How to Set the Table Properly
Set the table when you sit down to a normal, family meal or when you throw a formal dinner party. For casual dinners, a properly set table provides a sense of unity to the meal. For formal dinners, a properly set table is essential to creating the right tone for the evening. The basic rule when setting a table is that you must place utensils from the outside -- farthest away from the main service plate -- and work your way back to the center of the place setting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Casual Place Setting
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1
Place a dinner plate on the table for the first diner.
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2
Fold a napkin lengthwise and place it to the direct left of the plate. Place a dinner fork on top of the napkin, with the tines lined at the top edge of the napkin.
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Place a dinner knife to the right of the plate, cutting edge toward the plate, and place a spoon to the right of the fork. Align the top of the napkin, the top of the plate and top of the knife. Ensure that the top of the spoon is about a half-inch below this alignment, so the utensils and plate are centered.
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4
Place a drinking glass diagonal to the plate on the right. Imagine the plate is a clock and the glass is placed at the 1:00 position.
Formal Place Setting
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5
Place the dinner plate on the table. If you are serving soup, place a soup bowl in the middle of the dinner plate.
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Place a folded napkin about 12 inches to the left of the dinner plate. Put a salad fork to the right of the napkin, and a dinner fork to the right of the salad fork. If you are serving fish, place the fish fork to the right of the dinner fork.
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Place a soup spoon about six inches to the right of the main serving plate if you are serving soup. If not, place a salad knife there, and place the dinner knife to the left of the salad knife.
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8
Set down a dessert spoon in a horizontal position facing left about three inches above the dinner plate. Place a dessert fork directly under the dessert spoon in a horizontal position facing to the right.
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9
Place a bread plate about three inches to the left of the dessert spoon and fork, and position the bread plate so the top aligns with the spoon. Place a butter knife on the top end of the bread plate in a horizontal position facing to the left.
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Place a large water glass to the right of the dessert spoon and fork. Place a white wine glass next to the water glass, and a red wine glass next to the white wine glass. Position the glasses diagonally toward the center of the table and ensure that they are aligned.
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Tips & Warnings
Some formal settings include a coffee cup and saucer, but often times as a host you will ask your guests if they want coffee, and bring the cups and saucers with you from the kitchen.
References
Resources
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