How to Set a Table: Basic,
Casual, and Formal Table
Settings
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Basic Table Setting
CREDIT: [Link]
If you’re getting things ready for an everyday dinner or a weekend
breakfast, you might want to know how to set a table properly. For casual
events, one needs just a basic table setting: a placemat, cutlery (fork, knife,
and spoon), a dinner plate, a water glass, and a napkin.
Basic Table Setting Instructions
1. Lay the placemat on the table.
2. Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
3. Lay the napkin to the left of the plate.
4. Place the fork on the napkin.
5. To the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate, blade
pointing in. Place the spoon to the right of the knife. (Note: The
bottoms of the utensils and the plate should all be level.)
6. 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.
Basic Table Setting Etiquette Tips
If you prefer, 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.
Now that you know the basic table setting rules, brush up on your table
etiquette.
How to Set a Casual Table
Knowing how to set a casual table will come in handy when you’re tasked
with knowing how to set an informal table for a get-together or a laid-
back dinner party. Essentially, the basic table setting, above, and the
casual table setting are nearly identical, but in a casual table setting, there
is the addition of a soup bowl and a dinner plate. As a general rule,
only set out the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you’re going to be
using. If you’re not having a salad course, all you need to set is a dinner
fork. If you’re only serving white wine, a red wine glass is not needed. And
if there's no soup course, skip the soup bowl and spoon.
Chargers are generally reserved for more formal place settings,
but Real Simple home editor Stephanie Sisco says you can still use a
charger in a casual table setting if you wish—just make sure it’s fashioned
in a more laid-back style, like raw wood.
Casual Table Setting Instructions
1. Lay the placemat on the table.
2. Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
3. Place the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
4. If you’re starting with a soup course, place the soup bowl on top of
the salad plate.
5. Lay a napkin to the left of the charger.
6. To the left of the plate, place the fork on the napkin.
7. On the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate and
then the spoon.
8. Directly above the knife, place the water glass.
9. To the right and slightly above the water glass, place the wine
glass or a glass for another beverage.
Casual Table Setting Etiquette Tips
If using individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, place them at
the top of the placemat. Otherwise, place them near the center of the
table, or, if using a long, rectangular table, place them in the middle of
each end.
How to Set a Formal Dinner Table
If you’re hosting an elegant dinner party, you might want to know how to
set a table for a three-course meal. Real Simple home editor Stephanie
Sisco says the biggest difference between a casual table and a formal table
is the use of chargers, also known as presentation plates. Traditionally,
formal place settings also tend to forgo placemats, but she says you can
opt to use a round placemat underneath a charger for an even more
formal look.
A formal table setting includes many pieces: a tablecloth, chargers, dinner
plates, soup bowls, salad plates, bread plates, napkins, salad forks, dinner
forks, knives, soup spoons, butter knives, dessert spoons, water glasses,
red wine glasses, and white wine glasses. Though this may sound
overwhelming, if you know how to set a casual table, it’s a very easy leap
to knowing how to set a table with charger plates.
Formal Dinner Table Setting Instructions
1. Lay an ironed tablecloth on the table.
2. Set a charger at each seat.
3. In the center of the charger, place a soup bowl.
4. Place the bread plate to the top left of the charger (between 10 and
11 p.m. on a clock face).
5. Lay a napkin to the left of the charger.
6. On the left of the charger, place the salad fork on the outside, and
the dinner fork on the inside. You can put the forks on the napkin,
or for roomier settings, directly on the tablecloth between the
napkin and the charger.
7. On the right of the charger, place the knife closest to the charger
(blade facing in towards the charger) and then the soup spoon.
Note: All vertical flatware (salad fork, dinner fork, knife, and soup
spoon) should be spaced evenly, about half an inch away from each
other, and the bottoms of each utensil should be aligned with the
bottom of the charger.
8. Place a butter knife horizontally, blade facing inwards on top of
the bread plate with the handle pointing to the right. (Note: In all
place settings the blade will face inwards towards the plate.)
9. Directly above the charger, place a dessert spoon (a teaspoon)
with the handle pointing to the right.
[Link] above the knife, place a water glass. To the right of the
water glass and about three-fourths of an inch downward, place
the white wine glass. The red wine glass goes to the right of—and
slightly above—the white wine glass. (Note: Since people
traditionally drink more water than wine during dinner, the water
is kept closer to the diner.)
11. If using individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, place
them above the dessert spoon. Otherwise, place them near the
center of the table, or, if using a long, rectangular table, place
them in the middle of each end.
12. If using a place card, set it above the dessert spoon.
Formal Table Setting Etiquette Tips
After the soup course is complete and the bowls are cleared, a salad plate
will take the soup bowl’s position. Traditionally, a charger holds the spot
for the dinner plate, and is removed after the salad course so the place is
never bare. If you do not want to clear the table after the soup course and
bring out dinner plates, you can place a dinner plate on top of the charger.