Dinner Table Setting

The first thing to keep in mind for a perfect dinner table setting is everything must be evenly spaced. A properly set table is the canvas you use for a beautiful meal. Place settings should be evenly spaced and flatware should be balanced.

Setting the Stage

Start by setting out the dinner plates. It’s very important when setting a table to make sure your guests will be comfortable. Make sure to set the plates far enough apart that your guests will have sufficient elbow room—about a half metre apart from plate centre to plate centre.

Once your plates are set, you can use them to balance the rest of your place settings. Cups and glasses go on the right side of the plate, butter and salad plates to the left. Where's the Silverware?

To create a truly formal atmosphere in a dinner table setting, use sterling silver flatware. Place it in the order of its use, from the outside in, from the first course to the main course. Your guests will feel comfortable if you arrange the silverware properly – you don’t want them to have to look around to figure out which fork to use. To make it simpler, don’t put out utensils that won’t be used.

Forks should be placed to the left of the plate, knives and spoons to the right. The only exception to this is a small cocktail fork, which goes on the outermost right side of the plate. Place knives with their cutting edge towards the plate. All of the utensil handles should line up. If possible, you’ll want to remove the used utensils after each course so your guests can start with a clean slate.

The most elegant dinner table settings—even the most beautiful silverware—won’t impress your dinner guests if your forks, knives and spoons aren’t clean. Make sure your dishware is shiny while you set your table, with no stuck on food particles from the last wash. The napkin should go to the left of the forks. When serving bread or rolls, place a butter plate above the forks to the left of the plate and include a butter knife or spreader.

If you serve dessert, the silverware should be placed above the plate with the fork handle to the left and the spoon or knife handle to the right (the cutting edge should face down). Or you may just want to bring out dessert silverware with the dessert.

The Drinks

What’s a formal dinner table setting without a little wine? Wine glasses should be placed above the knives in a straight row, slanting downward from the upper left, going from biggest to smallest. You don’t want the smaller glasses hidden behind the larger ones. An example would be a water goblet in back, wine glass, then a dessert wine glass closest to your guest.

And if you’re not having wine, replace the wine glasses with iced tea glasses, tumblers for water, or mugs for beer. If you plan to serve coffee with the meal, place the cup and saucer to the right of the setting, with the coffee spoon on the right side of the saucer. Otherwise, bring the coffee out with dessert.

Though a great dinner table setting is impressive, the most important thing to remember is that the table setting can put your guests at ease. This allows everyone to concentrate on good food and good conversation, which is what a dinner party is really for.

Napkin

Salad Fork

Dinner Fork

Dessert Fork

Bread and Butter Plate

With spreader

Dinner plate

Dinner Knife

Teaspoon

Teaspoon

Soup Spoon

Cocktail fork

Water Glass

Red-wine glass

White-wine glass

Coffee cup and saucer

Check out this video on how to set a table.