Start off the new year with a new dining plan at home for weeknight dinners or special occasions. If you’re not ready to commit to furniture and linen changes, consider the art of table settings to give your table a fresh look. Whether you’ve got fine china or prefer disposable dishes, there’s a place setting for you. And since there’s no such thing as the table setting police, feel free to experiment with dishes and setting styles.
While there are those who’ve dedicated their lives to the study of etiquette and the science of table settings, you’re free to learn from their expertise and give it your own twist. Start with beautiful table linens then get into table settings. In general there are a few basic styles of table settings which include positioning for plates, cups, napkins, and silverware.
Formal
Formal table settings are often reserved for restaurants and black tie events. But, you can serve up Taco Tuesday with the same setup. Something as simple as changing how you set the table can get everyone excited about the meal and serve as a conversations starter. With up to four drinkware options and eight utensils this style can seem overwhelming. The trick to remember is everything gets used from the outside to the inside. If you’re not serving up a multi-course meal leave out some of the extras but keep the general placement of items intact.
Casual
Get the laid back look with high style in a casual table setting. Remove the charger plate, bread plate, excess glassware, and extra utensils to create a polished, yet simple place setting. This style works great for large dinner parties where you don’t have time and supplies to support a huge crowd, but want the table to look put-together.
Informal
When you want an effortless look for events and dinners, an informal table setting gets the job done. It will look like you put in tons of effort because people today are so used to not having tables set before meals. In the informal style, you only need one of each piece and the rules on where they go aren’t very strict. You won’t find salad plates or wine glasses at this table, just the basics.
Buffet
If you’re serving a buffet meal, you won’t keep most of the tablewares on the dining table. In this case you could arrange the napkin and silverware at each place setting to define the table space and help keep guests from forgetting to grab those in the buffet line. Follow general silverware guidelines for the style that best matches your buffet food. If you’ve got appetizers, a main meal, and dessert stations a more formal setting is fitting. If the buffet is one lone line with all courses included something more casual works well.
You don’t have to be a professional decorator or experienced host to create an inviting atmosphere that looks like it took you all day. Guests appreciate subtle details that make any dining experience feel special and thoughtful.