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| Follow these simple tips to set the perfect table: |
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- Get Out the Good China
Unless you entertain constantly, every occasion is a special one. Your china is there to be used!
- Consider your Courses
If you're serving a first course, like salad or soup, you might like to set the table with chargers - large, decorative plates. If your food is being plated and served, you don't want them placed on the table empty so the chargers complete the table. If you're serving food family style, then you can place the soup or salad dishes directly on the chargers. When those plates are cleared, then the chargers stay in place. Dinner plates can be under the salad/soup dish or placed on the charger after removal of the first course.
- Mix and Match
If your china is a simple design or simply white, feel free to mix things up. You can mix with blue and white pieces or Mexican earthenware, Chinese accents or any number of options.
Unless you're setting the stage for a very formal dinner, you're not tied to strictly white linens. Bring in some color! Placemats accomplish this perfectly so have fun with colors, patterns, and materials.
If bread plates, water glasses and wine glasses are provided, they should be placed above and to the right of the main plate and, again, don't be afraid to mix and match.
- Utensil Essentials
The basics: forks go on the left, and spoons and knives go on the right, knife on the inside. The knife blade should face the plate. Each piece should be in the order you're going to use them. For example, on the left: appetizer fork, then salad fork, then dinner fork; on the right: soup spoon, then teaspoon. Dessert spoons or forks should be placed horizontally above each plate if dessert is going to be served at the same table.
- Napkins
Napkins should be placed on the plate - never under the silverware. If folded in a simple square, the "pages" of the folded napkin book should face right and its bound corner should be left and top.
Napkin Origami >
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