Table settings are an integral part of any event that revolves around food at the table. You don’t need to break the bank to create a table setting that your guests will love and remember. Learn how to set a table and the basics of table styling.
The Basics and Every Day Meals
Depending on what type of event you’re hosting, table setting and styling will differ, however there are some stock-standard rules that can apply to any table layout. So whether you’re setting the table for a dinner at home or getting ready for Christmas dinner, keep these table setting and styling rules in mind.
All table settings should have at least the following:
Everything else, including placemats and table accessories are optional! To set the table follow these steps:
- The plate should be at the center of the table setting
- If you’re using napkins, they go to the left of the plate.
- Forks go to the left of the plate, and knives and spoons go to the right.
- Drinking glasses sit near the knives, above the plate.
Perk up your everyday meals by adding a pop of color to the table. This can be done in any way that pleases you! You might like to decorate the table with flowers and floral decorations, or perhaps serve your meals in colourful stoneware and ceramics.
Stylist Dani Rendina (@dani_r_photos) uses Ecology Pollock glasses and colourful drinks to add aesthetically pleasing reflections and colours to your table.
Having Your Friends Over for Dinner
You’re putting together a nice dinner for your friends and family and you want to wow them with your table setting. Upgrade your table aesthetic easily in a few simple steps.
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Consider laying out a table runner or placemats for your table setting. Put your dinner plates in the middle of the placement as per usual table settings.
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If you’re serving sides and mains, place the salad or side plate on top of the main dinner plate.
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Break out the nice cutlery for your special guests. If you’re serving more than one course, you can use more than one set of cutlery. The “outside-in” rule applies here. So the cutlery that you’ll use first should be placed furthest from the plate.
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Glassware should be placed on the top right of the plate, as per usual. If you’d like to, you can place both a regular drink tumbler and wine glasses on the table for your guests.
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Lastly, place a napkin on top of the salad and dinner plate or underneath the cutlery
Don’t worry if your tableware isn’t completely matching. This can serve as a great opportunity to play around with different colours and patterns on the table. If you’d like to keep it plain, that’s okay too. You can always perk up the table with a centrepiece of florals or colourful food and drink.
Anisa Sabet (@anisa.sabet) styles her table for her guests with simplistic tableware. Her table features the Ottawa Calico plate and bowl. Inspired by natural fibres of the Australian landscape, this classic stoneware set goes perfectly with Ecology Trentham cutlery to offer a farmhouse rustic charm.
This table setting by Anita Sabet (@anisa.sabet) uses native florals and twigs for simplistic and organic decoration on a white table cloth. Her table features the Ecology Speckle Ebony set.
A Formal Occasion
Formal table settings are great for weddings, large parties, holiday feasts and any celebration that involves food. Formal table settings call for your best tableware to be on display for a meal of more than 3 courses. Things you might want to consider adding to your tableware include:
- A table cloth (instead of placemats)
- Butter knife and bread plate
- Dessert spoon and forkSoup spoon
- Seafood / oyster fork
- Water and drink glass or tumbler as well as a red wine glass, white wine glass and champagne flute
Don’t forget your usual table setting needs to be there too. While the setting might seem cluttered and confusing it’s easy if you follow the rules. Remember that cutlery goes “outside - in”. It’s also handy to know that solids go on the left and liquids go on the right. That means you keep things like bread and butter plates on the left of your usual table setting and all drinking glasses go to the right.
Because you’re setting the table for a festive event or celebration, you can use your tableware to set the scene. Choose a theme and some colours that you’d like to work with and match your tablecloth and tableware.
Dress up your table with a centerpiece. Your centerpiece can include candles, floral bouquets and arrangements, crystals and corals or even arrangements of fruit or confectionery.
Designer Anisa Sabet (@anisa.sabet) uses native florals, leaves and bark to add color and rustic charm to the table.
So now that you know your place setting basics and you are equipped with table styling tips, you’re ready to start styling. Your table is your blank canvas, and you should fill it with what your heart desires! Need some more inspo? Browse the Ecology site and start planning your table for your next meal or event!