How to Properly Set a Beautiful Dining Table

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By herbalist76
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The correct way of setting the table, when you are expecting special guests.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A center piece, flowers or other.
Salt and Pepper shaker.
Flatware (utensils)
Glassware
Dishes
Cups
Napkins (cloth or paper) though cloth is nicer.
Sugar, sugar bowl and sugar spoon.
Crumb scraper or ruler.
Table cloth.
Of Course the food and beverages you plan to serve.

Step 1

You will want to choose a napkin fold, if you choose to use cloth napkins. You can find ideas for this online, through any search engine. Google, Yahoo, etc....
Step 2

Choose the center piece you want for the table, this will help set the mood, at the table. You can use flowers, candles or something you find unique.
Step 3

Place your table cloth on the table, so that it is as evenly placed on all sides as possible.
Step 4

Place your centerpiece, in the center of the table, this helps to determine dimensions and placement of everything else, that will be going on the table.
At this point you would also want the salt and pepper shaker, sugar bowl with sugar and spoon, place near the center piece.
Step 5

Plates are next, unless you plan on plating the food, instead of serving from the table. Plates should be centered in front of each guests chair, on the table.
Step 6

Napkins if cloth, should be arranged on top of the plate, in the folded style you have chosen. If they're paper, place them to the right of the plate, beside it.
Step 7

From left to right, flatware (utensils), are as follows. Left side of plate- Salad Fork, Dinner Fork.
Right side of plate- Knife, butter knife, two teaspoons. The blades of the knife should always face inward toward the dinner plate. Each piece of flatware should be 1 inch, from the edge of the table. The Dessert Fork or Spoon, should be at the top of the dinner plate horizontal to the plate, Fork tip facing to the right or spoon tip facing to the left.
Step 8

Bread and butter plate, which can be a small round plate, should be above the two forks, to the left of each dinner plate.
Step 9

If you are serving coffee or tea, a cup and saucer, would be placed to the right of the spoons and the dinner plate.
Step 10

Glassware that is appropriate, the water glass is placed slightly to the left and above the butter knife. If wine is served, the wine glass is placed above and slightly to the right of the butter knife.
Step 11

That completes the set up for a beautiful dining table, that your guests will appreciate and praise you for.