Master the Art of Table Setting—From Casual Meals to Elegant Dinner Parties
Setting the table doesn’t have to feel like solving a puzzle of forks and glasses. Whether you’re hosting a fancy dinner party or a cozy family meal, knowing where everything goes can make your table look polished without feeling stuffy. With a few simple rules (and a bit of common sense), you’ll have your place settings picture-perfect in no time.
We do not want to intimidate guests by being too formal, yet some rules do apply. Don’t put out utensils that won’t ever be used. If your menu doesn’t include anything that would be eaten with a teaspoon, don’t put teaspoons on the table. If you’re planning to serve coffee and dessert afterward, bring out the teaspoons then.
The following diagram shows a full-blown table setting for a special dinner party. Adjust it as necessary to fit your menu.
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* For an informal meal, include the coffee cup and saucer with the table setting. Otherwise, bring them to the table with the dessert.
Remember to make your guests as comfortable as you can!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order of tableware?
Start from the outside and work your way in! The utensils used first go on the outermost edge of the place setting. Forks are placed to the left of the plate, knives and spoons to the right. The knife’s blade should face the plate.
How do you set a table for casual dining?
A casual table setting is simple: place the dinner plate in the center, fork to the left, knife and spoon to the right, and glass above the knife. The napkin can go on the plate or to the left of the fork—no need to go overboard!
What’s the difference between a formal and an informal table setting?
A formal setting includes extra utensils and glassware for multiple courses—like salad forks, soup spoons, and wine glasses for red and white. An informal setting sticks to the basics: dinner plate, fork, knife, spoon, and one glass.
Where should the napkin go when setting a table?
Traditionally, the napkin goes to the left of the forks or on the center of the dinner plate. For an elegant touch, fold it neatly or use a napkin ring for a polished presentation.
How do I set the table for dessert or coffee?
Bring dessert forks, spoons, and coffee cups to the table after the main course. This keeps the table from feeling cluttered and adds a moment of refresh before dessert.
What are common mistakes to avoid when setting the table?
Avoid overcrowding the table with utensils you won’t use. Also, don’t mix up glass placements—water glass should always be above the knife, with wine glasses slightly to the right.
Ready to impress your dinner guests? Try our easy holiday table decoration ideas next!
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Hi, Laurie. If your iced-beverage spoon is what we are thinking--typically called an iced tea spoon (long handle)--then yes.
Hi, Theresa. If your meal required a steak knife, you could put that where the dinner knife goes.
First of all, even in the South, iced tea is only served at informal meals or in the afternoon. According to Southern tradition, you would serve iced tea in a tall glass on a saucer with a doily. After you stir your iced tea with your long iced tea spoon, the spoon would be placed on the saucer (behind the glass). If there is not a saucer, then you keep the long spoon in the glass after you stir. You do not put the used spoon back down on the table. Yes, the southern ladies would say leave the spoon in the glass, hold it while you drink, and obsessively carry your glass wherever you go!
That said, drinking glasses of any kind — water, wine, juice, iced tea — are placed at the top right of the dinner plate, above the knives and spoons. This is true for a formal or informal dinner!
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