How imperceptibly a beautiful feast has become the norm! But not so long ago, dishes were collected from neighbors to the table, so that each guest had enough plates, shot glasses, and forks. Feasts were rarely held, kitchen towels were used instead of napkins, and pouring soup into a porcelain tureen was considered nonsense.
Nowadays they teach how to use a knife and fork in kindergarten. Home sideboards are lined with dinnerware and glasses of all shapes and sizes. Every second person we know can tell a fish knife from a knife knife, every third person knows how to eat oysters. And everyone is the first to understand that a properly set table becomes part of not only restaurant banquets, but also family meals.
Table setting according to etiquette - photos, rules, beautiful napkins
When you are planning to invite guests to have dinner or lunch, and you want to impress them and do everything beautifully, then the question of proper serving may take you by surprise. There are some rules to follow.
General rules for table setting
To create a beautiful table setting, you need to follow several principles of this process:
- Cutlery should be placed in the same order as the food is served. Surely you know that each dish has its own cutlery. For example, salad or fish is eaten with a fork, while soup is made with a spoon. And if you serve soup first and then fish, then cutlery should be placed in the same order (spoon, fork).
- Cutlery must be crystal clean. It is unlikely that guests will like it if they eat with a stained fork. And the owner will not be pleased at all. Therefore, before serving, wash and wipe the cutlery well to avoid incidents.
- Avoid excesses. You cannot place unnecessary cutlery on the tablecloth; their number when serving should correspond to the number of dishes.
- Follow the identity. Everyone needs to arrange the appliances the same way. It is advisable to choose dishes in one color.
- The arrangement of cutlery should correspond to its purpose. So, the devices located on the right are in the right hand while eating, and the devices located on the left side are in the left.
Tablecloth on the table
The optimal and winning option is a white tablecloth. So she looks festive. But you can lay a tablecloth of a different color (brighter or darker), you shouldn’t be afraid of this. It is better to choose a tablecloth that matches the main shade of the appliances and objects on the tabletop. In addition to the cutlery, the tablecloth should be in harmony with the curtains and upholstery. This is the only way everything will look harmonious.
Now there are a large number of forms and materials. But, as a rule, they choose the most standard shape - rectangular. And if it is also made of natural materials and in light shades, then comfort in the kitchen is guaranteed.
Cutlery - layout diagram
You can’t put all the cutlery you have on the table. It looks messy and is not convenient to use, since the necessary devices will be lost. You need to put what you really need in accordance with your dishes.
To properly arrange cutlery, you need to know some rules:
- We place the fork on the left side of the plate, because the guest will need to hold it with his left hand. And the knife is to the right of the plate.
- When placing glasses, you need to hold them by the stem.
- You should start using cutlery from the outer edge, changing them towards the plate as new dishes are served.
- There is no need to place cutlery close to the plate. There should be a space of 1 cm between the plate and fork.
Proper table setting
Serving plates
Just like knives and forks, plates need to be placed in the correct sequence. So, the snack plate is located opposite each seat, 2 cm from the edge of the table. The bread plate is located to the left of the snack bar, 5-10 cm from it. In cases where more than one dish is served, then a dining plate should be placed under the appetizer plate. The housewife must remember her responsibilities: promptly replace dirty plates with clean ones.
Serving with napkins
Napkins are an integral part of table setting. And the one who knows how to fold them beautifully is a real creator, because folding napkins beautifully is a real art.
If the napkins are made from natural materials, then they are placed on the laps of people eating. And if you prefer paper napkins, then they should be placed on the right under the edge of the plate, or placed in general accessibility.
The color is not particularly important, the main thing is to fold the napkins beautifully.
Spice utensils
Spices must include pepper and salt. But everyone has their own taste, so it is advisable to add mustard and other spices to this list to please each of the guests.
Spice utensils are served in the center. They need to be placed on a special stand, board or saucer.
Serving glasses, glasses, wine glasses
The glasses are placed behind the plates in descending order, that is, from largest to smallest. The glasses are on the right side and the glasses are on the left. Each glass or glass is designed for a specific drink. So, wine glasses are used for wine, and glasses for water or juice.
How to lay a tablecloth
Textiles on the table set the tone for the entire setting. A tablecloth as a background can emphasize the solemnity of the moment, or, conversely, ruin the mood. Therefore, it must be spotlessly clean, intact and without scuffs. It is checked in advance, washed and ironed.
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According to the general rules of table setting, the tablecloth is chosen in accordance with the occasion of the celebration:
- A formal reception calls for white damask fabric. This is the name given to a linen or cotton tablecloth woven with shiny convex patterns. You can replace it with smooth linen or linen, but damask looks more solemn. A soft lining is spread under the main tablecloth so that cutlery and plates do not knock when serving and during the meal. For this purpose, use felt or felt, cut to the size of the tabletop. To set the table at home, you can use a sheet folded several times.
- A gala dinner in an old mansion or a room designed in the style of a “noble nest” can be decorated with a lace or embroidered tablecloth. However, you should not choose bright and lush patterns.
- Light, elegant and sometimes bright embroideries are more suitable for calm family celebrations and setting a festive table at home. In this case, you need to make sure that the pattern is positioned strictly symmetrically relative to the contours of the table.
- Modern etiquette allows the use of colored tablecloths matched to the porcelain and napkins. However, it is not advisable to get too carried away with bright colors. Soft pastel shades chosen taking into account the style of the room, decor and occasion of the celebration will look good. For example, bluish and greenish tones will add coolness to a sunny dining room, and shades of yellow will warm you up in the winter cold.
- Colorful, brightly colored tablecloths will be more than appropriate at a children's party or themed party. Setting the table with rich tones is acceptable for breakfast or tea.
Official reception Gala dinner
For family celebrations
For children's parties
The tablecloth should be ironed before use, even if it has been stored very carefully. Traditionally, vertical and horizontal folds running strictly in the center are smoothed out. When placed on a table, they should divide the tabletop into four equal parts, aligning the center of the furniture with the center of the canvas.
How to properly set a table with a tablecloth:
- shake it over a piece of furniture to create an air gap;
- align the centers of the table and tablecloth;
- place it so that the corners of the canvas cover the legs, and the edge goes down 30-50 cm (less is not aesthetically pleasing, more is inconvenient).
At the end ends of the dining table, the tablecloth can hang a little lower unless there are guests sitting there. For a buffet table, a fairly long tablecloth is usually used, since there are no seats at the table. However, under no circumstances should it touch the floor.
How to serve breakfast correctly
Serving breakfast is considered to be an easy task. Therefore, it is feasible for everyone, you just have to follow the list of items that should be located on the breakfast table:
- Bread plate;
- Snack plate;
- Cup and saucer.
These are the most banal items that simply must be on the table at almost any time during the meal.
The appetizer plates are placed first, then the cups and saucers. A teaspoon is placed on them, or it can also be placed parallel to the plate with the handle to the right. We place the knife on the right side, the fork on the left with the teeth up. Then we put spices and napkins according to the rules stated above.
How to serve lunch and dinner correctly
When setting the table for dinner, it is important that guests can quickly serve themselves. A snack bar is placed on a tripod plate, a bread plate is on the left, a knife and spoon are on the right, a fork is on the left, and a glass is in front.
Since this is lunch, you need to add a ladle to the serving to ladle the soup. And you need to put a separate device on the plate with the salad so that everyone can put it in for themselves.
Dinner is a delicate matter. You can arrange it not only for yourself and your family, but also invite guests. Then dinner will become a more formal event. In this case, you need to set the table according to all the rules so that everyone is comfortable. This way you will make a good impression on your guests.
To make your dinner exquisite and everything perfect, you need to follow simple rules:
- The tablecloth should be clean and ironed.
- Dishes must be in the same style and color. You need to wash it thoroughly to make it shine.
- Bottles of alcohol are placed open and poured into glasses during dinner. A cloth napkin should be placed next to them.
A few rules
all cutlery must be arranged in a consistent manner
Before arranging dishes and cutlery, you need to check that they are intact and clean. This means that they must be free of cracks or chips, plaque or rust. Cutlery should not be bent.
Even the most stylish tableware should be wiped clean from dust and water marks . To do this, wipe it with a damp towel. Then the dishes are polished with a dry, clean cloth.
All cutlery and accessories are arranged in the same order. It is acceptable for the participants in the feast to have different utensils if the atmosphere is quite informal. You just need to remember that each guest must have all the cutlery from one set.
using vases with fresh flowers when setting the table
To set the table beautifully, you can use a wide variety of elements. A significant part of them is not used daily at home feasts. However, these elements will be needed when a festive dinner or banquet is organized.
Dessert table setting
The dessert table is associated with a festive table, so you can choose a brighter tablecloth. It would be good if you select a special service for this event. In this case, it is better to place the napkins in the center. The dessert table should be filled with the following equipment:
- Cups, saucers, teaspoons;
- Kettle with brewed tea (small);
- Large kettle with boiling water;
- Sugar bowl;
- A bowl with jam, condensed milk;
- A plate for sweets should be placed in front of each person;
- Drinks are poured when everyone is seated;
- Sweets can be served completely different, it can be buns, sweets, cake and others.
Festive table setting
Although the dessert table is associated with a festive table, they are still different from each other.
A napkin is placed on the plate, on which the hot plate is placed. The bread plate is located at the snack bar level on the left side. When dishes are replaced by one another, all plates can be moved with the exception of the diner, its position remains unchanged.
To the right of the diner there is a soup spoon, two knives (snack and table), and forks, as always, are placed on the left.
The arrangement of cutlery follows the principle that the cutlery furthest from the plate corresponds to the dish that is served first.
Decor
Setting the table correctly is good, but if this process lacks a touch of creativity and creativity, then it looks a bit boring. After all, setting a table, and even more so a festive or dessert table, is an occasion to show your creativity and experiment with decor from the heart.
Most often, flowers are used as decoration, standing in a vase in the center of the table. They refresh the appearance of the table well and add a touch of lightness and tenderness. But even in such a seemingly win-win decor option, you can find flaws and you need to take into account all the smallest details.
So, you can put flowers on the table if:
- Those present do not have an allergic reaction to flowers;
- The composition does not contain flowers with a strong aroma (this, at a minimum, can kill your appetite or cause disgust);
- The vase should be placed at a distance from the cutlery.
But flowers are not the only way to decorate; for example, candles will decorate a romantic dinner, and figures of wedding rings or a figurine of newlyweds will look good at a wedding feast.
If you are throwing a party for children, then you should be especially creative with the decor. You can attach balloons with images of cartoon characters to the chairs. The only thing is that you need to take into account the size of the ball and hang them at the optimal level (so that they do not interfere with comfortable interaction). The main thing is that the decor and serving are in harmony with each other and do not look pretentious.
Dishes
when changing several dishes, initially place several plates one on top of the other
Approximately 35 types of plates can be used when organizing a feast. The most commonly used types on the table are:
- Soup plate. Soups are usually served there. This is a deep plate. You can also serve muesli, oatmeal and other porridges, cereals dipped in milk. The soup bowl is not intended for serving broths. They are poured into specially designed bowls.
- Dining Plate. Such plates are divided into small and deep. Small plates are used to serve the second course. Italian pasta and other pasta dishes are traditionally served in deep plates.
- Pie plate. It is used for serving bread, croutons, and butter. The plate is placed on top and slightly to the left of the basic set of cutlery and dishes. A butter knife is placed on top of the pie plate.
- Chill plate. In appearance it resembles a shell. It serves oysters. Salads can also be served.
- Fish plate. This is a slightly elongated plate. It is intended for serving fish dishes.
plates of the same color scheme are the main rule when setting the table
In addition to these main types, there are also, for example, serving, dessert, egg, and caviar plates.
As the rules of etiquette say, the serving plate may differ from the rest of the set of dishes. It may be taken from another dish set or differ in color. However, try to follow the general color scheme: if white dishes are used for table setting, then red plates will add dissonance to the composition.
Proper serving of cutlery
Every housewife can create a cozy atmosphere during a meal. Serving is a simple science; it is enough to know the basic rules of etiquette. Any dish will seem tastier at an elegantly decorated table.
Since ancient times, celebrations have been accompanied by feasts, and it was then that customs and rules for table setting began to take shape.
Why is table setting necessary?
For some reason, it is generally accepted that it is necessary to set the table correctly only in a restaurant. Nothing like this! Serving is a sign of respect for guests, a sign of the good taste of the owners of the house. It will be useful for everyone to know how to properly place cutlery on the table. You need to be able to create a festive atmosphere at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Many table settings, shown in films and TV series or described in books, are frightening because of their complexity.
By the way! Scientists have proven that the production of the joy hormone during eating improves metabolic processes in the body and promotes the absorption of nutrients.
Types of cutlery
Over the course of human history, many food devices have been created. In the process of evolution they underwent changes. Now in the arsenal of many housewives there are sets of cutlery for festive serving made of stainless steel, cupronickel, and silver.
The basic rule of table etiquette is “from the edges to the center.”
Spoons
The dining room is the largest in size. Dessert is ¼ less. The tea room is almost half the size of the dining room, but larger than the coffee room. Sour cream is easy to recognize by its round, pot-bellied shape. For sugar, it is made in the form of a scoop or with a curly ornate handle so that it can be immediately recognized among other spoons.
There may be a lot of cutlery on a set table, but not all of them are there at once.
Important! There are spoons for fruit compotes; they have an elongated handle, instead of the usual spatula there is a scoop for scooping out fruit. Externally, the fruit spoon resembles a miniature ladle. Another wonder is a spoon with an elongated handle for preparing mixed drinks.
Forks
Standard forks with long tines are used for appetizers and main meat courses. A fish fork has shorter teeth to make it easier to remove the bones. Sometimes a fish fork makes a depression in the center. Dessert ones differ in size, the cocotte one has only three teeth, the lemon one has only two.
Today, there are a lot of different cutlery designed strictly for a specific type of dish.
Knives
For appetizers, main courses, and desserts, they always come with a fork. The meat knife should be sharp or have fine serrations, resembling a file. Fishy is more rounded, blunt. The cheese is of medium width with a forked tip; for butter it is wide and blunt. The steak knife is shaped like a small kitchen knife, it has a sickle-shaped blade and a massive handle. The fruit knife is small, the blade is sharpened on both sides, more like a miniature cake spatula with a sharp tip.
The set of knives depends on what dishes will be served on the table.
Forceps
To set the dessert table, use baking tongs; they are convenient for gripping cakes and cake pieces. It is customary to serve cane sugar (it is always in the form of cubes) with small tweezers. They are placed in a sugar bowl or on a tablecloth nearby. There are also tongs for lobsters and snails; they are used to split the shell.
The very name of such tableware will tell the owners which tongs to put next to the salad bowl or in a bucket of ice.
By the way, for serving salads it is convenient to use tongs, which have a spoon on one side and a fork on the other. They are convenient for grabbing the required portion of greens or stringing large pieces of vegetables or fruits.
Other cutlery
A cake spatula is appropriate on the dessert table. For caviar you need a small flat spatula. For game you need special scissors, shaped like pruning shears. Chopsticks are only acceptable on a table decorated in an oriental style when guests are offered Chinese dishes.
Serving a sweet table requires the presence of these devices.
Rules for serving cutlery
Immutable rules of serving: cleanliness and neatness. Each cutlery made of non-ferrous metals is polished to a shine on the eve of the celebration. The tablecloth is bleached, starched for rigidity, and ironed.
A classic and win-win option is a snow-white tablecloth. She always looks elegant and solemn.
The dishes are arranged so that there is enough space for cutlery. How many dishes there are so many spoons and forks.
The minimum distance between them is 1 cm.
Choosing a tablecloth for the table
At special events, a light tablecloth made of natural fabrics: linen or cotton is recommended. The tablecloth should cover the entire tabletop and hang down to the sides by 20–30 cm.
The tablecloth should be combined with curtains and upholstery.
Important! Stains from starched fabric are easier to remove; they are not absorbed into the fibers and remain in grains of starch, which are easily washed out of the fabric.
Serving plate
The lower large plate is placed 5–7 from the edge, dishes for main courses are placed on top, and a snack bar is placed even higher. A deep bowl for soup is placed on it. Broths are served in special deep cups. The pie plate is placed on the left, away from the edge, the tea cup and saucer is placed on the right, at a distance of 3 cm from the dessert knife. Plates on the table play a key role; they are the basis of serving.
It is the responsibility of the housewife to promptly replace the plates with clean ones.
Arrangement of spoon, fork and knife
Knives are placed to the right of the plates, blade to the edge, forks to the left. The number of forks must correspond to the number of knives. Place the soup spoon next to the outermost knife. Cutlery for those dishes that are served earlier is placed closer to the edge of the plate, the rest are nearby, taking into account the order in which the food is served. With an extensive menu, which includes meat and fish appetizers or a main dish, first put a knife for meat, then for fish. The location of the teaspoon and coffee spoon is the same, on a saucer; a knife for butter or cutting pies is on a pie plate.
According to the rules of etiquette, the spoon and knife should be placed to the right of the plate, and the fork to the left.
Where to put the napkin
Large decorative napkins are laid out under a large plate. The woven lip wiper is installed or laid out on the top plate. If the napkin is rolled into a tube or shaped into a ring, it is better to place it next to the forks, closer to the plate.
Napkins can be any color, the main thing is that they are folded beautifully and neatly.
Drinkware
Glasses, wine glasses, glasses for wine, juices and drinks, shot glasses are placed to the right of the plates, away from the edge, aligned in height, from right to left.
They can be made from either glass or crystal.
Types of table settings
Each type of meal requires a special atmosphere. An ordinary lunch, of course, differs from a festive dinner. When only dessert is served, the table should not appear empty.
Descriptions of several classic options for a set table will help awaken your imagination.
Table setting for breakfast
An individual decorative napkin is placed for each family member. Place a snack plate in the center and put cutlery. On the left is a place for a pie plate. Nearby is a glass for juice or water. A coffee or tea pair with a spoon is located on the right.
Vases with flowers, napkins and cutlery with spices are usually placed in the center of the table.
For a shared breakfast, it is acceptable to serve sliced bread in a nice small bread bowl and butter in a butter dish. Sliced meats are laid out in an elongated dish, the cheese is usually not cut, served in one piece on a flat plate or serving board, each cut as much as needed for breakfast. Paper napkins are placed in a napkin holder next to the spice set.
Bread can be served in a wicker basket, and butter can be served in a butter dish made of ceramic or porcelain.
Dinner and supper
Lunch involves frequent changes of dishes; the dishes are arranged so that everyone sitting at the table can be approached from the left side. After arranging the cutlery, choose a place for the tureen; place a ladle next to it on a ceramic stand so that there are no stains on the tablecloth. Shared hot dishes are laid out so that everyone can reach the plate independently; usually 4 servings are placed on a common plate. Slices and appetizers are designed for 6 people or arranged individually for each person.
The dinner table is set in such a way that guests can be served conveniently and quickly.
Proper table setting for dessert
The service will make the dessert table elegant and sophisticated. It’s beautiful when there is a teapot, candy bowls, a sugar bowl, and croutons with cookies in the same style on the table.
A dessert plate is placed in front of each person, next to a couple for a hot drink. Appropriate:
- wine glasses;
- juice glasses;
- glasses for water.
The ideal option would be to use a special service.
Bowls for jam and preserves are placed next to the dessert plate on the right, away from the edge of the table. It is better to buy lace napkins. The tea bags are placed in baskets or on saucers, the coffee is placed in jars, and a long-handled spoon is placed on top. Boiling water is best served in a large porcelain teapot. Lemon slices are laid out on a special tray.
Serving for the holiday
The festive table is distinguished from lunch or dinner by high-quality tableware and elegant salad bowls. The permissible minimum distance between chairs is 50 cm. If it is double hot, add additional cutlery.
Banquet table setting helps create a festive mood.
Children's table
For children's matinees, a bright colored tablecloth is acceptable; it may not cover the entire table; it is often laid diagonally so that children do not move the fabric at the corners. The number of plates is limited; a diner is enough. There is a minimum of salads, the emphasis is on portioned dishes that do not need to be cut. They are placed in front of everyone individually in bowls or on saucers.
The tablecloth should be light shades.
By the way, fruit salad can be served in orange halves, after removing the core.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Table Color Scheme
When setting a table, the tablecloth is chosen according to the type of event. For everyday use, variegated or plain fabric with acrylic coating is allowed, the main thing is that it matches the colors of the dishes.
Shades of red stimulate the appetite, while cool blue tones pacify it. Yellow and orange create a good mood, green have a calming effect.
The principle of arrangement of cutlery: the dish that is served first is the farthest cutlery.
It is better to decorate a romantic dinner in dark colors so that burning candles look advantageous. There is no need for unnecessary details on the table that interfere with communication: vases with flowers, multi-tiered fruit stands.
A formal event requires moderate, muted tones and crystal tableware. Themed parties will be memorable if the tablecloth contrasts with the colors of the dishes.
Setting a holiday table is also an opportunity to show your creativity.
Additional decorations for serving
The decor should not be conspicuous; it complements the serving of dishes. Inappropriate:
- high compositions;
- vases with huge bouquets blocking the view;
- strong-smelling bouquets; guests may be allergic to them.
Decorate with napkin holders and candlesticks. Originally folded fabric napkins are an ideal option for decorating a formal table. Flowers from vegetables and fruits, edible compositions are appropriate for any dinner, they have a place on the dessert table.
A win-win option is to use flowers. Usually they are placed in the middle of the table - it can be a bouquet or composition.
Knowing the secrets of serving, you can turn a traditional meal into a wonderful meal, where everyone will enjoy not only the food, but also the contemplation of the feast. It's so easy to give joy to your loved ones! Make every family lunch and dinner special.
VIDEO: How to properly and beautifully set a table.
50 options for beautiful and unusual table settings:
Where to start
Before you start setting the table, you need to think through everything carefully and plan. Particular attention should be paid to the number of guests and the menu. Depending on what dishes and in what quantities will be served, appropriate cutlery is used.
Before setting the table, you should consider how to arrange all the cutlery
First of all, a carefully ironed tablecloth is laid out on the table. The edges of the tablecloth descend approximately 25–30 cm from the table, covering its legs. In order not to cause inconvenience to the guests at the table, they should not lower themselves to the seats of the chairs.
A soft cloth should be placed under the tablecloth itself. This is done to soften the sound of dishes hitting the table. For example, you can use fleece.
According to the rules of etiquette, it is not necessary to cover the top of the tablecloth with oilcloth. Even if it is expensive and very beautiful. However, it is permissible to buy and lay a Teflon tablecloth.
table setting in rustic style
The Teflon coating will protect the table surface from spilled drinks and greasy stains. You can easily get rid of them with a sponge. After cleaning, there will be no stains from drinks or traces of food on the Teflon tablecloth.
In certain cases, it is permissible to use underplates or runners instead of a tablecloth. Podtarelniki are various stands. They are placed under plates and cutlery. They can be made of plastic, bamboo. Plain paper placemats can also be used. Runners are narrow strips of fabric that are spread in the center of the table.
