How to Set a Dining Table

The dinner guests are about to arrive; and you have no idea how to set the dining table! Don't panic! Depending on the occasion, a few dishes properly placed here and there will transform your table into a five-star restaurant. Follow these steps to impress your friends so much they will be convinced you had a former career in fine dining. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Start by laying out a nice tablecloth to show your personal style and a special touch. Think traditional white, perhaps, for a formal setting or something with more color for a festive occasion.

2

Place a dinner plate directly in front of each guest's chair. On top of each dinner plate, you may place a salad plate or soup bowl, if appropriate.

3

Lay the forks on the table to the left of the plate, with the shorter and wider salad fork directly next to the plate, and the longer and more slender dinner fork to the left of the salad fork. Line up the bottoms of the forks.

4

Place a dinner knife on the table directly to the right of the dinner plate, with its blade facing the plate.

5

Set a soup spoon to the right of the knife, again lining up the bottoms of the utensils.

6

Position all drinking glasses at the top right corner of the plate, directly above the knife and spoon. Arrange the glasses in a slanting or V pattern, whichever you prefer, just so long as all glasses are easily accessible.

7

Place a small bread plate directly above the forks. Lay a bread-and-butter knife horizontally across the plate.

8

Arrange a dessert spoon and fork horizontally on the dining table above the main plate. Place them close together, aimed in opposite directions.

9

Finally, add a cloth napkin to the far left of the place set, next to the forks; or, fold the napkin into any number of fancy designs and place it on top of the plates. Add your personal touch!

10

Create a more colorful dining experience by setting out a special centerpiece, such as a bouquet of flowers.