An imaginatively decorated table makes a dinner party a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach and can be a conversation piece. Just be sure the decorations add style without interrupting the conversation.
When preparing for a festive occasion, arrange the table so it is topical and attractive—but remember to keep things simple for both you and the guests.
Choose table linens according to the occasion, making sure they don’t clash with the dinner service, silverware or glasses.
• A tablecloth should hang over the edge of the table by about 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) on all sides. Use a table protector under it to prevent damage from hot dishes and spills and to keep the cloth from slipping.
• White tablecloths allow the greatest latitude in choosing the other decorations. To add some color, place a runner or band of pretty fabric lengthwise or widthwise across the table.
• For rustic settings, use simple straw placemats.
• If you need several tablecloths for a long table, make sure that the edges overlap and that the tablecloths are all straight.
• Napkins can be tucked into wine glasses or folded and laid on the plates or to the left of them. Use napkin rings or fold the napkins into decorative shapes.
• With a little creativity, you can make one-of-a-kind napkin rings. Tie some grasses, flowers or leaves around the napkins with raffia, or transform silk ribbons into colorful napkin rings. At Christmas time, fasten small wooden toys around the napkins with red or green ribbons.
GOOD TO KNOW 
A seasonal table
Generally, nature provides us with most of the things we need to decorate a table. In spring and summer, make inexpensive table decorations from fresh green twigs, spring bulbs, a small bunch of summer flowers, or stems of grasses, while evergreen branches and pine cones add a festive element for Christmas. In autumn and winter, choose colorful leaves, berries or interesting foliage.
• Plates should be placed about 1/2 inch (1 cm) from the edge of the table. The distance between the centers of two place settings should be 24–32 inches (60–80 cm), so that you can fit a good number of guests at the table without anyone feeling cramped.
• There should be no more than four pieces of cutlery on the right and three on the left.
• Always place the dessert cutlery horizontally above the plate. Point the handle of a fork to the left and the handle of a spoon to the right. If you are serving fresh fruit for dessert, place a dessert fork (instead of a spoon) at the top edge of the plate.
• For a formal dinner, add extra knives and forks for a first course outside the main course cutlery.
• Place a bread plate, along with a small butter knife, to the left of each setting if necessary.
• Set glasses above the cutlery on the right-hand side in the order in which they will be used.
• White wine glasses should be positioned slightly further right.
• Red wine is generally served in large, wide goblets that taper slightly towards the top.
• Fill wine glasses only a third to a half full so that the wine has room to breathe.
SET GLASSES above the CUTLERY ON THE RIGHT-HAND side.
Don’t overdo table decorations. If your guests have to peer through the flowers to talk to each other, you may have gone too far. Table decor should encourage a festive atmosphere without hindering conversation.
• Place cards belong at the top of the place setting and can be decorated with drawings, photos or small flowers.
• For children’s birthdays, spell the names of guests using alphabet cookies, sweets or cupcakes.
• Menus are used mainly for official occasions, but at private parties they can add sophistication and serve as souvenirs. Make them yourself for a personal touch: Experiment with different shapes or decorate them to coordinate with the invitation.
• For large parties, you can also write the menu in chalk on a blackboard.
• Use floral decorations that are appropriate for the season and nature of the gathering. Remember to cut them short so they don’t hinder eye contact across the table.
• Instead of using a large vase of flowers as a centerpiece, which usually has to be removed during the meal, scatter flower petals or arrange small, individual bouquets or pots on the table. Individual flowers and long-lasting greenery, such as sprigs of ivy, also dress up a festive table.
• Make sure candles are in secure candlesticks so that they don’t tip over.
• For a fairly large table, use small lanterns or tea lights in decorative glasses. Match the color to the floral decoration.
• To make a beautiful table even more festive, scatter polished pieces of colored glass, shiny confetti or colored leaves over the tablecloth.
• For special celebrations, put a small chocolate on every plate, such as an Easter egg, Santa Claus or small heart—depending on the occasion.
