Hearts and flowers, lace and ribbons – any Valentine’s table setting can mix and match these motifs to great success. Romantic and feminine table settings often feature flowers in soft, pastel tones.

If there is one traditional Valentine flower, it must be the rose. China patterns that feature roses as their primary motif remain exceptionally popular for any occasion.

In the old-fashioned language of flowers, roses have traditional meanings:

• Red for passion and romantic love
• Pink for sincere affection and sweet regard
• White for purity and virtue
• Yellow for friendship and devotion

A rose-theme table setting gives lots of room for mixing and matching china dinnerware. Choose fine china for a Valentine’s Day ladies tea or luncheon, and plan to use your special china patterns.

Look for china in shops and online to add those pieces you need to complete the color scheme and theme, as well as those needed to serve particular food and beverages for the number of guests you will have.

Many vintage dinnerware patterns can be mixed and matched, to give you more texture and color, and to inspire further ideas for creative table settings.

Some fine china patterns with roses in the design include:

• Spring Vista by Lenox
• Bellemead by Noritake
• Promise, Bavarian china
• Sweetheart by Arlen
• Adela by Mikasa
• Romance by Diamond China
• Ice Rose by Wedgwood
• Snow Rose by Amcrest
• American Rose by Camelot
• Tudor Rose by Style House

This list of mostly vintage patterns is only a tiny percentage of the beautiful fine china patterns available that you can play with to enhance your Valentine table setting. Just mix and match your china and enjoy painting with dishes as a creative outlet. And above all, have a wonderful, beautiful time hosting a special holiday event with special friends.