How to Set a Place at a Dining Table

Dinner is the time of day to take a break and do something pleasant in pleasant company. Setting an attractive table increases everyone's enjoyment of the food. Teach children to set the table at an early age. It is a way they can truly be helpful at a busy time of the day. Allowing young children to select any item they choose for the centerpiece of the family dinner is a fun way to allow them to be creative. For a family dinner with young children, dinosaurs and dolls are as appropriate as fresh flowers. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Center the plate on the table in front of the chair 1 inch from the edge of the table. If service plates are used, they are placed on the table with a smaller plate for the first course on top. Service plates are extra-large plates that go under the salad plates and soup bowls that are used for the first courses. You remove them before you serve the main course.

2

Place knives and spoons to the right of the plate. Forks are placed on the left. Place the items your guests will use first on the outside. For example, if the meal will consist of a salad course, a soup course, a main course and cake you would have a salad fork on the left, then a dinner fork and a dessert fork. On the right side you would have a soup spoon on the outside and a dinner knife on the inside. The blade of knife should face the plate.

3

Fold the napkin into a slim rectangle and place it to the left of the silverware. You may also place the napkin on the dinner plate. You may use napkin rings with the napkin in either position.

4

Place a salad plate on the left side above the forks, if you serve salad with the main course. You may place a small bread and butter plate on the right above the forks when you are serving salad as a separate course or not serving salad. You can place small butter spreader along the top of the bread plate. Remove these plates when you remove the main course plates, before you serve the dessert.

5

Place glasses on the right side above the spoon. If you are using more than one glass, the glasses should be in a diagonal line, with the outside glass closest to the edge of the table. This allows the guest to reach all her glasses without knocking any over.

6

Place coffee cups on the diner's right with the handle facing out. Place the spoon on the saucer behind the cup with the spoon handle pointing out. Do not place the cups on the table until just before you serve the coffee.