Your dinner guests will feel comfortable and welcome when you invite them to sit at a beautiful table setting. But how exactly do you lay a table, so the cutlery sits facing in the right direction? And where should you put the glasses? Learn how beautiful place settings can create the ambience for a cosy evening or a great dinner party.
Rules for setting the table properly
If the etiquette and rules of table setting are not your strongest point, you can learn the most important aspects in a jiffy.
Put the plate for the main course, i.e. the largest plate, at the bottom.
On top of that put a smaller plate or bowl for the starter.
Place a napkin between the two plates.
Should you plan an appetizer or bread for your menu, place a side plate to the left.
If you have planned to arrange the food on the plates and only serve when your guests are seated at the table, you can easily do that. Use napkins to mark the individual place settings.
Place the cutlery so that you are sure there is room for it, without it getting in the way of the glasses, which are placed at the end.
Lay the cutlery correctly
The rule of thumb in table setting is that cutlery is always arranged in the order, in which it will be used, starting from the outside and working inwards towards the plate. In other words, the cutlery for the starter should always be on the outside and the cutlery for the main course should be nearest to the plate.
The knife should always sit to the right of the plate, and the blade of the knife should face the plate. However, the rule governing the blade of the knife does not apply to the butter knife on the side plate. In this case the blade should face away from the plate. The dessertspoon, cake fork or cheese knife should be laid above the plate.
Table setting with correctly arranged glasses
Many people wonder how to set glasses on the table. However, the rule for correct place setting is actually quite simple. Start with the glass to be used first and place it furthest to the right, so the guest will work from the outside and in towards the plate. That means the sequence is white wine glass, red wine glass, dessert wine glass. The placement of the water tumbler is entirely up to your personal preference. You can place glasses at an angle or in a straight line. Remember that glasses should be shiny and newly polished.
Decorating the table
Decorations on the table setting should be eye-catching, and fun details help give guests a special experience. The other advantage of place settings with decoration is that it can conceal the inevitable stains that end up on the tablecloth in the course of a dinner. Colours help to lend continuity to the table decoration, but limit yourself to 2-3 colours. Using a single colour is very effective if you complement the decoration with several shades of that same colour.
Table setting ideas using flowers and candles
Flowers add something extra to a table, but be careful that they are not too tall and dominant. A huge bouquet just gets in the way and has to be moved around. Subtle floral decoration in small vases decorates the table without disturbing your guests. Use flowers, candles and other decorations that are in season. For example, you could pick branches and flowers from the garden or find cones, leaves and the likes in the woods.
Candles create a cosy ambience and they are a must for any table setting. Make sure that the candlesticks do not obstruct your guests’ line of vision and their ability to chat across the table.
Tablecloth and napkins
Vinyl tablecloths are very practical for everyday use, but a coated tablecloth or fabric tablecloth can be more suitable for a dinner table setting. Your guests should easily be able to get their legs under the table, so the tablecloth should not be too long. About 20-25 cm of tablecloth at each side of the table is optimal. If you are looking to do something extra, consider a table runner. Use it to ground your tablescape and explore endless colour possibilities. Get more tips on how to choose the right table linen for your dinner table.
Napkins are an important element when laying an attractive table. Paper napkins come in different colours and designs, but for a dinner of several courses you should consider a fabric napkin or an extra-strong paper napkin.
Place cards and space at the table
If place cards are part of your table setting, you can place them above the glasses and a little to the left.
When setting the table you must make sure, your guests have elbowroom, so they can dine without knocking one another’s elbows. Allow at least 60 cm for each guest, or more if you want room for coffee cups in the table setting from the start. Get more tips on dining table sizes in this blog post.
More ideas on how to set a table
There is an abundance of festive occasions, where we like to go that extra mile when it comes to place settings. Check out our blog posts focussed on New year’s eve and Birthdays.
When organizing a dinner party, planning is key. Setting the table can be done well in advance, or even the day before, so there is one thing less to do on the day of the event. Arrange plates, drinking glasses, cutlery, place cards and candles ahead of time, but wait as long as possible with the fresh flowers and vases. Fill tap water in serving carafes and cool it down in the fridge. Arrange salads, cold sauces and the like in decorative bowls. In combination with the table setting ideas in this blog post, preparing well will leave you more time to enjoy your dinner party and entertain your guests.
