Setting the dinner table with a special set of china is a holiday tradition for many families. Showcasing classic patterns and intricate details, these delicate dishes are often passed down through generations and admired as treasured heirlooms. But what if your grandmother's favorite tableware isn't quite your style? The right mix of accessories is key to giving old dishes a new look. To start, identify the colors and motifs portrayed on your china, then select chargers, napkins, glassware, and more that complement and balance those designs.

With help from Replacements, Ltd. (a retailer that sells current and vintage tableware), we identified some of the most popular pattern styles, including transferware, florals, and ornate rims, and compiled a set of accessories for each. Use these easy place setting ideas to update vintage china with a fresh look.

Botanical china patterns (like Spode's Buttercup) tend to have a formal feel. To lighten the look, pair your set with botanical-print linens and touches of natural wood. Here, hints of gold and a mustard-yellow nod to the painted buttercups, while blue elements temper this summery pattern for fall. For an easy styling trick that ties it all together, use your set's platter as the base for a centerpiece.

Delicate floral motifs rendered in dark blue and gold create an elegant backdrop.

Ground each place setting with a natural wood charger.

Contrast the blue accents with napkins in a warm mustard yellow.

Leaf-shaped napkin rings reinforce the botanical motif. 

Blue-tinted glass salad plates add a hint of color without hiding the china pattern beneath.

A gold finish picks up the touches of yellow throughout the tablescape, while wood handles tie in with the natural theme.

Related: How to Store China to Protect Your Treasured Pieces

The transferware technique involves printing china patterns rather than individually hand-painting them, which was time-consuming and expensive. Initially engraved into copper plates, these elaborate designs were transferred onto paper using ink, then applied to the dish's surface. Often featuring a single color against a white background, transferware can be highly ornate, showcasing romantic scenes of animals, architecture, florals, and more. To make a classic transferware pattern (like this Asiatic Pheasant Brown dinner plate by Royal Stafford) feel more down-to-earth, opt for on-trend speckled ceramics and metallic bark-patterned napkins. Contemporary glassware and repeating gold accents keep the look elevated.

Gilded herb cuttings are like statement jewelry for your napkins.

Brown speckles echo the color in the transferware.

A metallic faux bois pattern amps up the autumnal feel.

Smoky stemware mimics the deep color of the china, but its sleek lines offer a touch of mod

Many floral china patterns combine a variety of vibrant colors and intricately painted details against a white background. Balance busy designs like this one (Haddon Hall from Minton) by playing up a single color in the pattern and repeating it in varying shades on the table. Orange features heavily in this design, for example, so we chose it for our accent color. An overtly modern piece (say, an abstract salad plate) in the mix transforms the entire setting and keeps it from feeling too old-fashioned.

The gold rim and warm hue make this stemless wineglass special.

The bubble shape creates an element of surprise

Big hits of gold add big drama.

A playful place mat helps keep this table from feeling stuffy.

To update plates with a bold, ornate rim (like Style 3244 from Rosenthal-Continental), pair them with a tablecloth that also has big personality, but in a contrasting style. Here, a loose overall floral fabric echoes the china's color but tones down its formality. Keep the rest of the elements simple so they don't fight for the spotlight.

Casual tasseled edges bring texture to the table.

Gold flatware plays up the filigree detailing.

Gold bands draw attention to the rim; creamy white warms the setting.

Realistic painterly florals could take the place of a centerpiece.

Dainty patterns with intricate scrolling or line work can easily get lost on a large table. Call attention to delicate designs like this one (Royal Copenhagen's Blue Fluted Plain) by sticking to pieces in the same colors. Avoid placing salad plates or napkins on top of the dinner plates where they'll hide the pattern.

A bold charger in the same palette gives the china more presence.

A simple embroidered edge won't overpower the china pattern.

Mix one or two of these with a collection of brass or glass taper holders.

Slim flatware with a rose gold hue balances all the cool tones.