Table Setting 101
Never underestimate the power of a well-set table.
The difference between eating and dining? It’s all in the table setting. Be it for a holiday celebration or a simple family gathering, a well-thought-out table turns a shared meal into a special event. To help you set a proper stage, we’re sharing our foolproof tabletop formula for get-togethers formal or casual, big or small. And remember: Rules are made to be bent, so feel free to skip the salad fork if that makes sense for your menu (or your crowd).
Set down your base layers.
Start with a placemat or charger (but never both—choose one or the other). And remember: A charger is purely decorative—it’s there to add texture or a pop of pattern to the table, not to hold food. Stack an entree plate on top, followed by a salad plate or soup bowl.
Work from the outside in.
Flatware is placed so that the outermost pieces are used first, and diners work their way toward the middle as the meal progresses. Knives and spoons go on the right side of the plate, with the smallest spoon on the outside and the knife (blade facing in) closest to the center. Forks go on the left, with the salad fork outside and the dinner fork by the plate. Whether you’re serving water, bubbly, wine, or all three, place the glassware on the top right side of the plate; the first beverage to be served should be the rightmost glass.
Add the finishing touches.
Drape a cloth napkin, folded or in a napkin ring, on top of your salad plate. Place a votive nearby for soft lighting, or to achieve a more dramatic feel, try tall tapers in a candelabra.
