We learn to properly and beautifully set the table for a family lunch, dinner or holiday

What mistress does not dream to surprise guests with her culinary abilities at the festive table? But to produce the maximum effect, you need to know how to properly set the table at home. The correct arrangement of dishes and devices creates a special atmosphere. What you need to know about serving? How to arrange a table for a birthday, new year, a family breakfast, lunch, dinner?

Important etiquette rules

Table setting is not only the proper arrangement of cutlery, but also its design. The choice of decoration elements and the set of dishes, first of all, depend on the format of the meal (birthday, family dinner, business lunch, wedding, etc.).

But some rules remain unchanged.

• The banquet room should be bright, well-ventilated and, of course, large enough to accommodate all invited guests.
• Dishes and appliances must be cleaned and polished. Be sure to make sure that there are no spots left on the water.
• The table can be of any shape, but its size should be selected taking into account the number of guests. Optimally, if one person has 80 cm of table length.
• The tablecloth should be well-ironed, clean and fit the size of the table. Correctly, if its edges hang down by 30 cm, and the corners cover the legs.
• Near each plate in the correct order should be knives, spoons, forks, glasses.
• In addition to devices for personal use, auxiliary tables should be present on the table. They are necessary for laying food with common dishes.
• Appliance type and location should be the same.
• Unacceptable sets, chopped corners, bent appliances, blunt knives are unacceptable.

Tip

To properly cover the table with a tablecloth at home, first place the folded product on the surface, and then, raising the edges, sharply lower your hands down. Then she will lie perfectly.

Serving Order

Whether it’s a birthday or a meal at home with your family, according to the rules of etiquette, you need to set up a table in a certain order.

• The table is covered with a tablecloth.
• Opposite the chairs are plates.
• Then the cutlery is laid out.
• Now the turn of glasses, glasses, glasses.
• At the next stage, dishes are placed on the table.
• Take out napkins.
• Sets of spices, salt are laid out.
• The table is beautifully decorated with flowers, candles or original compositions.

Placement of cutlery

At first glance, it seems that remembering the rules for placing instruments on a table is very difficult. But in fact they are quite simple and designed for convenience. All cutlery are placed in the order of use, the last are intended for first courses.

So, the basic rules.

• Plates are located in the center of the seat 2 cm from the edge of the table. If several dishes will be served for a birthday or other holiday, then deep dishes can be put on shallow ones. Bread (pie) plates are placed on the left hand, at a distance of about 10 cm.
• As for the spoons, knives and forks, they are laid out around the plate with the tip up (the blade of the knife looks at the plate). There are forks on the left side and knives on the right. If dessert is expected, then the soup spoon is placed above the plate, otherwise, on the right hand, to the knife.For a big holiday, such as a birthday, a set of cutlery should include a small snack fork, a knife, devices for fish or other specific dishes (depending on the menu). There should be a distance of 1 cm between the plate and the devices.
• Dishes for drinks should be on the right hand. If you plan to serve wine and water at the same time, then that drink is placed closer that is more in harmony with the dish served first. The next glass, wine glass or glass should stand on the line of intersection of the first knife and plate. If there is a handle on the dishes, then it rotates to the right. The number of items for each guest more than three is considered unacceptable.

Tip

Many are confused in the rules for the location of cutlery on the table, so we suggest that you study them clearly.

Important details: napkins and condiment sets

Napkins are an indispensable part of table setting. Distinguish between linen and paper products. The first is placed under a deep dish (if there is no snack plate) or on your feet. Paper napkins are placed in a napkin holder at guests' extended arm. Additionally, you can roll them into bizarre shapes, such as roses, envelopes, a variety of geometric shapes or boats, little animals (for children's birthday). If napkins are intended not only for table decoration, it is important that they unfold easily.

When setting the table, it is important not to forget about the set of spices and seasonings. Salt and pepper must be on it. No need to fill the containers to the very edges, it will be enough to fill seasonings in half. If the menu will contain meat dishes, then it is advisable to put mustard and horseradish on the table.

Serving the home table

At the weekend, the family, as a rule, gathers at home in full force, the hostess prepares her favorite tasty dishes, and sincere conversations are conducted sincerely. This is the most suitable time to make breakfast, lunch and dinner special charm and comfort with the help of proper table setting. Even at home, you can create a festive atmosphere. And if there are children in the family, then this will serve as an excellent lesson on how to behave in society, for which we need various cutlery and how to use it.

• Breakfast.

An aesthetic meal in the morning sets the mood for the rest of the day. To serve dishes beautifully, it is necessary to take into account some nuances. First of all, you need to arrange snack plates, and then cups with saucers and a spoon. The latter are placed in the middle of the table so that everyone can easily get them. If eggs are planned for breakfast, they are served in a special stand on a high leg. It should stand on a small saucer, and a spoon for eggs is placed on it. Porridge is poured into a deep dish, which is placed on top of a snack plate. Baking served on a wide dish, should also be present butter, honey, jam or jam. Each participant in the meal has a small knife for oil. Be sure to have a napkin holder with napkins on the table. It will be beautiful if they are made in the same style with a heater for a teapot. Do not forget about salt and sugar.

• Dinner.

During the day it is customary to serve first, second courses, as well as dessert. Therefore, for proper table setting at home for dinner, you will need several more appliances than for breakfast. For common dishes you will need auxiliary spoons, shovels and forks. Bouillon cups or deep plates are put on eateries, and dessert dishes are brought in at the end, when the first and second dishes are already eaten, and the used dishes are tidied up. Do not forget about knives for meat and fish. But for scrambled eggs, meatballs, zraz and cutlets it will be enough to give forks.

• Dinner.

Evening serving for dinner is practically no different from the morning. Typically, pancakes, pancakes or pie are served beautifully on a shared platter. Dessert plates set immediately, on the right side they have dessert forks or spoons.If you want to give the dinner a romantic atmosphere, then candles and candlesticks are placed on the table and next to it.

Festive table setting

For a festive lunch or dinner, you need to take care of the decorative elements. Not only traditional table setting rules are important here, but also a combination of colors and a sense of style of the hostess at home.

So, what should be considered when preparing for the holiday?

• Tablecloth and napkins. The color scheme can be any, but it is important that the tablecloth is in harmony with the napkins. You can use universal white, delicate shades of lilac, blue, green. A romantic dinner will come in handy rich pink, red and burgundy colors. It is advisable to give napkins an unusual shape or simply roll them into tubes and beautifully bandage with a contrasting satin ribbon.
• Crockery, cutlery. The banquet table will decorate dishes in the form of non-standard geometric shapes, appliances with curved, designer handles. A snow-white porcelain set will look most advantageous. However, if the tablecloth and napkins are also white, you can choose a set of dishes with a border.
• Candles This element of decor is more appropriate at a wedding or a romantic dinner, but for a birthday it is better to limit yourself to candles on the cake. It should be remembered that the main role is played by the candlestick. It can be tall and thin, or candles can float in flat bowls filled with water and flower petals.
• Flowers When decorating the table with flowers, it is important to choose the right vases. High ones are best left for bouquets presented for a birthday to a birthday person. For serving, low vases are more suitable, which will not close the review for guests. You should also take care of the moderate aroma of flowers, it should not mix with the smell of dishes or interrupt it.
• Original compositions. Various towers of fruits will look beautiful on the festive table. Depending on the time of year, you can create decorations from branches of spruce, cones, mountain ash, sea stones, sand, etc. Such compositions can then be placed at home. Do-it-yourself decor items are at the height of fashion.
• Children's table setting. On a birthday, for younger guests it is better to choose dishes made of plastic and limit themselves to safe appliances without sharp ends. A multi-colored tablecloth is more suitable, with cartoon characters and fairy tales. You can put small gifts on napkins folded into a fancy shape. If the little princess has a birthday, then the table can be decorated with flowers. However, there should not be too many of them; it is better to limit oneself to balloons and paper garlands. Do not forget to prepare plates with the names of small guests at each seat, this will help to avoid confusion during the holiday.

Correctly and beautifully served festive table will make an unforgettable impression on guests. And it’s not even a matter of etiquette at all - it’s always nice when order reigns at home, and a special atmosphere of comfort is in the air. Therefore, it is very important that a woman knows how to properly set the table, knows all the rules of design and strictly follows them.