Setting a formal dining table is probably not going to be a daily activity for most people, but knowing how to do it is certainly a skill that’s worth having in your “toolbox”. Dinner parties, birthday parties for older teenagers and adults, special holiday gatherings – these are all occasions upon which setting a beautiful, formal dining table might be required. Additionally, when attending a gathering that’s focused around a formal table setting, it’s important to understand the arrangement of plates, glassware and silverware in order to use them appropriately and present your best face to the crowd.

Should you use place mats?

The formal table can be set with or without place mats, and the decision to use or not use place mats really has nothing to do with whether or not a tablecloth will be in place. Place mats are most often selected as a source of additional color, and are a decorative feature as well as being functional. Place mats are useful for catching crumbs or other bits of dropped food, and help prevent staining if a tablecloth is being used. If you’re setting a formal dining table and decide to use place mats, they should be each be arranged exactly center in front of each dining chair with a minimum of 23 inches between each place at the table, and the place mat should be 1 inch from the edge of the table.

Arranging the plates and other dishes.

A formal place setting should begin with a service plate which is also widely known as a charger. This plate is a separate and distinct item from the dinner plate. The charger should be placed at center in front of the dining chair with the edge at a distance of 1 inch from the edge of the place mat if one is being used, or from the edge of the dining table if a place mat is not being used. The service plate, or charger, is a decorative piece and will not be used during the meal; in fact, it is often removed after the soup & salad, and entree have been served, or, it can be left in place to highlight the dishware used during the meal. This is a discretionary matter of taste left up to the host or hostess. The bread plate should be placed to the left and slightly above the charger, and the cup and saucer are to be placed 3 to 4 inches to the right and center of the charger.

The tricky part: arranging the silverware.

With the settings outlined above in place, arrange the dinner fork 1 inch to the left of the charger. The bottom of the forks handle should be 1 inch from the edge of the dining table. The salad fork should be placed 1 inch to the left of the dinner fork, aligning all silverware with the bottom of the service plate or 1 inch from the edge of the table or place mat. Arrange the dinner knife with the blade toward the service plate at a distance of 1 inch and to the right. The soup spoon should be placed to the right beside the dinner knife at a distance of 1 inch, followed by a fish fork to the right of the soup spoon, again at a distance of 1 inch. A small butter knife should be placed across the top third of the bread plate, the blade should face to the left and center. Arrange the dessert fork 1 inch above and left of center of the charger, and a dessert spoon 1 inch above the fork.

And how about the glassware and napkins?

The water glass should be placed above the dinner knife and the bottom edge should be in alignment with the top of the charger. A red wine glass should be placed to the right of the water glass with a space of 1 inch between them and slightly above the center of the water glass. A white wine glass should also be placed to the right of the water glass and red wine glass at a distance of 1 inch, but it should be lower than the red wine glass. The napkin should always be in the center of the charger, no matter how you choose to arrange it – whether folded or secured in a napkin ring. Finally, the charger and napkin, the dining and salad forks, dining knife and soup spoon, and fish fork should comprise the actual place setting. All other items will form a strict rectangle around the diner.

As with all new or unfamiliar activities, practice is the key to success, so please make sure to set aside time for practicing the arrangement and placement of the elements of a formal dining table. Good luck!

For many the thought of a glass top table brings to mind an instant idea of impracticality, when in fact, the glass top dining table can be used to elegant advantage in formal situations, and it can be “dressed down” and adapted perfectly to casual situations as well. Their style is extremely versatile – whether paired with a modern base, or a traditional base, it all depends on personal preference. If you do decide to consider a glass top dining table the following elements are good to keep in mind when making your final decision regarding purchase.

• Glass can be used to protect a traditional wood dining table. The most attractive feature of glass is the fact that it can be cut to the exact size and specifications necessary to make it a perfect fit for this purpose. The beauty of the wood shines through while being completely protected from heat and spills. Glass can also be used alone when set atop legs or a pedestal made especially for supporting a glass top.

• It should be kept in mind that glass tops are almost always extremely heavy and will be dangerous should they ever shift or slide. To prevent accidents it’s important to secure the glass to its base using bolts, glue, or non-skid dots which are available at the hardware store. Large or heavy glass that wouldn’t be likely to shift or slip should be placed on pieces of felt at each corner.

• When considering the features of a glass top dining table, keep in mind that the edges will always be smoothed so that nothing sharp remains. They can be square, beveled or rounded at the edge in their finished state. Tempered glass tables are much safer and stronger than standard glass, and most importantly, even if a table made of tempered glass should ever break, the pieces won’t have sharp edges. The glass should be between three eighths to half an inch thick. This will allow it to be strong, but not so heavy that it would be exceedingly difficult to move.

• Glass top dining tables are a great option for small spaces because the clear surface will serve to make the room appear larger. Another fantastic situation for the glass top table is being used over a special floor rug so that the pattern is showcased rather than hidden under a traditional table. If you own a glass top dining table that is place upon legs or a base, it’s simple to purchase a new style while retaining the glass top when you decide to update your interior design scheme. And cleaning is simple – a few sprays of glass cleaner wiped away with paper towels and then polished with a soft cloth is all the attention that’s necessary to keep the table looking amazing.

• It’s only fair to mention the potential drawbacks of a glass top dining table. Fingerprints are probably the most common complaint among owners, but, as stated above, those are easy enough to deal with. Also, glass top dining tables can be heavy and difficult to move; and of course there is always the fear of chips and cracks.

All in all, when you weigh the pros and cons, you’re sure to find that the glass top table would make a wonderful addition to your home. Good luck to you in making your decision, and also in making your purchase if you decide the glass top dining table is right for you.

People absolutely love a dinner party. As the host or hostess, you get to invite friends into your home and showcase your decorating and culinary skills, along with your hospitality. As guests you get to enjoy the atmosphere of delicious food and drink, and spending time with old friends, and possibly getting to know some new ones. So while the conversation and food are definitely the stars of the evening, the decor of your home, and especially your dining table, are there to set the stage. If you want to keep things casual and low-key, or upscale and dramatic, these nuances are conveyed through the right decorations, and the main focal point will be your dining table.

Floral Centerpieces

If you’re planning on using a floral centerpiece, keep in mind that you want the look to avoid being a distraction – you simply want it to accent the table and please the eye, nothing more. Arrangements that are overly busy or fussy create a cluttered atmosphere, and flowers that are beautiful to look at, can have a scent that is overpowering which will actually effect how the food you’re serving tastes to your guests; not to mention strong floral scents can trigger asthma and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. The best approach is to choose flowers that are delicately scented at most, or have little to no scent at best. Daffodils, carnations, orchids and baby’s breath are all excellent choices.

Edible Centerpieces

Food based centerpieces are always perfect for a dinner party. Your guests can enjoy portions as an appetizer or as dessert. Arrangements of fresh fruit and vegetables can be especially eye-catching, while candies can also be charming when used in clear glass vases. Hard candies such as Jolly Ranchers, lollipops, and rock candy can look amazing when displayed on the table in glass. Add greenery to complete the look, and remember to keep things seasonal if you decide to use fresh fruits and/or vegetables in your arrangement.

Illuminated Centerpieces

Rather than just using the lighting that already exists in your dining room, use the table arrangement as your source of light. For a sleek and minimal look arrange tea lights in a row or in clusters down the center of the table. Place smaller votive candles around the base of a larger pillar candle to create an interesting focal point, and one which can also work flawlessly with some of the other tips mentioned in this article. Again, remember to go with the season – if you’re hosting a party in autumn, try hollowing out miniature pumpkins or glorious red apples in the right size and shape to hold small tea light candles.

Table Settings

Consider the atmosphere you’re trying to create and let your table settings help you set the mood. For a more casual gathering it can be a lot of fun to mix things up with a variety of plates used across the table. Think whimsical and purposely mismatched. Keep the color scheme complementary but funky. If your gathering is to be more elegant go for a look that’s more traditional and formal using matching place settings and crisp linen napkins to impress your guests. What’s most important is that you use this opportunity to showcase your style and personality, and have a great time!

The dining room is the only place in the house that accommodates all the members of the family at once, and hence one should consider, when deciding upon the furniture, what the members of the family enjoy, what particular style each has and what preference might have. Keep in mind all the above and furthermore consider that the dining room should be practical, yet not rigid, should be spacious, yet cosy.

Also, bear in mind that you cannot put together different furniture styles for the delight of your family members, it is hard to mix and match different styles, but you should instead try and find that particular type of furniture that represents all of you. It might seem hard, but it is not impossible.

Here are some basic steps that will help you make up your mind and will guide you in taking the right decision:

1. Take measurements of all the walls and areas in your dining room. Write them down on a piece of paper or, even better, make a drawing with the plan of the room and put down the measurements. In this way, when you go to look for furniture, you know exactly if it fits.
2. Look carefully at the carpet or linen or wooden floor that you have in the dining room. Then look at the walls. Think if you want to spruce or change anything in the room before investing into furniture. If you do, now is the time to think of a color. If you don’t, try to think of a color for the furniture that matches perfectly with the wall and the floor.
3. Try to decide what pieces of furniture you need for the dining room: how many stools, what type of table, if you want a chest for cutlery or some shelves for dishes.
4. Pay a visit to several furniture shops and take the time to look around. Don’t buy anything as yet but just inspect the market. Take a pen and paper with you and make notes of random ideas on what you see, how you like it, what you would change. Alternatively, look online for furniture catalogues and save the pages that you access as you might need them later.
5. Talk to a specialist and see if he or she could offer you other ideas. Tell them what you have in mind and bring with you the plan and the measurements of the room. Alternatively, if you do not afford paying a specialist, invite your friends over for dinner and discuss your options with them. They might come up with a few good suggestions.

After doing the above, take a day or two to decide and go to the furniture shop or to a furniture designer and place your order. Once you know what you want, it gets easy.