How to Set Up a Tablescape for a Dinner Party

Tablescaping includes practicality along with decoration.

With the right tablescape, a dinner party becomes a visual event. When having guests over for dinner, it is important to offer them a full sensory experience. Along with delicious food and conversation, your guests deserve a decorative, visually appealing table. Fancy table cloths and settings may cost more than some hosts are willing to spend. With a little creativity, a tablescape can come together without breaking the bank.

Things You'll Need

• Tablecloth
• Table liner
• Place mats
• Plates, saucers, bowls and glasses
• Napkins
• Silverware
• Centerpiece

Instructions

1. Cover the table with a table cloth. The color of the cloth may be the focal color for the event or plain white. If you don't have a table cloth, a clean bed sheet, tucked or folded, will substitute.

2. Lay a table runner down the center. This narrow strip of material draws the table focus to the center. Ensure the runner is centered and does not hang off the table longer than the table cloth. The runner should complement or contrast the tablecloth.

   The runner may be left out for more casual affairs.

3. Put a place mat in place for each guest. The color of the place mat should match the runner or complement the table cloth. For more formal dinner parties, use plain or lace place mats. For casual affairs, consider patterned or print mats. If you do not have place mats, cut wrapping paper into place mat size rectangles.

4. Place the service pieces on the place mat. A dinner plate is the basic beginning. A salad or bread plate goes on top of the dinner plate and a soup bowl may top off the stack. Use the dishes appropriate for the meal being served. Place a water or drinking glass near the upper right corner of the dinner plate.

5. Place silverware on each side of the service pieces. Forks go on the left and knives and spoons on the right. Give guests a new utensil for each course. For example, if a dinner includes a salad, a salad fork is placed to the left of the dinner fork. A soup spoon's placement is to the right of the dinner spoon.

6. Top off each place setting with a napkin. For formal occasions, fold a cloth napkin and set it on top of the service pieces. Fancy folded napkins, such as fans or origami shapes, may be placed behind a place setting on the edge of the place mat.

7. Create a centerpiece. Use the colors from the tablecloth or the dining area to make a centerpiece fitting for the occasion. A group of three tall, colorful candles may be appropriate or some flowers cut from a garden in a vase. Be sure the centerpiece isn't too high so guests can see one another across the table.

8. Finish the tablescape with small flowers, petals, bells or other small ornamental pieces. Place the pieces around the centerpiece and down along the runner or across the center of the table.

Tips & Warnings

• If creating on a budget, plan the meal around serving pieces you already have. For example, do not serve soup if you do not have soup spoons.

• Expect spots and stains to occur on tablecloths, place mats and napkins. Do not use irreplaceable heirloom settings for tablescaping.

References

• Entertaining with Friends: Dinner With Friends