Prepare for formal occasions by inviting some design-forward finery into your dining room.

Serve soup from it, or use Seletti's "Battistero" tea set for its original purpose after supper. The porcelain representation of Florence's Battistero di San Giovanni includes six mugs, a large lidded jar, and a tray (thefutureperfect.com).

Slip a few flowers into the hand-blown LSA "Helene" vase for a colorful centerpiece (gretelhome.com).

Match's "Convivio" pewter-rimmed ceramic version is gorgeous and dishwasher friendly (tabulatua.com).

The Officina Alessi "Il Conico" functions as a water heater, and it's pretty enough to bring right to the table (allmodern.com).

Impress your in-laws with Arte Italica's "Vetro Gold" delicate glass creations. They're hand-etched and painted with 24-karat gold (arteitalica.com).

Cutlery should be low maintenance but high quality, like Michael C. Fina's "Grecian" stainless flatware (michaelcfina.com).

Pair classic bone china, like Mikasa's "Simplicity Gold" bone china dinnerware (bedbathandbeyond.com) with patterned sidekicks.

A side plate like Herend's "Fish Scale Green" dessert plate (herendusa.com) brings extra interest to a place setting of classic plain china.

Mix a small plate like Herend's "Rothschild Garden" bread plate with coordinating plates and a goes-with-everything bone-china basic.

Varga Crystal's "Simplicity Amber" water glass will become an heirloom (lcrcollection.com).

Here's to many bubbly toasts that call for Baccarat's elegant "Mille Nuits Flutissimo" full-lead-crystal flutes (baccarat.com).

Interlocking rings in Georg Jensen's "Season" candleholder offer instant ambience (georgjensenstore.com via myregistry.com).

Drugstore candies will look like haute bonbons when nestled in mouth-blown "Tessa," "Berry," and "Graham" Revere bowls by Juliska (bloomingdales.com).

For an instant centerpiece, just add fruit to Moser's crystal "Serena" bowl (manorhg.com).

Intended for everyday use, Villeroy & Boch "My Garden" bowls have fluted edges that make them seem special (macys.com).

This collection of top-shelf items will make you a mixologist -- and turn any tabletop into a bona fide bar.

Thumb through "The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks" to master dozens of libations in no time (amazon.com).

Martha Stewart Collection's 7-piece barware set has everything you need, including a shaker, strainer, and corkscrew (macys.com).

CB2's "Neo" comes in high-gloss white with a pair of shiny chrome handles (cb2.com).

Crafted from crystal, "Lume" by John Rocha at Waterford is worthy of the good stuff (macys.com).

LSA's "Anton" decanter brings a dose of speakeasy style to your liquor cabinet (lekkerhome.com).

William Yeoward Crystal's "Fern" highball and double old-fashioned crystal glasses can handle generous pours (bloomingdales.com).

Diane von Furstenberg Home's asymmetrical "Brushstroke" dessert plates are just the right size for holding (bloomingdales.com).

Lobmeyr's "Ambassador" is shaped from the company's signature "muslin" glass, blown so thin it's named after the fine linen (kneenandco.com).

Subtle crackling lends "Kita" dinnerware's minimalist black-and-white design a warm, homemade appeal (crateandbarrel.com).

Playful "Chat" plates are literal conversation pieces (momastore.org).

Varying shades of oceanic blue on the bottom of LSA's "Coro" tumblers help party guests distinguish their drinks (lekkerhome.com).

The easy-to-grasp knife in Dansk's wood "Vivianna" cutting board set can tackle everything from Camembert to cheddar (macys.com).

A sizzling patio party requires just warm weather, friends, and this roundup of smart accessories.

Infinita Corporation's teak platter comes with a cool extra: a folding stand for those times you need another serving table (allmodern.com).

With sturdy wooden handles, Grillfinity's quality basting brush, spatula, and tongs are built to last (amazon.com).

Affordable, virtually unbreakable, and dishwasher safe, Thomas Paul's "Portland" melamine dinner plates don't skimp on personality (velocityartanddesign.com).

Sangria and lemonade never tasted better than when poured from LSA's "Basis" glass vessel (lekkerhome.com).

Core Bamboo's bowl and servers are stylish and sustainable (corebamboo.com via MyRegistry.com).

Woven from vinyl, Chilewich's oval mini basket-weave mats provide a color-saturated backdrop for plates and wipe clean in a flash (designpublic.com).

The cork and porcelain Normann Copenhagen "58 degrees N" salt and pepper set sees the world in black and white (2modern.com).

Help prevent dropped drinks -- the ultimate party foul -- with Design House Stockholm's "Timo" glasses, outfitted with silicone spirals for a grip that won't slip (momastore.org).

The curved wood handles on Jayson Home & Garden's stainless steel servers are designed to perch on the edge of a large bowl (jaysonhomeandgarden.com).

Personalize your table with a quad of melamine plates bearing artist Marco Cibola's "The Middletons" geometric sketches (poketo.com via myregistry.com).

Hans Thyge and Akiko Kuwahata's steel petanque set is housed in a handsome, easy-to-transport teak box (dwr.com).

Monogrammed DuraClear stemless red wineglasses made from durable polycarbonate have preppy charm (williams-sonoma.com).

Faux bois washable placemats by Chilewich work indoors or out (designpublic.com).