Setting the Perfect Table
Whether you are setting the table for a dinner party with friends or sitting down for nightly dinner with the family, there are tried and true ways to set the perfect table. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, dining etiquette and table settings are a tradition that has a long history with the origins of many dining traditions going back as far as the ancient Greeks. However, traditions that were once frequently practiced and common knowledge in many homes seem to be an art lost in the past.
Check out our quick guide for the three main types of table settings: everyday, casual, and formal.
Everyday Table Setting
What You’ll Need:
Placemat, Napkin, Dinner Plate, Dinner Fork, Dinner Knife, Spoon, Water Glass
Steps:
- Set your placemat
- Place dinner plate in the center of the placemat
- On the left of the plate: napkin with the dinner fork on top
- On the right of the plate: dinner knife closest to the place with the spoon sitting next to it
- Place the water glass at the top right corner of your placemat
Casual Table Setting
What You’ll Need:
Placemat, Napkin, Dinner Place, Salad Plate, Soup Bowl, Dinner Fork, Salad Fork, Dinner Knife, Soup Spoon, Water Glass, Wine Glass
Steps:
- Set your placemat
- Place the dinner plate in the center of the placemat with the salad plate and soup bowl stacked on top
- On the left of the plate: napkin with the dinner fork closest to the plate and salad fork on the outside
- On the right of the plate: dinner knife closest to the place with the spoon sitting on the outside
- Place the water glass at the top right corner of your placemat
- Place the wine glass to the right of the water glass
Formal Table Setting
What You’ll Need:
Tablecloth, Napkin, Charger, Dinner Plate, Salad Plate, Soup Bowl, Bread Plate, Salad Fork, Dinner Fork, Butter Knife, Dinner Knife, Soup Spoon, Dessert Spoon, Water Glass, White Wine Glass, Red Wine Glass, Salt Shaker, Pepper Shaker, Place Card
Steps:
- Lay down your table cloth (be sure to iron it first!)
- Place the charger in the center of the setting with the dinner plate, salad plate, soup bowl, and napkin stacked on top
- On the left of the charger: the dinner fork closest to the plate and salad fork on the outside
- Place the bread plate on the upper left corner of the setting with the butter knife lying horizontally on top
- On the right on the charger: the dinner knife closest to the place with the spoon sitting on the outside
- Place the water glass on the upper right corner of the setting with the red wine glass behind it followed by the white wine glass
- Place the dessert spoon above the charger on the table horizontally
- Place the place card above the desert spoon with the salt shaker to the left and pepper shaker to the right
Make it Your Own!
Some rules are meant to be broken. Although there are traditional ways for setting your table, don’t be afraid to mix it up and see what works best for you! Even in the traditional rules there are some variations. Try our customizable placemats to add a splash of color to your table or mix and match our enamel bowls and other table setting items to add a creative touch to your nightly meal.
For additional resources and diagrams of how to set a table check out Architectural Digest and Real Simple!
This blog post was written by Emma Becker.
