Three Quick Tips from a Top Designer for Setting a Beautiful Dinner Table

Many aspects of dinner party etiquette have evolved for modern hosts and their guests. For example, sending electronic invitations is now perfectly acceptable, and RSVPing by phone is no longer the standard. It’s also unusual for hosts to use fine china for serving food, and guests rarely arrive in their most formal attire.

However, certain elements remain timeless in the art of hosting, and one of them is the proper table setting. Whether you’re in charge of a dinner party in a casual setting or among intimate company, creating an appealing backdrop that complements the effort put into preparing a delightful meal is always worthwhile. This is where a tablescape comes into play.

Bronwen Smith, owner and lead designer of B Floral, emphasizes the importance of creating a warm and inviting atmosphere when entertaining family and friends. “A well-designed tablescape will impress guests and set the mood for the night to come,” she says.

Just as a host should know the number of attendees and the amount of food to prepare, Smith suggests it’s equally essential to decide on a theme for the table and arrange it accordingly.

“When you set a table properly, guests will notice the extra effort you’ve made to create a memorable event,” she adds.

1. Consider Your Theme

“Every tablescape is distinctive, so how you choose to arrange your table depends on the type of event you’re hosting,” says Smith. “One of my favorite concepts for a dinner party with friends is an ‘elevated casual’ table setting. For this style, you’ll require a dinner plate, a salad plate, a soup bowl, a napkin, a water glass, a wine glass, a dinner knife, a dinner fork, and a soup spoon. You can omit items like the soup bowl or salad plate if they’re not needed for the dishes you’re serving.”

2. Keep the Number of Guests In Mind

“Ensure that you have all the necessary items prepared,” adds Smith. “Having one table setting that differs from the others is never a good look. If you’re uncertain about the number of guests expected, it’s advisable to have extra pieces ready in case additional guests join the event.”

3. Follow the Proper Tablescape Placement

“Begin by positioning the dinner plate on the table,” Smith advises. “If you prefer, you can also include a charger beneath the dinner plate, which is traditionally a larger plate than the one used for dining. However, for a creative twist, you can use a banana leaf or a piece of driftwood. Following that, place the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.”

“Subsequently, if your meal includes a soup course, position the soup bowl atop the salad plate,” Smith continues. “As for the napkin, you can place it to the left of the plate or on top of it, depending on your preference for a non-traditional napkin arrangement.”

“Then, arrange the dinner fork to the left of the dinner plate and the knife to the right of the dinner plate,” Smith adds. “Place the soup spoon to the right of the dinner knife. Above the dinner knife, position the water glass, and finally, place the wine glass next to the water glass, slightly elevated. With that, your table is beautifully set, providing the easiest—and still proper—way to set a table.”