Learn how to set a table for any informal or formal dinner party. Follow this guide and your table will look picture perfect.

Where Do Napkins Go When Setting a Table?

Basic Table Setting

The enjoyment of the dinner depends largely on the well-dressed table and the ambiance that follows it. The tabletop can be left bare, or a tablecloth can be used to protect the table from accidental spills and dampen the sounds of stemware and silverware.Provide each person with a “place setting” that includes the placemats, napkins, dinnerware, silverware, stemware. Generally, allow at least 18 inches of elbow room between place settings. Only the appointments matching a particular menu need to be placed.

The cutlery and dinnerware should lay approximately 1 inch away from the edge of the table. The plates should sit in the place setting’s center.

The dining and salad forks are positioned on the left of the plate. Napkins should be placed to the left of the forks. The dining knife and the soup spoon belong to the right side with the cutting blade inwards. The water goblet is positioned 1 inch above the tip of the knife. Wine glasses should be placed above the water glass.

Correct Way to Set a Table

Make sure the settings are pleasing to the eye and functional. Choose plates and silverware appropriate for the occasion. Play with colors and blend textures.

A centerpiece—minimalistic, but elegant—should reflect the nature of the event.

Placemats should be used to signify the position of each guest, create a structured appearance, and protect the table from watermarks and heat damage.

Add some elegant touch to casual dining with carefully layered table linens: an exquisite tablecloth, a lace table runner, white napkins will instantly complement your table setting.

What Side Do the Napkin and Silverware Go On?

Napkins are an essential component of any place setting. In the United States, the napkin is placed on the left of the forks, or under the forks, or in the place setting’s center. The napkin fold faces left. In Europe, the napkin is generally set on the right of the place setting. Napkin rings are good for adorning and keeping napkins in place. At a formal gathering, the napkin is typically folded into more elaborate shapes using origami 3D building techniques.

In the United States and the UK, the fork tines facing up. Dining fork typically has 4 even tines and is the biggest one in the setting. The salad fork is the furthest left, it is an inch or so shorter. The dining knife goes immediately to the right side of the plate. A soup spoon goes on the far right of the furthest knife. The dessert fork and dessert spoon are laid in a horizontal position above the plate, with the fork's handle facing left, and the spoon’s handle facing right.

Where Does the Wine Glass Go On a Table Setting?

Provide each place setting with the glasses that will be actually used during dinner. Aperitif glasses may be brought out when serving the dessert.

The water goblet sits to the right of the plate, above the dinner knife. The white wine glass belongs to the right of the water goblet, and the red wine glass is then set on the highest point. So, stemware must be arranged in a triangular form.

Wedding Napkins

The best way to demonstrate your enthusiasm for a special event such as a wedding is to order customized napkins. Their unique appearance makes a great way to mark and celebrate any event. Wedding napkins can be personalized with an event date and custom lines to reflect the wedding style and your vibe.

Setting a Table with Cloth Napkins

The juxtaposition of various styles and trends make the tables real showstoppers. Intricately displayed or simply folded, napkins belong to the left of the forks or laid in the center of the plate. A gold- or silver-tone charger creates a perfect background for white napkins. Adorned with a metallic thread or embroidered monograms, the linens will bring a modern vibe to the old heirloom china.

Don't be hesitant to repurpose linen. Old tablecloths can be cut into squares, hemmed and repurposed as tea towels, linen sachets, cocktail napkins, or handkerchief quilts.

How Do You Display Paper Napkins?

Top-quality paper napkins make the table impressive and fun in no time. Intricately folded paper napkins will give the perfect finishing touch and a pop of color. Most paper napkins come already folded into smaller squares. Today the most popular folding techniques are the paper napkins transformed into flowers, pockets, and fans.

Consider using a high-quality paper towel in a square shape in place of a paper napkin.