Setting up your dining room table can be a tricky process, whether you’re preparing an everyday table or creating a detailed centerpiece for special events. Between tablecloths, seating, silverware, plates, bowls, decorations and more, there are a lot of factors to consider. That’s why Chairish is here to help you with some tips and tricks for turning your everyday dinner table into the perfect centerpiece for your dining room – whether you’re planning a fancy meal or just an everyday one. In this blog post, we’ll lead you through how to select the appropriate utensils and more. From how to set silverware on a table to how to set a table for dinner, we’ll cover all of the basics – and the things that aren’t quite so basic.
How to Choose the Right Furniture
Before we get into the nuance of setting the table, let’s talk about the table itself. Selecting the right furniture for your dinner table is important due to the fact that it will be the centerpiece of the dining room as well as one of the more practical elements of it. A dining room table and matching set of chairs can go a long way when it comes to bringing your dining room together, so it may be worth spending a little extra to make sure that you get a set that you absolutely love – one that does what it needs to do and looks great with your pre-existing furniture.
Here are some things to consider when purchasing a dining room table
- What kind of table are you looking for?
Will you be entertaining guests often, or is the table reserved for family dinners? Knowing the intentions of your dining room are important when setting the table, so it’s good to know how often you’ll be using it. A more ornate table might be great for the rare fancy dinner, but it might be too much for everyday meals. Choose a table that matches your intentions. - How well do you want it to match your décor?
Do you plan to keep your dining room matching the rest of your home’s furniture? Choosing a matching set of a dining room table and chairs can create a sense of unity. - How much space do you have?
You’ll want a dining room table that fills the room, but not too much – you might want to add other furniture down the line, so make sure that you pick a table and chairs that use space wisely while still offering a good amount of seating.
With these things in mind, make sure you get the right table and chairs for your needs. Maybe you’ve already selected one – in which case, we can talk about setting the table up.
Choosing Silverware and Plates
Just like matching a dining room table and chairs to your pre-existing décor, you’ll want to make sure that the practical elements of your dining room table match your needs. If you’ll be having guests over for fancy dinners, you might want to invest in fine China or antique plates that can remain on the table, even between dinners. These types of silverware and plateware are often very decorative and leave your dining room looking great throughout the year.
Consider what types of meals you want to serve. Standard table settings include a large plate, a fork, a knife and a spoon, but you may also want to consider adding soup bowls and soup spoons to your table setting. When it comes to the placement of these items, they all have their appropriate location:
The plate should be set in the center of your table setting, with a fork placed to the left of the plate. Your knife should be on the right side of the plate, with a spoon to the right of that. Water glasses should be placed above the knife and the spoon, and a bread plate should be placed above any forks on the left-hand side. Finally a napkin can be placed either below the fork or atop the center plate. If you plan to serve dessert, the dessert spoon and fork should be placed above the plate. These of course are formal directions for setting a table and may not adhere to your needs depending on how often you eat meals. However, it’s a good practice to learn and get into and will easily impress guests that come over for any dinners you might have!
Choosing Decorations for Your Table
Your table has been set with plateware and silverware, and now it’s time to finish it off with decorations. A tablecloth adds a unique look to any table and helps it feel more formal overall, so they tend to be important additions to any set table. Find a tablecloth that matches any theme you might want to impose upon your dining room, but also consider how easy it will be to clean and how often it may get dirty. You won’t want to clean an ornate table cloth very often, so plan ahead!
Table centerpieces can also add a beautiful element to any dining room table. Consider options like flowers, vases, candles and more. A simple potted plant or a picture can go a long way for a simpler dinner table setup, but for an elegant dinner table you may want to invest in something more ornate. Candles can set a refined mood for guests and family, and flowers add life and a soothing element. It’s worth considering how much space you have on the table and whether or not you’ll have serving plates that need to be added when having meals or hosting guests. If your centerpiece is too large, it may make the practical elements of dinner more difficult.
With these tips in mind, you too can set a beautiful dinner table that will impress guests and family members alike. Setting a table might have some particular guidelines, but at the end of the day it’s all about expression. So make sure to ask yourself, what is it that you’re trying to express?
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Lead photo by Brittany Ambridge / Styled by Martin Bourne, at the home of Lauren Santo Domingo