To paraphrase the food writer M.F.K. Fisher, there is an art to eating. While roasting a chicken to perfection or finding salty-sweet nirvana in a caramel tart adds to the artistry of which M.F.K. speaks, so does setting the table. Indeed, creating a beautiful tablescape enhances any meal and makes you a master of the art of eating, so it's best to learn how. We've put together a foolproof guide to help you, so grab your silver and finest China and start setting the table.
The intricacy of your table setting depends on the meal being served and its level of extravagance. There are three kinds of table settings: basic, casual and formal. Hosting an impromptu, intimate dinner party for friends? Opt for a casual table setting. Is it your turn to cook the annual elaborate Christmas luncheon or dinner? Consider setting the table formally. For faster, more on-the-go culinary affairs, a basic table settings is ideal, as it still sets a proper tone for the meal, but without any time-consuming fuss.
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Basic table settings are needed for a weekend brunch or weeknight dinner. It requires the least amount of cutlery and usually comes together in a flash. Place salt and pepper shakers at the centre of the table or, for longer, more rectangular tables, in the middle of each end.
- While not strictly necessary, lay out a placemat. In the setting above, it's the linen ‘Pratham Round Tablemat’ in pink from Birdie Fortescue.
- Put your plate or bowl in the middle of the mat. The one above, an earthenware ‘Spotted Dinner Plate’ in pink, is by Cabana and from Moda Operandi.
- Fold and lay a napkin (cloth is preferable!) to the right of the plate. The pink napkin above is made of linen and from Svenskt Tenn.
- Lay your knife and spoon on the napkin, placing the knife closest to the plate with the blade pointing inwards. Lay the fork to the left of the plate. Note that the bottoms of utensils and the plate should be level. This table setting features flat end stainless steel cutlery from Amara.
- Place the water glass slightly above the plate in the 1 o'clock position, between the plate and utensils. If you are drinking wine, set the wine glass to the right of the one for water. Here, a three tone wine glass from Zara Home and a pink and green glass tumbler by Lawrence West, from The Conran Shop complete this basic table setting. \
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If you're hosting friends for dinner or have made a gorgeous Sunday brunch worthy of great plating, set a casual table. Though rather similar to a basic table setting, this method features a bit more pizzazz in the form of a soup bowl, salad plate and additional wine glass. Of course, only set out the glass-, table- and flatware you're certain to use. If you're only drinking one kind of wine (or don't mind mixing the dregs), set out just one type of glass. For salt and pepper shakers, follow the same advice as for basic table settings.
- If using one, spread your tablecloth (here, from Bungalow Denmark). Lay out a placemat or table charger. In the setting above, the woven rattan charger is from Crate & Barrel.
- Put the dinner plate in the middle of the mat. The lettuce-style earthenware set above is from Bordallo Pinheiro.
- Lay a folded napkin to the left of the charger, or take direction from the above table setting and place it on top of the dinner plate.
- To the left of the plate, lay your forks, with the larger dinner fork closest to the plate and the salad fork to the left. Sabre bamboo utensils were used in this setting; similar can be found at Fortnum & Mason.
- To the right of the plate, lay the knife closest to the plate, followed by the soup spoon.
- Place your water glass directly above the knife, with the wine glass slightly above it and to the right. If using two wine glasses, place the white wine glass below the red, forming a triangle of drinks glasses. In this setting, the water and wine glasses were found at A Vida Portuguesa.
Formal table settings are ideal for those wishing to set an elegant tone for a dinner party or hosting a festive meal. The formal setting provides each guest with enough cutlery, table- and glassware for a three- to four-course meal, including bread and wine glasses. Of course, formal table settings are far and away the most involved – and can be overwhelming, but fear not!
- Lay out an ironed tablecloth across the dining table.
- Set a charger at each seat, ensuring there is enough space for the fanning-out of utensils and glassware.
- At the centre of the charger, set down your soup bowl*.
- To the upper lefthand side of the charger, place down your bread plate. Lay the butter knife on on top of the plate to the right, the blade facing outward.
- To the left of the charger, lay your dinner fork followed by your salad fork.
- At the charger's right, place down a folded napkin. Arrange your dinner knife next to the charger, followed by the soup spoon.
- At the top of the charger, set down the dessert spoon with its handle pointing right.
- To the right of the setting, in clockwise order, arrange your water glass, red wine glass and white wine glass.
- Present at formal table settings are usually individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest; should this be the case, place each shaker set above the dessert spoon. For meals requiring place cards, place the card holder above the dessert spoon and arrange the salt to the left and pepper to the right of the holder.
*Note that for traditional, serviced formal dining services, the charger is never bare and each plate is brought out, depending on the course being served. However, should you not wish to clear your guest's tableware after each course, arrange it as follows: atop the charger sits the dinner plate, followed by the salad plate and topped with the soup bowl. Dessert plates are given to each guest after the dinner plates have been cleared. Only set out the tableware that will be used during the meal.
Top three shops for everyday dining (plates, cutlery, glassware and napkins)
- Plates: Soho Home, Conran Shop and Our Place
- Cutlery: Sabre, Matilda Goad and Alessi (don't forget eBay and antique markets!)
- Water glasses: Anthropologie, Aller Dorset x Bias Editions and John Lewis
- Wine glasses: Schott Zwiesel, Stözle and LSA International
- Napkins: H&M Home, The Linen Works and By Alice
Top three shops for formal affairs (plates, cutlery, glassware and napkins)
- Plates: Pentreath & Hall, Royal Copenhagen and Broste
- Cutlery: Cutipol, Christofle and Casa Bugatti
- Water glasses: The Design Buzz, Amara and Waterford® Crystal
- Wine glasses: Riedel, Richard Bendon x Jancis Robinson and Zalto
- Napkins: Once Milano via Matches Fashion, Polkra and St. Frank
For added festive flair, no matter the meal (tablecloths, vases, candles and candlesticks)
- Tablecloths: Isla Simpson, Bernadette and Charlotte and La Redoute
- Vases: Sophie Conran, Oka and Cuemars
- Candles: By Alice, Hot Pottery via Aller Home and Edition Ninety-Four
- Candlesticks: Les Ottomans, HAY and Lorraine Robbins for Folka
Of course, don't forget eBay, Etsy and antiques markets, full of vintage tableware!
