so Runberg folded it into a runner and layered it on top of a floral tablecloth with compatible hues.
Runberg started experimenting with the table setting a week before her gathering, swapping out plates, goblets, and vases to visualize what would work best. Favoring an eclectic mix, she typically includes unexpected items such as figurines or shells.
“Not everything on your table has to be formal or fancy or even table-related,” Runberg shares. “Sometimes I turn a seashell upside down and use it as a salt cellar.” Runberg always adds fresh flowers to her table and throughout her home when entertaining. “The chicest entertainers use flowers from their yards, even if you just clip some pretty branches or greenery or herbs,” she says.
Runberg emphasizes that the most beautiful table settings are the most authentic. “Once you determine what you innately love and are drawn to, selecting items you will treasure and use forever will come naturally and make your table feel complete.”