Table Setting for One

Properly setting the table adds a touch of class to your dining room.

Whether you are throwing a lavish dinner party for dozens of friends or sitting down alone for your daily breakfast, a proper table setting adds a touch of elegance to the experience. The correct table setting for one exhibits order and continuity and works effectively for both breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast

Don't forget your cup and saucer when setting the table for breakfast.

You may associate table setting with dinners only, but a proper setting can spruce up the table for breakfast as well. A dinner plate is the fixture, located in the center of the setting. A bowl for cereal (which goes on the dinner plate) and plate for toast (above the dinner plate) are optional accompaniments. A cup and saucer for coffee should be included, as well as a cup for juice. Three pieces of silverware are needed for each breakfast setting: a dinner fork, dinner knife and teaspoon. The meal's napkin lies to the left of the fork.

Dinner

A red wine glass should be accompanied by a white wine glass and water glass.

There are some slight differences between a breakfast and dinner table setting. Like breakfast, the setting begins with a dinner plate. A soup or salad bowl will be placed on the plate if either is being served. The dinner setting features more silverware. On the right side of the plate lies a soup spoon, fish knife and dinner knife. On the left sits a fish fork, dinner fork and salad fork. A dessert spoon and fork is placed above the plate, and a butter knife lies on the bread and butter plate. Sit glasses for red wine, white wine and water to the top right of the dinner plate.

Tips

A folded napkin placed in a wine glass adds another elegant touch to each setting.

Make sure all items in a table setting match. To avoid an accident, keep the dinner plate at least one inch from the edge of the table. You can further enhance the setting by creatively folding the napkin in the wine glass or on the dinner plate. While these rules apply for a single setting, if additional settings will be placed at the table, make at least 28 inches in width available for each setting.

References

• International Association of Conference Centers: 2008 Bright Ideas - Table Setting Guidelines
• OnlineSterling.com: Formal Table Setting - Etiquette