The Art Of Everyday Place Settings: Elevating The Dining Experience

An everyday place setting is a basic table setting for casual events, such as everyday dinners or weekend breakfasts. It is simple to put together and only requires a few essential items. To start, lay a placemat on the table and place a dinner plate in the middle. Then, lay a napkin to the left of the plate and put a fork on top of it. To the right of the plate, place a knife, with the blade pointing in, followed by a spoon. Finally, place a water glass slightly above the plate, between the plate and the utensils.

Basic table setting instructions

Setting a table is a great way to signal to your guests that their feelings are important to you. It also helps set the tone and can even make the food look better. Here are the steps to set a table for everyday dinners or weekend breakfasts:

First, lay the placemat on the table. Then, place the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat. Next, lay the napkin to the left of the plate and place the fork on the napkin. To the right of the plate, place the knife, with the blade pointing in, closest to the plate, and then place the spoon to the right of the knife. Ensure that the bottoms of the utensils and the plate are level. Finally, place the water glass slightly above the plate, in between the plate and the utensils, about where 1 p.m. would be on a clock face.

If you prefer, it is acceptable to set the napkin on top of the plate, though some think this can create a more formal feeling.

Basic table setting etiquette tips

• Utensils are placed in the order of use, from the outside in. Forks go to the left of the plate, and knives and spoons go to the right.
• Only set the table with utensils you will use.
• It is acceptable to set the napkin on top of the plate in a basic table setting, though some think this can create a more formal feeling.
• The napkin might also be placed to the left with the fork resting on top of or next to it.
• The water glass is placed above the knife or at a 45-degree angle to the right of the knife.
• Forks and knives should be placed with their bottoms level with the bottom of the plate.

How to set a casual table

Knowing how to set a casual table is a useful skill to have when hosting an informal get-together or a laid-back dinner party. A casual table setting is very similar to a basic table setting, but with a few extra items.

To start, lay a placemat on the table for each guest. Then, place a dinner plate in the middle of each placemat. If you're serving soup, place a soup bowl on top of the dinner plate, and a salad plate on top of that.

Next, lay a napkin to the left of the plate. Place the fork on the napkin, and the knife and spoon to the right of the plate, with the knife closest to the plate and the blade pointing in. If you're serving steak or another large piece of meat, it's a good idea to set out steak knives.

Place a water glass slightly above the knife and spoon, about where 1 pm would be on a clock face. If you're serving wine, place a wine glass to the right and slightly above the water glass.

If using individual salt and pepper shakers, place them at the top of the placemat. Otherwise, place them in the centre of the table or, for a long, rectangular table, in the middle of each end.

And that's it! You now know how to set a casual table.

Casual table setting instructions

Casual table settings are ideal for get-togethers, simple birthday celebrations, housewarming parties, and other such occasions. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set a casual table:

Step 1:

Place a placemat on the table. If you want to add a touch of class to your casual table setting, consider using a beautiful French tablecloth or a table runner. Although not required, a tablecloth can bring your setting to life and enhance the overall look of your table.

Step 2:

Place the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat. The dinner plate should not be placed on the mat before the guests sit down but should be brought to the table when dinner is ready to be served.

Step 3:

Place the salad plate on top of the dinner plate. If you are not serving salad, there is no need for a salad plate—simplicity is key for a casual table setting.

Step 4:

If you're starting with a soup course, place the soup bowl on top of the salad plate.

Step 5:

Place a napkin to the left of the charger. Alternatively, some hosts prefer to leave the napkin on the empty plate before dinner is served. The dinner fork can be placed on the napkin.

Step 6:

Place the fork(s) to the left of the plate. In America and Britain, the fork tines face upwards, while in the Continental style, they are placed downwards. If you are serving salad, set the salad fork to the left of the dinner fork. The salad fork is typically an inch or so shorter, with broader tines (sometimes with one thicker outer tine), and is used for cutting vegetables and leaves.

Step 7:

Place the knife to the right of the plate, with the blade facing the plate. The dinner knife may be replaced with a steak knife, depending on the main course.

Step 8:

Place the spoon to the right of the knife.

Step 9:

Place the water glass directly above the knife.

Step 10:

Place the wine glass to the right of the water glass.

Additional Tips:

• If using individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, place them at the top of the placemat. Otherwise, place them near the centre of the table.
• It is recommended to only set out the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you're going to be using. For example, if you're not having a salad course, all you need to set is a dinner fork.

Casual table setting etiquette tips

Casual table setting etiquette is important to know when hosting a laid-back get-together or dinner party. Here are some tips to help you master the casual table setting:

Keep it simple

For a casual table setting, you only need to lay out the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you'll be using. There's no need to put out your entire flatware set. For example, if you're not serving a salad, you can skip the salad fork. Similarly, if you're only serving white wine, there's no need to set out a red wine glass. However, it's a good idea to set out steak knives if you're serving steak or any other large piece of meat.

Placemats and chargers

Placemats are standard for a casual table setting. Chargers, on the other hand, are generally reserved for more formal place settings. However, if you wish to use a charger, opt for one fashioned in a more laid-back style, like raw wood.

Basic layout

The basic layout for a casual table setting is similar to a basic table setting. Start by laying the placemat on the table, followed by the dinner plate in the middle. If you're serving soup, place a soup bowl on top of the dinner plate, followed by a salad plate on top. The napkin goes to the left of the charger, with the fork placed on top. On the right side of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate, followed by the spoon. The water glass goes directly above the knife, with the wine glass or another beverage glass placed to the right and slightly above.

Salt and pepper

If you're using individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, place them at the top of the placemat. If you're using a long, rectangular table, place them in the middle of each end. Otherwise, they can go near the centre of the table.

Frequently asked questions