Learn how to set a table for a casual dinner party, from a simple table setting to an informal table setting, to a formal holiday setting.
How to set a table used to be common knowledge, but learning how to set a table properly has become something of a party trick in today's fast and busy world. We've got you covered if you've been charged with hosting a baby shower luncheon, an informal dinner party, or a major thanksgiving dinner and have not been taught how to set the table as a child, no worries. For three separate scenarios, from informal family meals to a formal holiday feast, here are specific instructions on how to set a table properly. I've included a table setting diagram for each example to make it even simpler, so you can easily imagine where each plate, napkin, fork, and knife should be put.
Basic Setting of Table
You may want to know how to set a table properly if you're having things ready for an ordinary dinner or a weekend brunch. For casual events, one needs just a basic table setting: a placemat, cutlery (fork, knife, and spoon), a dinner plate, a water glass, and a napkin.
Basic Table Setting Instructions
Put the placemat on your table.
Place a plate of dinner in the center of the placemat.
Lay the napkin on the plate to the left.
On the napkin, put the fork.
Place the knife closest to the plate to the right of the plate, blade pointing in. To the right of the knife, put the spoon. (Note: the utensils' bottoms and the plate should all be level.)
Slightly place the water glass above the plate, between the plate and the utensils, about 1 p.m. It will be on the face of a clock.
Tips for Basic Table Setting Etiquette
If you prefer, putting the napkin on top of the plate in a simple table setting is appropriate, although some claim this may produce a more formal atmosphere.
How to Set a Casual Table
When you are faced with knowing how to set an informal table for a get-together or a laid-back dinner party, knowing how to set a casual table would come in handy. Essentially, the simple table setting, above, and the casual table setting are almost similar, but there is the inclusion of a soup bowl and a dinner plate in a casual table setting. Just set out the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you are going to use as a general rule. If you don't have a salad course, all you need to set up is a fork for dinner. If you just serve white wine, there is no need for a red wine bottle. And if the soup course doesn't exist, miss the soup bowl and the spoon.
Instructions on Casual Table Setting
Place the placemat on your table.
Place a plate of dinner in the center of the placemat.
On top of the dinner plate, put the salad plate on top.
Place the soup bowl on top of the salad plate if you're starting with a soup course.
To the left of the charger, put a napkin.
Place the fork on the napkin to the left of the plate.
Place the knife that is nearest to the plate on the right of the plate and then the spoon.
Place the water glass directly above the knife.
Place the wine glass or glass for another drink to the right and slightly above the water glass.
Etiquette Tips for Casual Table Setting
If each guest uses individual salt and pepper shakers, position them at the top of the placemat. Otherwise, place them in the center of the table, or place them in the middle of each end, if a long, rectangular table is used.
How to Set a Formal Dinner Table
Many items are used in a formal table setting: tablecloth, chargers, dinner plates, soup bowls, salad plates, bread plates, napkins, salad forks, dinner forks, knives, soup spoons, butter knives, dessert spoons, glasses of water, glasses of red wine, and glasses of white wine. If you know how to set a casual table, while this might sound daunting, it's a really simple leap to know how to set a table with charger plates.
Formal Dinner Table Setting Instructions
Placed on the table an ironed tablecloth.
Configure a charger for each seat.
Place a soup bowl in the middle of the charger.
Locate the plate of bread on the top left of the charger (between 10 and 11 p.m. on a clock face).
To the left of the charger, put a napkin.
Place the salad fork on the outside on the left side of the charger, and the dinner fork on the inside. Directly on the tablecloth between the napkin and the charger, you can place the forks on the napkin or for roomier settings.
Place the knife closest to the charger on the right of the charger (blade facing inward towards the charger) and then the soup spoon. Note: All vertical flatware (salad fork, dinner fork, knife, and soup spoon) should be equally spaced, approximately half an inch apart from each other, aligning the bottom of each utensil with the bottom of the charger.
Place a butter knife horizontally on top of the bread plate with the handle pointing to the right, the blade facing inwards. (Note: The blade will face inwards towards the plate in all position settings.)
Place a dessert spoon (a teaspoon) directly above the charger, the handle pointing to the right.
Place a water glass directly above the knife. Locate the white wine glass to the right of the water glass and about three-fourths of an inch downward. The red wine glass goes to the right of the white wine glass, just slightly above it. (Note: because people usually drink more water during dinner than wine, the water is kept closer to the restaurant.)
If each guest uses separate salt and pepper shakers, place them above the dessert spoon. Otherwise, place them in the center of the table, or place them in the middle of each end, if a long, rectangular table is used.
Set it above the dessert spoon if a place card is used.
Formal Table Setting Etiquette Tips
A salad plate will take the soup bowl's place after the soup course is complete and the bowls are cleared. A charger usually holds the spot for the dinner plate, and after the salad course, it is removed so that the place is never empty. If, after the soup course, you do not want to clear the table and carry out dinner plates, you can put a dinner plate on top of the charger.