How to Set the Table

The art of setting a dinner table is a lot easier with the proper instructions. Whether your dinner is very formal or of the more casual variety, there are a few basic guidelines to follow when learning how to set a table.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Figure out how many guests will be attending. If several children will be in attendance, consider having a children's table. If you would like the children at the main table, consider booster chairs if the children are small.

2. Determine where everyone should sit. For convenience, the cook may want to sit near the kitchen door. Parents should sit next to their children. If there is a male guest, he is traditionally seated on the hostess's right. A female guest is traditionally seated on the host's right. For large parties, determine who would interact best with each other. Some people like to alternate between men and women, but this isn't necessary. You may want to use name cards to avoid everyone rushing for a seat at the last minute.

3. Decide if you will use a tablecloth. If the tablecloth is white damask, you will need a pad under it to prevent it from slipping. Also, the middle crease should be arranged so that it runs in a straight and unwavering line down the center of the table from head to foot. When the tablecloth is on, it should hang down about a foot and a half if it is a seated dinner. If it is a buffet dinner, it should hang down to the floor.

4. Set the table once you've adjusted the tablecloth. Begin by folding napkins and placing them in the center of each diner's place.

5. Place the large dinner fork to the left of the napkin and the smaller salad fork to the left of the dinner fork.

6. Place a salad plate to the left of the forks. The dinner plate should not be on the table when guests sit down.

7. Place a knife to the right of the napkin, with the cutting edge toward the plate. For chicken or a game bird, you might want to use a steak knife.

8. Put out two spoons if you're serving both soup and dessert. The small dessert spoon should be placed to the right of the knife. Place the soup spoon to the right of the dessert spoon. (You can also wait and bring the dessert spoons out just before dessert.)

9. Place a bread plate with a butter knife (if you have them) about 2 inches above the forks.

10. Place a water goblet about 2 inches above the knife. To the right of the goblet and slightly closer to the dinner guest, place a wine glass.

11. Place a cup and saucer, if you're serving coffee or tea, to the right of the setting, with a coffee spoon on the right side of the saucer.

Tips & Warnings

• The key here is to be practical. Don't seat two people who notoriously get into vicious arguments next to each other just to fit a boy-girl, boy-girl seating arrangement.

[lucyb21]

on 11/5/2009 this is helpful, plus i just saw colin cowie's guide to gracious hosting, so i'm all set!
http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416104506&o=ext&p=160

[Ruthie]

on 11/18/2007 Thanks for the refresher course ! Many things have changed since this was an important part of " good manners and good up-bringing " in many American homes ! My generation learned this when we were first graders. And with all the " grab a burger and fries " mentality, I doubt if any of the kids know how to do this properly anymore !

on 1/18/2006 Any easy way to remember where the bread plate and drink goes it to make the OK sign with each of your hands. Your left hand will look like the letter "B" (bread on left) and your right will look like the letter "D" (drink on right).

on 11/22/2005 Separate the couples! Sit the spouse of couple A between couple B and so forth. This is an interesting way to get guests talking.

on 11/22/2005 I'm left-handed and I find it easier to be seated at an open end of a table. Some people don't know to keep their elbows to their side.