Setting the table is something most of us have been doing since we were children. It’s usually one of the first chores your parents give you at home, because it’s such an easy job, right?
Well, as we grow up and start hosting dinner parties in our own homes, setting the table properly can be one of the most confusing and exhausting tasks there is.
There seem to be endless combinations when it comes to setting the table, and no one can quite decide on the right way.
Unless you’re the Queen of England, the likelihood of someone calling you out for putting your soup spoon on the wrong side of your plate is minimal.
However, it’s good to know that you’re willing to put in the effort to set the table properly. That’s something your guests will appreciate.
To help you with table setting, we’ve put together this helpful guide on the best ways to set the table for every occasion.
How do you set a table for a dinner party? (Casual setting)
Let’s start with the least daunting of all dinner party settings: casual table setting. If you’re hosting a dinner party at home, you don’t need to go overboard with how you set the table.
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However, if you set it right, you’ll pleasantly surprise your guests.
Here’s a simple guide to setting your casual dinner table:
1. First, place the tablecloth and placemats on the table.
2. Place your plate on the tablecloth as centered as possible. If you’re serving a salad, place a smaller salad plate on top of your main plate, again as centered as possible.
3. Now it’s time for the cutlery. Place your fork to the left of your plate and your knife to the right. If you’re serving a salad, place a smaller fork inside the larger fork. Finally, place your spoon to the right of your knife.
4. Regardless of what your guests drink, make sure you always have a water glass. This glass should be placed in the upper right corner, just above the knife.
5. Alongside your water glass, include wine glasses as well. Position them neatly to the right of the water glass for a balanced and elegant setting.
6. Finally, place your napkin. Its positioning is up to you; you can place it on top of the plates or under the forks.
How do you set a table for a formal dinner?
A formal table setting is a much bigger feat than setting the table for a casual dinner party, but it’s easy if you know how.
Setting the table for a formal dinner party involves many different steps, as each dish must be presented in a specific way, it’s a special occasion, after all.
Although it’s overwhelming, we’ll tell you how to set the table for a formal dinner party.
Initial placement
The initial setting is not that different from a casual dinner party, it simply involves more elements to accommodate the additional dishes that are likely to be served.
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1. First, place the tablecloth and placemats.
2. Next, place a napkin, which has been elegantly placed in a napkin ring on top of the placemat.
3. Now, the cutlery. On the left, you will have a dinner fork placed next to the placemat. Inside this fork
should be a salad fork, and on the outside should be a fish fork. On the right, you should have a fish knife in the middle, with the dinner knife inside and the soup spoon on the outside.
Finally, placed on top of the placemat, should be a dessert fork, and above that, a dessert spoon.
4. Instead of a salad plate, at this point in the dinner, we have a bread plate. The bread plate should be placed in the upper left corner, above the forks. A butter knife should be placed directly above the bread plate.
5. Finally, you need to take care of the placement of the drinks. Since this is a formal dinner, you should have room for a water glass, a white wine glass, and a red wine glass.
They should all be in the top right corner, above the forks, with the wine glasses on the outside and the water glass on the inside.
Bowl of soup
Now that the initial work is done, not much needs to be done for the soup plate. Simply add a soup bowl to the set. The soup bowl is placed on top of the placemat, in the center.
Once this plate is finished, the soup plate is removed along with the soup spoon.
Fish dish
Similar to the soup plate, there isn’t much to change for the fish plate. Everything else stays the same; you just need to add a plate.
This plate should be medium-sized and again should be placed in the center of the placemat.
Main course
As the main course is served, most of the earlier cutlery will be cleared away, leaving only the essentials; your dinner knife and fork, along with the salad and dessert forks.
The only thing left to do is add the large plate on top of the placemat.
Salad
This is when the table starts to look empty compared to the beginning of the dinner. The only thing you should add this time is a medium-sized plate for the salad.
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Dessert
We’ve reached our final course, dessert. Now, all that’s left is the dessert plate, dessert forks, and a water glass.
However, at this point, we need to add a small plate and a teacup to the right side of the plate. And that’s the end of dinner.
How to place cutlery on a table?
We’ve explained how to place cutlery on the table, but there are some nuances to keep in mind. We want the dinner table layout to be as precise as possible.
Bread knife
We’ve already mentioned that the butter knife goes directly on top of the bread plate, but to be truly precise, we should position the knife handle to the right so it’s easy to grasp.
Dessert fork and spoon
If you find yourself running out of space with your complex table settings, an ingenious and sophisticated way to save space is with dessert cutlery.
You can stack them in opposite directions, with the fork handle on the left and the spoon handle on the right. You’ve probably seen it before.
Main utensils
The placement of the main utensils is simple and traditional; forks belong on the left side of the plate, while knives and spoons are arranged on the right.
What we need to keep in mind here is that knives should always have their blades facing inward.
How to decorate the table for a dinner party
Now that you’ve got the formalities under control, you can start thinking about the fun part of preparing a dinner party: the decorations.
Decorating the dinner table can really elevate the experience and wow your guests, so let’s go over some ideas to make your table look fabulous:
The tablecloth
A beautiful tablecloth is a simple way to decorate your table. The options here are endless, from bright textured prints to minimalist patterned details.
Be sure to choose a tablecloth that represents a bit of your personality and suits your home.
Table runners
Table runners are not only beautiful but also practical and can act as a heat shield, running down the center of the table.
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Select a color or pattern that either complements your tablecloth or provides a pleasing contrast, either way, your table will look stunning.
Exotic ceramics
Using unusual plates, bowls, and glasses is a great idea and can add a unique touch to the table. Something as simple as brightly colored ceramic plates that add a pop of color can really lift the mood of the space.
Similarly, pottery in muted earth tones creates a more relaxed, bohemian vibe. The best part is that you probably have a beautiful pottery kit tucked away in a closet at home.
Candles
Candles work well with any centerpiece and help liven up the dinner atmosphere. You can play with different candle sizes and scents. The options are endless.
Flowers
Flowers are probably the most traditional table decoration. Whether you fill the center of the table with huge bouquets or opt for a few simple blooms, they’ll be a great addition to your table.
How to arrange seating at a dinner party
All this dinner work is useless if the conversation doesn’t flow, there’s no laughter, and the atmosphere is dull. A great way to avoid this is to create a seating plan that’s sure to liven up the party.
You know your guests best and will know exactly where to seat each person, but here are some ideas if you want to mix things up a bit.
Head of the table
It’s customary for hosts to sit at the head of the table, this is their home, after all so it’s a good rule of thumb. This allows you to have an overview of the dinner.
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Plus, if you’re a couple, it means there’ll be someone at each end who knows everyone around them, even if they don’t know each other, allowing you to make introductions and keep the conversation flowing.
Couples
Don’t feel pressured to seat couples next to each other. By splitting them up, you’re taking them out of their comfort zone and encouraging them to start unlikely and entertaining conversations with other people.
Personalities
Always consider your guests’ personalities. Use your common sense and don’t seat people with opposing opinions next to each other, and obviously, don’t put together people you know don’t get along with.
The idea is to create the most relaxed and harmonious combinations possible. Good luck!
Place cards
Once you’ve decided on the seating plan, creating place cards is a brilliant way to organize everything.
Instead of having to tell each person where to sit and all the awkwardness that entails, place cards set the tone and direct people where they should sit.
You can have a little fun with this by including a joke or personalized message on each card.
