© Pamela CookOur handy guide will help take the guesswork out of setting the table. With these 10 simple tricks, you sure to avoid the most common table setting mistakes.
'Tis the season for gathering around your dining room table with family and friends. Turkeys will be carved, mulled wine will be served, old family stories will be repeated, and new memories will be made. But planning holiday celebrations can trigger an onslaught of emotions, from about nostalgia to hopeful anticipation to.panic over remembering proper table setting etiquette. On which side of the dinner plate does the bread plate go? What's the best way to fold a napkin? When it comes to centerpieces, how large is too large? And, what's that tiny fork used for anyway?
Our handy guide below will help take the guesswork out of setting the table for any holiday this season. With these 8 simple tricks, you can set your mind at ease and focus on what really matters: reconnecting with loved ones. Now all you need to ensure your holiday meal goes smoothly are a few smooth conversation topic changes for when your awkward uncles tells an off-color joke. Happy hosting!
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1. Using the wrong table linens. Setting the table starts with linens. Whether you're using a runner, placemats, or a tablecloth, you want to make sure the linens fit the size and shape of your table. The rule for table runners is that their width should be about one-third the width of your table, and their "drop" about six inches over each end. For a formal meal, the drop for tablecloths should be between 10-15 inches on all sides. For informal meals, a ten inch drop will suffice.
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2. Oversetting the table. Yes, the holidays provide the prime opportunity to put your finest china and crystal to work. But if you're not serving multiple courses with multiple wine pairings, there's no need to clutter up the table with extra plates and stemware. Bonus: the fewer pieces you use to set the table, the fewer dishes you'll have to wash later on.
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3. Overcrowding the table with too many settings. It can be tempting to pack in the place settings at your table to accommodate all of your loved ones and friends. But this is one time when more may not actually be merrier. If your guests are uncomfortable, they won't be themselves, enjoy the conversation, or want to come back. A general rule of thumb is to allow for 24 inches per person at your table. And, consider placing left-handed guests at the left end, or even the head, of a rectangular table.
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4. Mixing up which utensil goes where. Forks go on the left and knives go on the right, with the blade facing in towards the dinner plate. Salad forks go outside the dinner fork, to the far left, while spoons should be placed to the far right, outside of the knife. Keep your menu in mind, too. For example, if your serving soup, you'll want to make sure you set the table with soup spoons; if you're serving steaks, swap out dinner knives for steak cutlery.
5. Confusing the napkin and glass placement. Although napkins can be placed in the center of the plate, their traditional position on the table is to the left of the plate. Stemware is always placed on the right side of the plate, above the knife and spoon. A water glass belongs on the inside, with wine glasses going on the outside.
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6. Placing the bread plate on the right, not the left (correct) side. A bread plate should always be placed to the left of the dinner plate and slightly above the forks. Set the bread plate with a butter knife across it and pointing left, with the handle facing towards the setting the and the knife blade facing down (not at the setting across the table).
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7. Taking a bigger-is-better approach to the centerpiece. Now is not the time to go big with flowers as doing so will only make it difficult for your dinner guests seated across the table from one another to see each other and have a conversation. Instead of soaring, artful arrangements, go low, consider multiples (for a longer table), and check yourself by taking a seat. If you can't see over or around your centerpiece, swap it out for something smaller.
8. Overpowering the dining room with fragrance. Let's face it: spiced wine, savory casseroles, and freshly-baked sweets are the only scents you want wafting through your dining room during a holiday celebration. To keep your table free of other smells, skip scented candles and overly-fragrant blooms.
© Brian WoodcockStyling by Keith Robinson.
9. Forgetting serving spoons. Picture this scene: you're guests are happily chatting and eagerly awaiting the tasty dinner you've prepared. You've timed everything just right so that all dishes are ready ast the same time. You bring it to the table, where you discover there are no serving spoons for dishing out the deliciousness. So that you're not scrambling when it's time to serve dinner, go ahead and set out serving utensils ahead of time.
10. Using only matching sets of table ware. With the first seven mistakes mastered, you're ready for the advanced placement course in table setting. Which means: it's time to think beyond your matching set of china, linens, and stemware and mix in a woven material, colorful glassware, or a patterned linen. This layered look keeps formal settings from feeling fussy.