How to Set a Table Properly

A rightly set table is the best way to honor the guests at dinner. It is the most basic table manner. Following proper table setting etiquette is an essential part of a formal or casual dinner. It gives a beautiful touch to the dining room and the food served as well. Right from the classy tableware till the beautiful tablecloth each major and minor thing needs to be considered to make it an ideal dinner. Here's how to set a table properly and give it that sophisticated and classy touch to dinner.

How to Set a Table Properly: Things To Consider

Basic Setting
Start basic settings with a tablecloth. A plain tablecloth looks elegant and goes well with a decorative table runner and place mats. You can also opt for a patterned tablecloth but don't go for an overtly jazzy one. Make sure that tablecloth, table runner and place mats go well with each other. Covering only the mid section of the table, a table runner can jazz up a simple tablecloth. Now place the place mats according to the number of invitees and the sitting arrangement. You can opt for decent looking jute place mats that will look great on any tablecloth. Choose a lovely and attractive centerpiece for enhancing the table decorations.

Elegant Tableware
Well, if you are wondering how to set a table properly, first opt for the right pieces of tableware. These are going to be the prime elements of the dinner and the dining table as well. Uniformity in tableware is a must. You can opt for silver or glassware or a combination of both. Proper table setting for formal dinner can be complete with the use of sterling silver flatware. The following things need to be arranged on the table. Napkin, charger plates, dinner plates, bowls, dinner fork, salad fork, cocktail fork, bread and butter plate with spreader, dinner knife, large spoon, soup spoon, water glass, cocktail glass. Napkins complementing the tablecloth, will look perfect. Let us start with the placement and learn how to set a table properly for each guest.

Right Placement
Start the elegant table setting procedure with the plates. Make sure you place a dinner plate on your table in front of the chair. Also make sure that there is enough space between two chairs hence, two plates, so that each one can comfortably have their dinner and all the tableware can fit properly besides each plate. Starting with the plates, first place the decorative charger plate, the larger dinner plate will go over it, the smaller dish will go over this one and a bowl over the smaller plate. Now place a dinner fork closest to the plate, on the left side. Place the salad fork beside it. Place the napkin to left of the forks. You can opt for different styles of folding the napkins. Place the dinner knife closest to the plate on the right side. Next place the larger spoon and then the soup spoon. The rule is that forks go on the left and knives and spoons go to the right. Cocktail fork is an exception, it will be placed on the extreme right side. The fork handles will point to the left and the spoon handles will point right. Also the knife blade will face the plate. The bread plate can be placed to the left of the forks or just in front of them. Place the butter spreader in front of the plate, horizontally. The glasses will go in front of the knives with the water glass closest to the plate. the wine glasses will stand on the right of the water glasses.

Now that you know how to set a table properly, I am sure you are to eager try it out. Why wait for the guests, just have an amazing dinner today with your own family!