Dinner Table Setting

If you are hosting a formal lunch or a dinner, setting the table in a proper way is the most important prerequisite. You need not have expensive china and silverware to create an attractive and inviting dinner table. Simply, the right setting with the available china and silverware is sufficient. However, the following are the things required to set a table for a sit-down dinner.

Things Required
The following are the things (china and silverware) that are required for formal dinner setting for each person.

• Plates ~ 2 (dinner plate, and bread & butter plate)
• Spoons ~ 3 (teaspoon, soup spoon, dessert spoon)
• Forks ~ 3 (salad fork, dinner fork, dessert or cake fork)
• Knives ~ 2 (dinner knife, bread knife)
• Glasses ~ 3 (water glass, wine glass, liqueur glass)
• Cup and saucer ~ 1
• Napkin ~ 1

How to Set a Dinner Table
Once you have the necessary equipment, you can start setting table for dinner. It is essential to count the number of people before starting the arrangement. Also, if there are more than 3-4 children, it is advisable to set a separate table for them. The following are step-by-step instructions to have a formal dinner table setting.

• It is mandatory to place a tablecloth (usually white) on the formal dinner table. The tablecloth should not reach the ground, but end 1-1.5 foot above the ground.
• Now, arrange all the dinner plates, placing them 1-2 inch from the edge of the table. Remember the silverware is placed on both the sides of the plate and hence, maintain suitable distance between the plates.
• On the right side, place the dinner knife to the immediate right of the dinner plate. Next to the dinner knife, place the teaspoon and then the soup spoon to far right.
• On the left side, place the dessert fork on immediate left of the plate. Then place the dinner fork to the left of dessert fork and then salad fork to the extreme left.
• The soup bowl should be placed on the center of the dinner plate.
• On the top left of the dinner plate, place the bread and butter plate. The bread knife can either be placed over the bread plate or on the right side of the bread-butter plate.
• On the top right of the dinner plate, starting from left place the glasses; starting with the water glass, then the wine glass and then the liqueur glass respectively.
• The napkin can be placed in different styles and places. It can either be folded and placed on the dinner plate or on the left side of the salad fork. Sometimes, it is even placed in the soup bowl.

Proper Dinner Etiquette
Once the formal table is set, it is essential to know and follow proper formal dinner etiquette. One of the simplest thing to remember when using the silverware is to start with the silverware placed on the outermost of the dinner plate, and work your way in as the courses go by. You should not make use of the same silverware for eating dishes from two different courses. For e.g. you should not use the same knife for eating the main course and dessert. At the end of each course and dinner, the used silverware should be placed on the plate and NEVER back on the table. Lastly, if still in confusion, it is best to follow the host.

This information will help you know how to set a table, and also how to use the silverware when having a formal dinner. Once you set the formal table yourself, you will find that it is easy and can be mastered with a bit of practice. Good luck!