The Proper Setting of Dinner Tables

When a dinner table is set properly it takes the guesswork out of table manners for your family and guests. Diners who know where to find what they need during the course of their meal feel at ease and will not fear breaking any rules of etiquette. If they know where to find their water glass or the proper fork to use for a main course, they can, instead, focus on socializing with others at the table and enjoy their evening. Setting a proper table, whether formal or informal, requires attention in several areas. Does this Spark an idea?

Linens and Centerpieces

Linens and centerpieces are important elements in a properly set table.

Dress the table properly before adding any of your eating paraphernalia. Choose an attractive tablecloth befitting the occasion. For formal occasions, break out the fine linen. Damask is often chosen for formal dinners. A lace tablecloth is also suitable, lined with a colored cloth that enhances your color scheme. Compatible cloth napkins are also used. The less formal the meal, the more liberties can be taken, and you can choose cheerful patterns and colors and opt for paper napkins and casual place mats. Centerpieces should be selected to set whatever mood you wish to achieve. Candles and flowers make beautiful centerpieces, but should be displayed in a way that lets guests see each other across the table.

Plates

An informal meal is enhanced by colorful dishes.

Underneath the formal dinner plate is a charger plate, which is only a liner plate that is not used for eating. The dinner plate rests on top of the charger plate. Not all plates are on the table at the same time. Soup, salad and fish plates are put in place and removed as the meal progresses. The bread and butter plate is placed at the tip of the forks. For a formal meal, dishes are of fine china. For a casual, family-style meal, the plate ware can consist of a more utilitarian china, glass, melamine and other plastics or ironstone.

Flatware

Forks and knives should be placed properly.

Never fear using the wrong piece of flatware at a formal affair: simply begin at the outside and work your way in. When the table is properly set, the flatware is placed in the order used. Generally, the forks go on the left and the knives and spoons go on the right. A dessert fork can be laid next to the dinner plate on the left, since it will be the last fork used, or it can be placed on a dessert plate above the dinner plate. The dessert knife can be placed similarly on the right of the dinner plate or placed on the dessert plate. For casual dining, the fork goes on the left and the dinner knife and spoon go on the right with the knife closest to the plate and blade facing inward.

Glassware

Know the kinds of glassware and where to place them on the table.

Water goblets are properly placed on the right above the knife area. To the right of the water goblet lies the white wine glass and the red wine glass. If you aren't sure which wine glass is which, just remember that the white wine glass is slightly smaller than the red wine glass. If this is a celebratory occasion, you will find the champagne flute to the right of the red wine glass. A sherry glass may also be included at the outside of the line of glasses. Sometimes these glasses are divided into two rows: upper row will hold the water goblet and wine glasses while the champagne and sherry glasses are arranged below them. For casual service, the beverage glass is place above the knives.