How to Set a Dining Table
Whether you are setting a dinner table for a formal or informal meal, each utensil, dish and glass has a specific spot. During a formal dinner, the pieces are arranged at each place setting in the order they are used as the meal proceeds. For less formal settings, you need only set out those pieces appropriate to what you are serving. Dressing a dining table is not complex and you do not need to have expensive pieces to make elegant place settings.
Dress the table. For a formal appearance, lay a tablecloth on the table, place a runner down the center lengthwise, then place table mats for each guest.
Put a dining plate at each place setting. The settings should be an equal distance apart and in front of each chair. The plates should be centered.
Place three forks on the left side of each dinner plate. They should be in the following order from left to right: salad fork, dinner fork and dessert fork.
Arrange three knives on the right side of each dinner plate with blades turned toward the plate. They will be used, from the right, for the salad course, first course and main meal.
Place a soup spoon on the right of each set of knives. Set dessert spoons next to each soup spoon.
Set a soup or salad bowl on each dinner plate. The bowl should be centered. Put a bread plate at the top left side of each dinner plate and place a butter knife on top.
Put a coffee mug at the top right corner of each dinner plate and place a water glass behind it. Place a glass for red wine on the right side of the water glass, followed by a glass for white wine, a glass for sherry and a champagne glass.
Fold napkins and place one on each dinner plate.
Tip:
The placement of the dinner napkin varies. Some hostesses place it under the forks or to the left side of the forks.
Warning:
It's acceptable to use one knife for every part of an informal meal but never put a dirty knife on the placemat, napkin, or table.
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