How To Set A Table

Table setting is an art. Not a difficult one, but still an art. There are certain rules that need to be followed for proper table etiquette.

The first and most important rule is that the utensils are placed in the order that they are used, from the outside in. Forks go on the left, and the knives and spoons go on the right. The glasses are usually placed in front of the knife and spoon, and the bread plate in front of the fork. The salad plate in front of the bread plate.

Now, depending on how simple or how elaborate you want your table, you can design your table accordingly. These simple rules are just guidelines of table etiquette.

For instance, water glasses go in front of the knife and the wine glasses go slightly to the right of that. The napkin should go to the left of the fork or forks. However many courses that you are serving, there should be as many forks. But do not overdo it. You can always add forks after each course.

Now on the right, the soup spoon should go on the outside, then a beverage spoon, the salad knife and then your dinner knife.

When it comes to dessert, you should clear the table of all the used utensils, dishes and glasses and the unused ones as well. Bring in the coffee/tea cups or mugs, the sugar and the creamer, andthe utensils for the dessert, along with the dessert plates. If you are serving individual desserts, then those can be prepared individually and served. Otherwise the plates are set in front of each person and dessert is passed around.