Place Setting Ideas

Creative place settings can set the tone for a dinner party, wedding, or family get-together. Keep it as simple or as formal as you wish or as the occasion warrants.

Sparse or Neutral

Using a neutral tablecloth or placemats and simple, unpatterned china lets you show off the food instead of the setting. If your table is made from a beautiful piece of wood or an unusual material you wish to show off, skip the cloth or mats.

Colorful

Use a season, holiday or celebration to dictate a color theme. For example, a table set for a Christmas dinner may have lots of red and green, but a table set for Easter may use pastels. If the birthday boy's favorite color is purple, do what you can to incorporate lavender and plum colors.

Formal

Pull out all the stops and use at each place setting a charger under a dinner plate. You can even top the dinner plate with a bowl if starting with soup or a salad plate if starting with a salad. Your bread plate goes in the upper left corner of the setting, and your glasses (in order of use and size) go on the right. All forks are set on the left side of the charger, whereas the knives and spoons go on the right. And across the top of the setting, right above the charger, place the dessert fork or spoon.

Gifts or Trinkets

Treat each guest with a take-home trinket or gift placed on the center of each dinner plate. Wrapped or not, they are always a welcome surprise.

Napkins

Don't forget the napkins! Whether cloth or paper, napkins are an easy way to add color and pizzazz to a place setting. Fold the napkins into a shape (like a flower or bird) and set them in the middle of each dinner plate; wrap the silverware in napkins; or stuff each glass with a napkin, letting most of it stand up or fall over the side.

References

• Dinner Party Perfect
• Formal Place Setting
• Table Setting Ideas