What housewife wouldn’t want to show off her culinary skills and a beautifully set table in front of her welcoming guests! But not everyone has attended the school of noble maidens to know the exact location of all the appliances. We are here to help you and fill in the gaps; trust me, setting the table correctly is easier than you think!
If earlier the rules of dining etiquette were elevated to the rank of a cult, today we do not have time to dwell on the aesthetics of food. Clean dishes, an elegant tablecloth and delicious food cost women (yes, even more often women) in terms of time spent. But if there are guests on the doorstep, a family feast is approaching or you simply have a desire, why not surprise your loved ones and friends with the skill of setting the table.
Where to place plates, forks, napkins, knives, glasses? In everyday life, we often act intuitively and rely on convenience. But the rules still exist, and remembering them will not be difficult, especially if you practice a little. Keep to yourself our recommendations that will tell you how to properly set the table before the guests arrive.
Standard table setting
Here we have the most minimalist option for arranging cutlery, which will be useful in the daily routine. To set the table, you will need a cutlery holder, a fork, a knife, a spoon, a plate, a glass of water or juice, and a napkin. So, follow the instructions.
- Place the napkin on the table and place a plate in the middle.
- Place a napkin to the left of the plate and a fork on top.
- Place the knife to the right of the plate with the blade facing inward.
- Place the spoon to the right of the knife.
- Place a glass of water slightly above the plate on the right.
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You can also place a napkin on a plate, but this is done in a more formal setting.
Complete table setting
This option is found in fine restaurants, at formal receptions and at simple weddings. To properly set a table with full service, you need to stock up on more cutlery and dishes than with any other option. At home, this option is often supplemented with only a soup plate and a few cutlery.
There is no need to overload the space with dishes if you are not serving a lot of dishes on the table. No salad? Then a fork is enough. Are you planning to offer white wine to your guests? Then glasses for red are not necessary. And if there is no soup, skip the bowl and soup spoon. If your menu includes steak, prepare your steak knives. We will show you how to set the table with this setting.
- Lay a napkin on the table and place a plate in the middle.
- Place the salad plate on your plate.
- If soup comes first, place a bowl of it on top of the salad bowl.
- Place a fork on the napkin to the left of the plate.
- Place a knife and then a spoon to the right of the plate.
- Place a glass of water directly above the knife.
- To the right and just above the glass of water, place a wine glass or a glass for another beverage.
If you are using individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, place them on the placemat. But if the salt and pepper shakers fit everyone, place them in the center of the table. A large table is roughly divided in half and salt shakers are placed in the middle of each half.
Table setting for a banquet