How To Properly Set A Table That's Sure To Impress For Any Occasion

Like many details we tend to brush off in our hurried daily lives, the art of proper table setting seems to be getting lost in the ether. While it's true that we've become a casual society, there are times when we might want to have dinner guests over, host a holiday gathering, or even pull off a formal affair. We certainly don't want to intimidate our guests with too many items on the tabletop, but it's important to know where the necessary items belong and to provide proper hosting etiquette.

Table settings will vary somewhat depending on what's being served and where you're located geographically. A place setting in Japan or Ethiopia will look very different from one in the United States due to cultural norms, eating styles, and traditional utensils. Here, the focus is on Western-style place settings that you might find in the U.S. and most of Europe.

What you place on the table will also vary depending on what you are serving. Bread? Soup? Wine? Oysters? These all require specific pieces for the place setting. In general, however, the more casual your meal, the less that fine china, silver, glassware, linens, and other tableware are needed. Another important thing to remember is to only put out what your guests will use. No salad? Then don't bother with that smaller fork. Even though some of the details may vary, there are some basic rules that will apply to all table settings, whether casual or formal.

For a day-to-day table setting, whether you're sitting down for a nightly family meal or you're entertaining the neighbors, most table settings follow a basic pattern. The Western style calls for a central plate with a fork to the left and a knife and then spoon to the right. A napkin may be placed atop the plate or to the left under the fork. If you'll be serving soup, add a soup spoon to the right of the knife and a soup bowl on top of the plate. If bread is on the menu, a small bread plate should be placed to the upper left of the main plate. A water glass can sit to the upper right.

The basic table setting should only include five to eight pieces in total ... or even fewer if you're just sitting down to a sandwich or a slice of pizza. Finger food means fewer dishes! A basic table setting can vary depending on the meal being served or your personal style and interpretation. Like most casual situations, there are few rules and probably no harsh judgments on your presentation. Hopefully, your diners are more focused on the food than the means to eat it.

Formal dining, however, comes with an air of sophistication and a set of rules to match the aesthetic. Despite how you may feel about adhering to the stuffiness, there is a correct way to set a formal table, and the only variations are based on what you're serving. More foods means more tableware. The most formal meals can have as many as 25 pieces in the place setting! How that's even possible? We're talking five forks and six drinking vessels for various libations. Luckily, a more traditional formal table setting typically includes only about 13 pieces altogether.

Start with a central serving plate. (You could also add a decorative charger underneath the plate for a color scheme or theme.) The main fork goes to the immediate left, followed by a smaller salad fork. To the right, place a knife with the blade facing inward, then a salad or appetizer knife, and a soup spoon and a teaspoon to its right. Add a bread plate to the upper left and a water glass and a wine glass on the upper right. If you're serving both red and white wines, there should be a separate glass for each. A dessert fork and spoon lie horizontally above the main plate, spoon on top. 

Place an elegant cloth napkin atop the serving plate. This makes it easier for your guests to access it immediately without dropping or jumbling up those forks. A cup and saucer are optional. Tie everything together with a chic dining table centerpiece and voila! Now that your perfect table is set, place your napkin daintily in your lap and "bon appetit!"