Did you know?

Table setting today has become such an art; it has been given a new name "Tablescaping." Decorative elements are now being incorporated into your formal table settings that reflect the theme of the occasion and the type of food. It is a practice that has been developing for more than a thousand years - as the history of table setting goes back before the medieval era.

Setting a Table

How to set a table used to be common knowledge, but in today's fast and busy world, knowing how to set a table properly has become somewhat of a party trick. If you've been tasked with hosting a baby shower luncheon, or an informal dinner party, and weren't taught how to set the table as a child, no worries, we've got you covered.

Basic Table Setting

If you're getting things ready for an everyday dinner or a weekend breakfast, you might want to know how to set a table properly. 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

1. Lay the placemat on the table.
2. Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
3. Lay the napkin to the left of the plate.
4. Place the fork on the napkin.
5. To the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate, blade pointing in. Place the spoon to the right of the knife. (Note: The bottoms of the utensils and the plate should all be level.)
6. Place the water glass slightly above the plate, in between the plate and the utensils, about where 1 p.m. would be on a clock face.

Informal Table Setting

Knowing how to set a casual table will come in handy when you're tasked with knowing how to set an informal table for a get-together or a laid-back dinner party. Essentially, the basic table setting, above, and the casual table setting are nearly identical, but in a casual table setting, there is the addition of a soup bowl and a dinner plate. As a general rule, only set out the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you're going to be using. If you're not having a salad course, all you need to set is a dinner fork. If you're only serving a white wine, a red wine glass is not needed. And if there's no soup course, skip the soup bowl and spoon.

Informal Table Setting Instructions

1. Lay the placemat on the table.
2. Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
3. Place the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
4. If you're starting with a soup course, place the soup bowl on top of the salad plate.
5. Lay a napkin to the left of the charger.
6. To the left of the plate, place the fork on the napkin.
7. On the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate and then the spoon.
8. Directly above the knife, place the water glass.
9. To the right and slightly above the water glass, place the wine glass or a glass for another beverage.