Setting a Holiday Table

If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year – maybe even your first – it’s good to know how to set a holiday table. A great table setting enhances that festive atmosphere, and understanding how to set a dinner table is essential during the holiday season. By the way, to set a table means to place dishes, flatware, and drink ware in their proper places. Don’t panic. Luckily, table setting is a skill even the most inexperienced host can learn.   Here’s a quick primer:

• Place dinner plates approximately 2 inches from the table’s edge and center them squarely in front of each chair.
• Put soup bowls on top of the dinner plates.
• Salad plates go above the forks to the left side of the dinner plate.
• Position bread plates slightly above the salad plate closer to the dessert fork.
• Flatware should be laid out in the order that guests will use it: Work your way from the outside in. Forks belong on the left of the dinner plate; knives and spoons go to the right. Knife edges should always face the dinner plate. Butter knives should be laid flat on the bread plate with the cutting edge, again, facing in the direction of the dinner plate. Dessert forks or spoons can be placed horizontally at the top of the dinner plate.
• Place water glasses above the dinner knife. Optional red and white wine glasses or champagne flutes are staggered around the water glass.
• Napkins go to the left of the plate, inside a drinking glass, or in the center of the plate.
• Place cards (perfectly optional) work best placed above the dessert utensil, centered with the plate.

Now that you know where everything goes, here are a few more tips to making your holiday table sparkle:

Keep it Casual – Unless you’re hosting a soiree for a visiting dignitary this holiday season, you do not have to worry about trying to find lobster forks. This is your family. The people who are used to eating in front of the TV most nights. The fact that you can get them to eat at a formal dining table once or twice a year is a miracle. Even if you have in-laws and other friends joining you, chances are they do it, too, so don’t stress about making it all too perfect.

Keep it Simple – Keep utensils, glassware, and dinnerware to a minimum. Don’t set out a plethora of utensils unless your guests will actually need them during the course of the meal. You don’t need the additional clutter, and guests need to feel comfortable that they’re using the right forks.

Linens Liven it Up – Tablecloths, placemats, table runners and chargers not only help protect your table from spills and scrapes, but they also create a lovely backdrop for dishes, glasses, stemware and – of course – the food. Layering these items adds depth and interest to the tabletop. Try starting off with a simple red/burgundy, gold or green tablecloth (stay away from white unless you want to wince at every single spill), and then add either placemats in seasonal patterns or a festive runner.

Topping it Off – Little touches like themed napkin rings can add a festive flair to the table. A holiday centerpiece and possibly some mini pumpkins, and/or carefully placed dried corn cobs look fabulous and definitely draws the eye of guests when they walk into the dining room. However, unless you’re planning to set your turkey and sides on another banquet table, you will need to move the bigger centerpieces come mealtime. And that’s perfectly okay.

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