A well-planned and -executed meal deserves a well-considered table. How you go about setting the table depends on the style of the dinner. Below are the two most common scenarios, explained.
For more casual dinner parties, many people tend to forgo the fuss and stick with the standard five-piece setting: dinner plate, wine glass, and fork, knife, spoon. But even that “rule” is open to interpretation. What matters most is that the table is welcoming.
Mix and match: Varying dishes, flatware, glasses—even chairs—creates interest, so long as you have some unifying element (be it color or pattern or decorating detail). Even if you’re not using your fine china for the full setting, a few pieces here and there add elegance.
Rethink the centerpiece: While an oversize arrangement makes a striking statement, you can get just as much impact with a mix of smaller items, such as sweet bouquets (as shown on page 256), potted plants, foliage and other garden clippings (as on page 252), or hurricane lanterns. There’s power in multiples.
DesignatE seats: This will help any dinner party run more smoothly—especially when there are eight or more guests. Plus, place cards add to the décor.
employ serving dishes: Use cutting boards, platters, trays, baskets (for bread), bins, jars, and other vessels to house the odds and ends and keep the table tidy, not jumbled.
Time was when kids would be taught table-setting techniques in school (or by their diligent grandparents). Nowadays even many grown-ups are unfamiliar with the proper arrangement of plates, glasses, and flatware. But it’s never too late, and it’s easy to pick up.
Although these guidelines might seem arbitrary, they are based on a certain logic. (See page 258 for a visual guide.)