How to Set a Proper Dinner Table

Confused about how to set a proper dinner table?

Here are some details to get your table perfectly set!

Your menu, level of formality and the number of courses being served all help determine the proper table setting for your meal. The more formal the meal and the more formal the place setting means the more utensils will be needed. So how do you arrange everything for a formal meal?

Guest Space

The spacing of all of these items matter. The typical formal place setting requires about 15” per guests to allow enough elbow room at the table.  The actual plate should be 1” from the edge of the table, and the bottom of all the utensils should line up with the plate bottom.

Utensils

Utensils are placed so that the more outward utensils are used first. For the left side of the setting, if you’re having a seafood appetizer, that fork would be the furthest out, salad fork would be placed next to that and then the dinner fork would be closest to the actual place where plate will go. The dinner fork should be 1” away from the plate area. On the right side of the setting, if you’re offering soup, then a soup spoon would be the furthest out, then a teaspoon and then the dinner knife is closest to the actual place where the plate would be with the knife blade facing the plate. The dinner knife should be 1” from the plate area.

Dessert spoons and forks are placed directly above the area where the plates go so they’re easily accessible once dessert is served. The spoon handle should face right and the fork handle should face left. Coffee cups and saucers can be placed on the table if you so choose, placing it the right of the spoon however those are typically not placed until dessert is served.

If you’re using a Bread and Butter plate, then  that should be placed on the left side, arranged above the forks with the butter knife placed on the plate at an angle with the blade facing the edge of the table.

Glasses

The water glass should be placed as the most inside glass with the wine glass placed to the right and about 1” below the water glass.

Napkins

Napkins can be placed in the center of the place setting or to the left of the most outside fork. They can be simply folded or you can get creative with a fancy folded design. See how here.

To start actually setting the table:

If you’re using a charger,  place that centered in from of where each guest will sit 1” from the table edge. If you’re not using a charger, use the dinner plate on which the main meal will be served.

Place the Dinner Fork 1” to the left of that charger or plate with the bottom of the fork lined up with the bottom edge of the charger or plate. Measure 1”to the left the Dinner Fork, and place the Salad Fork with the bottom lining up with the Dinner Fork. If you’re using  a seafood fork, that would be placed 1” to the left of the Salad Fork with the bottom of it lining up with the other utensils.

Measure 1” to the right of the charger or plate and place the Dinner Knife with the blade facing the charger or plate and so that the bottom is lined up with the bottom edge of the plate. Measure 1” to the right and place the Spoon so the bottom of the spoon is aligned with the bottom of the Dinner Knife.

Place the wine glass about 3” from the Dinner Spoon and to the right a wee bit. The second wine glass would be placed to the left of the first wine glass and slightly higher. The Water glass goes about 3” to the left of the second wine glass and slightly higher so that when all are placed they’re angled as shown here:

And now you’ve set the table in grand style!

Happy Entertaining!