How to Do a Basic Table Setting

Entertaining guests with dinner can be a casual or formal experience, but when you know how to present an attractive setting any occasion is enjoyable. Knowing how to set the table for a basic and casual dinner adds to the presentation of your meal and the environment in which you dine. A basic table setting isn't difficult and you can experiment with different designs of flatware and dinnerware to create the look you like most.

Things You'll Need

  • Place mats
  • Assorted dinnerware
  • Assorted flatware
  • Drinking cups
  • Napkins with rings
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spread the place mat out evenly in front of the chair in which a person will be dining. Place the largest dinner plate on the place mat. The Purdue University and Emily Post recommend placing the dinner plate on the mat about an inch from the edge of the table.

    • 2

      Place the dinner fork to the immediate left of the plate. Place the knife used for dinner to the immediate right of the plate.

    • 3

      Place the salad or appetizer fork to the left of the dinner fork. Place an appetizer or butter knife to the right of the dinner knife. The idea is to start from the middle and work inward in the order the meal is eaten.

    • 4

      Place the salad bowl, if one is used, above the dinner fork. If a soup bowl is being used it should sit directly on top of the dinner plate. This is because soups are appetizers to be eaten prior to your main course. The soupspoon should sit next to the appetizer utensils such as the butter knife or teaspoon for stirring drinks.

    • 5

      Place the drinking glass above the dinner knife to the right of the plate. Insert the napkin through the napkin ring and sit it directly on top of the dinner plate or the soup bowl that rests atop of it.