Table setting at home: types, rules, fresh ideas.

If you have to set the table at home, then we suggest you quickly and easily learn all the rules for decorating a festive and everyday feast. Learn how to properly arrange plates and cutlery, get acquainted with interesting table setting ideas and apply the acquired skills in practice. Even if now this task seems difficult and incomprehensible to you, you will soon see that everything is much easier and more enjoyable than it might seem.

What is table setting

Proper table setting is a rather difficult, but at the same time very important matter that should be approached with special care. This is especially true if we are talking about some kind of festive event with the presence of guests. If you follow a few simple table setting rules, you will certainly make an additional positive contribution to the celebration. Follow all generally accepted recommendations, and your table will become the subject of your pride and admiration of your guests.

In general, table setting involves the correct arrangement of cutlery, dishes, glasses, and wine glasses. This concept also includes decoration. The design will directly depend on the focus of the upcoming feast - a gala event, a regular breakfast, a children's party or something else. However, there are general rules in table setting that should be followed at any table event.

Before you start setting the table, of course, you should carefully inspect all the dishes and cutlery, paying attention to possible defects, quality of washing, and so on. All possible defects must be eliminated, and if this is not possible, then replace such devices. Proper table setting always creates a special atmosphere in the house, showing its artistic taste and attention to guests.

Types of table settings

Table setting can be festive

(classic banquet) or
everyday
. There are many elements to consider when setting a banquet table. You will need to put on the table: a napkin; a plate for bread and snacks; small appetizer fork, large dinner fork, dessert fork and fish fork; knives for meat and fish dishes; regular and stand-up plate; tablespoon and dessert spoon; several glasses and glasses.

In everyday table setting, everything is much simpler. Here you can limit yourself to a regular plate and a stand, a napkin, a knife, a fork, a spoon and a couple of glasses (for water and other drinks). Banquet canons are usually observed only on the most solemn occasions, but if you learn them once, you can create the right atmosphere for any occasion when setting the table at home - from a regular family dinner to Christmas celebrations.

Serving food

Let us note that behind the scenes, table setting refers not only to the arrangement of dishes and cutlery, but also to the very process of serving dishes to guests. The following methods of serving dishes are distinguished:

"Russian table setting." Dishes are divided into portions in the kitchen, and the eaters are served in portions on plates.
"French table setting." Guests are invited to choose their own dish from those placed in the center of the table.
"English table setting." It means that the waiter goes around the guests one by one, putting the dishes they like on the plates.

It is worth noting that the most widespread is the Russian serving, which allows food to remain hot immediately before serving.

There are also cases when table setting can differ significantly from the classical canons: we are talking about an informal meeting with friends and dishes that many people find convenient to eat with their hands, without using forks and knives, and, according to etiquette, this option is quite acceptable. Such food includes: unpeeled mussels and shrimp, pizza, sandwiches, tartlets, canapés.

What are cutlery and dishes used for serving?

The main cutlery is forks, spoons and knives. Each knife is paired with a specific fork.

The devices are divided into 3 groups according to their purpose when serving:

Tableware - they are used for meat dishes, dough products (but not sweets), pies, pancakes, etc. The tip of the blade helps to pick up the side dish on the fork.
Fish - they are used to eat fish dishes. The knife is usually blunt and has an elongated shape. The fork has 4 shortened horns. In the case when there are no knives, take 2 forks.
Dessert - they are needed for pastries, pies with sweet filling, cakes, fruit, etc.

There are also many types of spoons, each of them has its own purpose.

Dining room - it is needed for soup, which is served in a deep plate.
Dessert - it is used to eat sweet dishes served in bowls, dessert plates, and soups in broth cups.
Coffee – used for coffee served in a special coffee cup.
Tea room - it helps to drink hot drinks in tea cups: tea, coffee, hot chocolate. It can replace a dessert spoon.

All these devices are personal. They are placed in front of all the people participating in the feast.

There are a number of additional devices. They are supplied if necessary. These include:

Spoon and fork for salads - their size is larger than that of ordinary table ones. They transfer dishes from a common salad bowl to their own personal plate.
Butter knife – it has a curved shape and is used to scoop out butter.
Cheese knife – its tip has several teeth. They help transfer a piece of cheese to a plate.
Caviar spoon – serves caviar from a common caviar bowl. Its shape is similar to a scoop.
Fork for sprat and sardines.
Culinary tongs - help to transfer cake and pastries, take sugar, marshmallows, small candies. For the cake, instead of tongs, you can use a special spatula made in the shape of a triangle.
Ice tongs - used to pick up ice.
Lemon Fork – Serve when sliced lemons are available.

The dishes are divided depending on what food is in it:

salad bowls – salads, marinades;
trays - small snacks: sprats, butter, cheese;
oval plates - fish and meat snacks;
round plates - meat and vegetable snacks, canapés;
gravy boats - sauces, sour cream;
broth cups, deep plates, soup bowls with lids - first courses;
small and round plates - main courses;
small plates - desserts;
teapots, tea cups and saucers - tea;
coffee pots, coffee cups and saucers – coffee;
glasses – milk drinks;
creamers - cream;
milkmen - milk for tea, coffee;
vases - jam, sugar;
rosettes – honey, jam, lemon;
glasses and shot glasses - alcohol (the stronger the drink, the smaller the container).

How to properly set the table at home

Before you start setting the table, pay attention to a few important details.

Do I need a tablecloth?

The tablecloth is the background for serving. If you are planning a celebration, then before setting the table, lay out a plain tablecloth, ideally with decorative elements. If you are planning a tea party or home gatherings, then give preference to a multi-colored tablecloth.

Despite the fact that oilcloth is quite practical, it is better to abandon it. Moreover, there is no need to cover the tablecloth with it. Are you worried that guests will get it dirty? In this case, place a large cloth or plastic napkin under the plate. You can opt for bamboo or straw mats.

Note that the edges of the tablecloth should hang down by 20-50 cm, but no more and no less. In this case, the corners should cover the table legs. A border that is too long is likely to be uncomfortable for those sitting, while a border that is short will likely look sloppy.

Arranging the plates

In the middle of each seating place, you should first place a serving plate, which will correct the situation in the form of a dropped side dish or spilled soup. Next, it’s worth placing a regular plate directly. A little higher on the left is a pie plate. This position is due to the fact that more often we take bread with our left hand.

A serving (substitute) plate is usually placed under appetizers or deep plates. A pie plate, a tea pair or an egg bowl can also be placed in this place.

When setting a table at home, plates should be placed approximately 2 cm from the edge of the table, with the same distance between them. To prevent the snack plate from sliding on the stand, place a cloth or paper napkin between them.

Placement of cutlery

Usually, when setting a table, no more than three pairs of cutlery are placed on the sides of the plate. Please note that knives and spoons should be placed on the right, but forks should be placed on the left. Etiquette suggests that the knife should be placed with the blade facing the plate, and the tines of the fork with the tip up.

Important nuance:

the oyster fork can be placed on the right, in the following sequence, starting from the plate: appetizer knife, table knife, fish knife, teaspoon, tablespoon, oyster fork.

The cutlery to the right of the plate should be laid out in the following order: appetizer fork, dinner fork, fish fork.

The butter knife should be left directly on the pie plate. When setting the table, place a dessert fork and spoon on top of the plate.

We put glasses, wine glasses, glasses

When starting to set the table, it is worth considering the order in which glasses and glasses are arranged. Note that they are placed on the right. As a rule, they are ranked in descending order, starting with the largest capacity. Don’t forget about this rule: the stronger the drink, the smaller the glass (glass) it requires. It would be great if all the glasses and glasses would be in harmony with each other and belong to the same set.

Table decor

There are many options for decorating a table, and this depends primarily on the choice and taste of the hostess. You can decorate with napkins, candles, flowers, fir cones, and so on. In autumn it can be bouquets of autumn leaves, pumpkins; in winter - cones, New Year's candles; in spring and summer - bouquets of flowers. When setting a table at home or any other, it is desirable that the chosen decor is in harmony with the surroundings, tablecloth, and dishes.

If you decide that flowers will be the main decoration of the table, pay attention to exactly how they should be placed so that they are an excellent addition and not a hindrance. Initially, you should make sure that none of the guests are allergic to the types of flowers that you have chosen for table setting.

Do not place plants with a pronounced aroma, which can mix with the food and ultimately ruin someone’s appetite. The vase should be placed so that falling petals do not end up in the food.

For a feast, vases are appropriate that will not interfere with communication, blocking one guest from another. To avoid this, choose low containers for flowers or tall narrow ones.

Following the general rules of table setting, pay special attention to the choice of textiles. There are many table linens that can serve as wonderful decor. We are talking about buffet skirts, chair covers, table covers, and round tablecloths. When choosing textiles for table setting, you need to take into account what kind of event is expected and its format. It is also important that the textiles are harmoniously combined with the dishes.

Napkins

An important detail when setting the table is linen napkins. They are laid out in different ways, and it depends on the nature of the meal. Please note that the guest should not have to worry about how to unfold the folded napkin, so simplicity is an important element in this matter.

If, when setting the table at home, you decide not to place a snack plate, then instead put a starched linen napkin folded in four. Please note that it must certainly be linen - not paper. For a regular or festive dinner, napkins are often folded in the shape of conical caps or tubes, tied with a ribbon or tied with a special ring. You can also fold it in the form of an envelope, fan, boat, and so on.

For special occasions, creatively fold the napkins onto a plate. For other cases, there are no strict rules for their placement. When setting the table at home, they can be placed in a water glass, slipped into rings, or, as mentioned, placed under a snack plate.

Stages of everyday serving

So, the first thing you should do is cover the table with a tablecloth and place the plates on it at the same distance from each other. In the middle of the table you should put a bread box with bread and a bowl of seasonings - if you don’t need any of this for lunch, then exclude the product.
Place a cloth napkin to the right of the plate, near the knife and fork. You can also tuck napkins into special rings.
All utensils should be located at hand, and closer to the plate are those that will be needed later.
The devices are placed at a distance of 1 centimeter from each other. The soup and dessert spoons located behind the plate usually lie with their handles to the right, parallel to the edge of the table.

How to set a holiday table

Responsibility for the festive atmosphere lies with the decoration of the room, table decor, elegant textiles and tableware.

Setting the table for Easter

Color spectrum

Easter is a bright spring holiday. It is preferable to use white or delicate pastel colors as a background, and place accents with flowers, greenery and Easter dishes.

Mandatory dishes/drinks

The Easter table must include meat dishes, colored boiled eggs, Easter cakes and/or Easter cottage cheese. Drinks include Cahors.

Decor

Candles, bouquets of spring flowers and greenery, willow branches, figurines of animals and birds are welcome on the Easter table.

A pot of flowers decorated with scrapbooking paper, wicker baskets decorated with ribbons, a decorative nest made from sisal for painted eggs - hand-made compositions on this day look more appropriate than ever.

To set the Easter table, you must use fabric napkins. If desired, you can build an Easter bunny from them.

Setting the table for the New Year's holiday

Color spectrum

Traditional New Year's colors: white, red and green. This combination looks fresh, bright and elegant. An equally interesting option: a combination of white, silver and blue or white, red and gold. You can also choose the colors of textiles and dishes, based on the “color preferences” of the symbol of the coming year.

Mandatory dishes/drinks

A New Year's must-have at the end of the last century: Olivier salads and herring under a fur coat are becoming less and less popular every year. But champagne to this day remains an integral attribute of this holiday, so the presence of appropriate glasses is mandatory.

Decor

The main decoration of the room on this day is, of course, a slender spruce or fluffy pine. You can decorate a New Year's tree with colored balls, tinsel, beads, sweets, garlands, and homemade toys.

You can get ideas for decorating a New Year's table from the pictures below. Traditionally, the table is decorated with sprigs of pine needles, served together with folded napkins, pine cones, rowan berries, garlands, New Year's wreaths, and candles. Decor of natural origin must be clean and dry so as not to leave stains on table textiles.

Setting the table for a birthday

Color spectrum

Birthday is a cheerful holiday associated with bright, rich colors.

Mandatory dishes/drinks

The main dish on a birthday is, of course, a luxurious birthday cake. Champagne is a popular but optional holiday attribute. The rest of the menu depends on the age of the birthday person and the format of the celebration. If we are setting a children's table, then first of all we take care of snacks, an abundance of various delicious sweets, and drinks. But on the birthday of an adult, a festive table is usually set with a change of several dishes.

Decor

Rooms decorated with various balloons, garlands, streamers, confetti, and bouquets will appeal to birthday people of all ages.

Themed birthdays look interesting. Children love holidays in the style of their favorite characters, pirate parties with a search for a gift-treasure. Adults will enjoy a celebration in the spirit of their favorite decade of the last century. Whether it will be the elegant “age of jazz” or the explosive time of disco is up to the hero of the occasion to decide. Decorations for the room and table are selected according to the chosen theme.

Birthday table, photo:

Fresh ideas for serving

Click on photo to enlarge

Variations in different styles are possible in table setting, which will be appropriate for different occasions. Surely, in the listed options you will find the style that will best reflect your character and the atmosphere of the feast. So, the most popular are: Provence, Scandinavian, Art Deco, Eco-style, Rustic. Of course, you may well come up with your own style that is most close to you - in this case, simply base it on the general rules of table setting, supplementing them with your imagination.

For lunch or dinner

Eco-style
is perfect for setting the table at home before lunch or dinner. It is closest to the theme of “nature”. When setting the table at home, in this case, they usually use natural colors that are close to natural colors: sand, khaki, gray, brown, cream. Preferred materials: ceramics, natural stone, bamboo, cane, pebbles or wood.
Rustic
can be translated as “rustic” or “uncouth,” and from these words one can already get an approximate idea of such table setting. Tablecloths and napkins are characterized by natural fabrics and pale colors. Wooden boards, pottery, and vintage cutlery are used to serve dishes when setting the table. The table is usually decorated with herbs or wildflowers.
Scandinavian style
will be no less appropriate for home table setting . Perhaps his motto can be called “Less is more,” which means: “Less is more.” Despite the fact that this style is usually thought out to the smallest detail, it does not contain anything superfluous. This style is characterized by minimalism and simplicity: round, rectangular or oval dishes without pronounced decor. Materials are chosen from clay, stone or wood. With this table setting, dishes and tablecloths in beige, creamy gray or white colors are appropriate.

Festive table

Many people prefer to serve their holiday table in Art Deco

. So, it is known because it came from France in the 20s and is associated with chic and luxury. We are talking about a rather pretentious and lush style, which is perfect for gala evenings. When setting the table at home, use dishes with gold or mother-of-pearl. Art Deco is characterized by a range of different colors, clear lines, symmetry, clear lines. Choose tablecloths with stripes and patterns, and gilded cutlery.

Provence

no less appropriate and popular style. Since it is named after an Italian village, the dishes and decor should be appropriate. The colors must include lavender and other light colors. With this table setting you should use lavender, olives, old-fashioned items - they can be in the form of patterns or as decoration. A soft purple color should be predominant, reminiscent of lavender. In home table settings and others, Provence implies some details. These include worn wooden trays, candlesticks, and small teapots.

Sweet table setting

For this occasion, you can choose any of the table setting styles suggested above. However, we advise you to adhere to a few unspoken rules.

Cutlery should be laid out in accordance with normal etiquette. Place a dessert plate, as well as a dessert spoon and fork in front of the guest. By the way, when setting the table at home, you can easily place the fork and spoon directly on the plate without crossing them.

Tea can be served in a stylized samovar, or in special teapots. When preparing to set the table, do not forget about coffee pots and small cups in which you will serve black coffee. You'll also probably need a cappuccino or latte.

If, having started setting the table, you notice that all the drinks may not fit, then it is better to organize a separate table or some other place for sparkling water and juices. Leave a few bottles of plain water, with or without sparkling water, on the table.

When setting a table at home, you should place the main dessert (cake, your signature pastries, etc.) in the center, and place plates with other sweets nearby.

Serving ideas

Although the basic rules of etiquette are the same in each case, with the help of certain nuances and techniques you can diversify the table decoration and divide it into certain categories.

Simple

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a beautifully decorated table. A simple table setting can be decorated with fairly ordinary dishes. If you have bright plates and glasses, you can get by with them. It’s not bad at all if there are colorful dishes on the table.

Recently, ensembles that have contrasting colors have become very popular. With such dishes, creating a mood is in some ways easier.

If the dishes in the house are simply white, then you get a classic serving option. It is imperative that all elements used must be combined, starting with the tablecloth and ending with napkins.

Related article: Style and color are the main components of a beautiful table setting

Beautiful

Beautiful table settings are provided for special events. For example, for the birthday of adults or children. As in other cases, you need to start with the tablecloth. For a beautiful presentation, you need to choose an original product. It’s good if there are several types of tablecloths in the house.

For a beautiful composition, you can play with contrast. That is, if the tablecloth is dark, then we use light dishes and vice versa.

A truly beautiful table can be achieved with the help of serving accessories. Many people use paper products for decoration, but the effect will not be the same. It is necessary to use textiles that will definitely resonate with the decor of the tablecloth.

Many manufacturers boast luxurious sets of textiles for serving. You need to plan the quantity based on one per person. However, you shouldn’t give up paper napkins completely. They are also selected in a single ensemble with textiles.

Modern

Be that as it may, table decoration is an art. Ideas can be different and they will tell you how to beautifully set a modern table. But, you should always adhere to the basic requirements:

The table cannot exist separately from the interior of the room.
Proper modern table setting is sure to resonate with the latest trends of the times.
The dishes may have a non-standard shape or a modern design.
The reason for which lunch or dinner is organized is also taken into account.

Stylish

Table decoration in a certain style is done if a themed party is planned. The color, shape, texture of objects and the materials from which the dishes and accessories are made must be taken into account.

A variety of salad bowls, gravy boats, teapots and trays are assembled to suit the chosen style. Dishes are also selected in accordance with the stated style. They note that even a familiar dish with the right utensils can be presented in an original and stylish way. Therefore, ideas for stylish table setting and menu composition originate from the theme of the celebration.

Original

Sometimes the soul asks for an original table setting. In this case, we need all the traditional rules and begin to experiment with everything that comes to hand. Change colors and texture. Contrasting plates placed on top of each other, as well as unusually folded napkins, look original.

Small decorative elements will also add originality. If it’s autumn outside, then try to display it on your table. For example, you can make toast in the shape of maple leaves. For the New Year's table, we are preparing Christmas trees and snowflakes.

New Year's table setting (photo)

Click on photo to enlarge

New Year's table decoration

New Year's table ideas

New Year's table at home

How to present dishes beautifully

When you start setting the table, pay attention to what utensils should be used for which food and how to arrange them beautifully.

How to arrange dishes

Of course, when setting the table at home, you should pay close attention not only to how to place the dishes and cutlery, but also to how the food dishes are arranged. So, how to do this conveniently and beautifully?

When setting the table, place the largest appetizer dishes in the center. Please note that usually fish appetizers are offered to guests in large or small oval plates, and meat appetizers in round ones.
If you plan to invite many guests, then take this nuance into account when setting the table and place several salt and pepper shakers on it. It is recommended to place bread bins at the edges of the table.
When the time comes for the hot dish, the tureen is the first to be sent to the table, which should be to the right of the hostess, and subsequently it will be she who will pour the soup into deep plates, passing it on to the eaters.
The center of the table is usually under a large dish with the main hot dish.

Please note that if we are talking about a dessert table, then in its center it is worth placing milk jugs, sugar bowls, vases of fruit, large dishes for pastries, cookies and pies.

All these recommendations for setting the table at home are quite simple, and can only confuse you if you have practically not followed their points before. A couple of times of practice and you will skillfully handle any table setting.

Serving hot dishes

Various utensils are used to serve fish dishes, although oval plates are often preferred. Fried fish is laid out on plates, baked fish is often placed in frying pans, and boiled fish is often placed in oval dishes with a lid. The sauce is served in a separate gravy boat. If you are dividing fish into portions in front of guests, then try to ensure that each of them gets the same portions. Typically, fish dishes require special forks and knives, or one table fork is placed to the right of the plate.
When setting the table, meat dishes are usually served on small plates. For example, breaded chops, schnitzels, and steak are usually placed in plates of different sizes. Stews and roast beef are usually served in individual pots with a lid.
Game and poultry are served in pots or on dishes. When laying out chopped turkey or chicken, each guest should be given two pieces - from the leg and from the breast (light and dark).
Hot vegetable dishes should be offered in frying pans or small plates. Sauces for vegetable dishes should be in separate gravy boats. Often, when setting the table, baked vegetables are served in the pans in which they were cooked.

Serving fruit on the holiday table

Before you start serving the table with fruit, you need to prepare small, sharp knives for slicing. It would be a good idea to stock up on tools that allow you to cut out shaped elements.

Next, when decorating a fruit plate, we adhere to certain rules:

Using bananas and apples, first spray them with lemon juice. This will preserve their original appearance and prevent darkening.

A fruit plate will look more interesting if you decorate it with chocolate chips, powdered sugar or lemon or orange zest.

To decorate the plate, use nuts, mint leaves or flower petals.

Fruit should be served in a beautiful dish.

Very often, skewers are used to decorate a fruit plate.

Related article: How to set the table for tea: proper setting and festive decoration |+64 photos

An important point is the fact that only fresh fruits should be used for slicing. In this case, the dish will look beautiful for a long time.

You can place fruit slices on a plate in different forms. The most commonly used silhouettes are the firebird, butterfly, and tower. The children's dish is laid out in the shape of some fairy-tale hero. For an anniversary, you can mark a significant date with fruits. Table setting at home, photos of which are presented below, will tell you options for decorating fruit slices.

On video: 5 life hacks on how to cut fruit beautifully.

General rules for table setting

Many people believe that the rules for table setting are limited to the correct arrangement of dishes and cutlery. However, in reality it also implies general recommendations related to the order in which dishes are served and the appearance of the table.

So, before moving on to setting the table, start by arranging the chairs for your guests. The distance between these pieces of furniture should be approximately 60-80 centimeters, each guest should have the same space at the table.
Make sure that the table does not look overloaded. Place on it only those plates, cutlery and glasses that are really needed and correspond to the specific serving of dishes.
Table setting is determined based on the dishes planned to be served, the number of guests, the reason for the feast and even the time of day. Of course, a wedding feast will differ significantly from an ordinary dinner in a country house with friends.