How to Design a Dinner Table

When you entertain or host family holiday celebrations, you pay a great deal of attention to the way you set your table. But how prepared would you be for the boss to arrive for a surprise dinner? How much thought do you give to everyday meals? If you collect with a plan and keep a few simple concepts in mind, you can design a dinner table that looks perfectly lovely and appropriate for every situation.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Linens
• China
• Stoneware
• Silver
• Flatware
• Serving pieces

1. 
   Collect formal, informal and seasonal linens.

   Take stock of what you have and determine the elements, or parts, of your design You probably have sets of "good china" and everyday stoneware. Get a couple of pieces of each out and spread out the linens you have. If your good china is an Imari or brightly patterned china, you should have several tablecloths in a plain color that picks up a color in the dish. If your good china is a fine or pastel pattern, stick with white, ecru and lace, picking up the ground color of the china on the cloth or details in the embroidery on cutwork. Have tablecloths in sizes to fit your table at its smallest size and with extension leaves. As for napkins, white or ecru napkins are generally used for more formal settings. Always use a plain-colored napkin with a patterned cloth if you don't have matching napkins. Find lively no-iron linens for informal use. Formal table linens should have an 8- to 10-inch "drop" over the edge of the table on all sides, informal linens about 4 inches.

2. 
   Put lights on your table, not just over it, to focus on the dinner.

   Decide on your table lights. You may have received silver or crystal candelabra or candlesticks as gifts or heirlooms. Match your lights to the space they'll fill. Candles should stand one and a half to two times the height of their base. Silver candelabra only fit the scale of large (102 to 120-inch) tables but can be used to dramatic effect on sideboards and buffets. Brass and crystal are adaptable to formal or informal tables. Use white candles for very formal tables and colored candles for informal or seasonal tables. Crystal hurricanes and glass-shaded candles can be used for either late-night formal or very informal summer night suppers. Buy a box of white or ivory candles to have on hand, and buy a box of colors to match each set of dishes you own.

3. 
   A good selection of flatware allows you to dress up or down.

   You should have a set of matching stainless flatware and perhaps a set of silver or silver-plate flatware. If not, start collecting or hinting. A good set of stainless can be used in a formal setting if it's a classic pattern that is in harmony with your china. Antique silver serving pieces add charm to dinner parties and meaning to family holiday tables.

4. 
   Specialty dishes add interest and a theme to your design.

   Special dishes or accent pieces can be used to spruce up a seasonal table. Place mats establish an informal setting, but these seasonal dishes can be dressed up with the right linen, flatware and glassware.

5. 
   Water glasses and after-dinner glasses flank basic wine stems.

   Choose glasses for your table to complement your dishes. If you can't afford matching crystal, start off with plain, good-quality glasses that mirror the color or design of your dishes. Collect pressed or cut-glass water goblets at flea markets; find dramatic, inexpensive glassware to complement the style of dishes. In addition to water glasses or goblets, you'll need a set of general-purpose wine glasses. Globe-shaped wine stems are dramatic for red wine, and tall, narrow stems are traditional for champagne or other sparkling wines.

6. 
   This brilliant Imari needs no tablecloth to look elegant.

   Once you have all the parts, balance your design. Only one item--linens, dishes, silver--can be the star. Everything else needs to look right with the style-setting element. If you want to match everything, that's fine, but the days of rigid rules about using matching patterns of everything have gone the way of the furniture suite. The point is now, as it was in great grandmother's day, to collect heirlooms or things you love as you go along and use them together to set a harmonious table that welcomes your guests and reflects your personality as well as the occasion.

7. 
   The flowers on the left are too tall for the table--better for the sideboard or buffet.

   Finish your design with a centerpiece that may or may not be removed for dinner and returned for dessert, depending on the size of your table. Build it lower than the eye level of your seated guests. If you are using candlesticks or candlabra, the candles should start higher than the flowers and be set far enough away that they don't singe the petals as they burn down. Space your center arrangement out so that it takes no more than one- third of the center section of the table. You need space to set dishes, and your guests need room for their bread plates. Invest in a "candle snuffer" to extinguish candles. This will keep well-intentioned helpers from spattering hot wax on your linens.

Tips & Warnings

• Never turn down a gift of linens, china or silver from family members. They are heirlooms and probably of better quality than those made today. Our great grandmothers set their holiday tables with a jumble of patterns unified by their china pattern, silver or, sometimes, only the linens.
• Try to have one large white or ivory "banquet cloth" to use when you suddenly have 14 guests for Thanksgiving instead of 8 and have to bring that huge folding table in from the garage.
• If you have only four place settings, there's no need to buy a tablecloth that's 120 inches long. Buy a standard table length cloth for small dinner parties. By the same token, match your banquet cloth to the dishes that you use for large gatherings and have on hand one or two dozen napkins.
• Although you have no choice with heirloom linens, choose stain-release and no-iron fabric for new linens.
• If you have a very large table, plan for two sets of condiments in your design. No need for everyone to have to sit and wait for the salt or cranberry sauce.
• Garage sales can be great places to find accents or serving ware but be sure to check highly decorated pieces for lead or arsenic-based paints before using them for foods.
• Never put serving ware in the oven or microwave unless it is clearly marked for these uses. China and stoneware may have metals in paints or glazes that would react to heat or microwave.