How to Set a Dining Table

If you’re making dinner for guests, you want to make an impact. Delicious food is one thing of course, but a great table spread will make the food look more appetising and make sure all that hard work in the kitchen was worth it. It only takes a few minutes to take your spread to the next level – learn how to set a dining table and impress your guests with our handy how-to.

Everything You Need for the Perfect Table

To really give your table the wow factor, make sure you have all the necessary tableware. Some candles and decor will help elevate the overall look too. 

• Tablecloth or table runner
• Placemats
• Dinner set
• Charger plates
• Glassware set
• Wine glasses
• Napkins
• Cutlery set
• Candles
• Christmas table decorations and crackers (depending on the time of year!)

For a formal table, there is some general guidance when it comes to the placement of crockery, cutlery and glassware.

1. Lay your tablecloth or table runner.

2. Place a charger plate at each seat.

3. Set a dinner plate or soup bowl on top, depending on the first course.

4. Add a side plate for bread at the top left of the main setting with a small bread knife on top.

5. To the sides of the charger plate, put the main knife and fork. If you’re having multiple courses, add a salad knife and fork on the outside of the main cutlery so that they get progressively smaller as they move away from the plate. The blades of the knives should face inwards towards the plate. 

6. Add a soup spoon to the right of the salad knife.

7. Lay a napkin to the left of the charger plate. (You can place the forks on it if you’re lacking space.)

8. Place a water glass above the two knives on the right, and a wine glass above the soup spoon so that both are at the top right of the main setting. 

9. Place a dessert spoon facing right above the charger plate, and a dessert fork facing left above the spoon. 

10. If it’s Christmas, place a cracker on the main plate and add festive touches such as sparkly coasters under the wine glasses for added style. Don’t forget your candles in the centre of the table to provide a little ambience.

If you want to know how to set a dining table in a more casual way, remove the starter cutlery and bread plate so you have a simpler layout. This might be ideal if you have a smaller table and less room to play with.

Once you have all the right dinner table essentials, you’ll have a table to dine for and some very impressed guests. Bon appetit!