Tabletop: Crowd Control

If you find yourself, year after year, scrambling to assemble enough plates, glasses, napkins for the holiday meal, consider investing in some basics. It's cheaper than renting in the long run, and vastly more appealing than paper plates and napkins.

Above: Set of six Essential White Buffet Plates; $48 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Sold by the case: White Anfora Rolled-Edge China Plates, made of dishwasher-safe vitrified china, are $44.16 per dozen at Cooking.Above: Set of 12 white cotton Hotel Napkins; $42 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: White 100 percent cotton napkins; $23.95 per dozen at the Rag Lady.

Above: Fishs Eddy sells Open Stock Flatware by the piece; starting at $1.99 for a salad fork.

Above: Ikea 365+ Ivrig wine glasses are $1.99 each.