SWIFT TIP: How To Set A Table

Whether you are a seasoned professional or a newbie to hosting an important skill is to how to set a table. For this Swift Tip, we will teach you a few pointers on how to set a table when hosting guests in your home. While we are providing the guidelines below, the most important thing to note is that hosting should not be stressful. Your place settings do not need to be perfect. Have fun with it! Play with mismatched silverware, textures and colors. Chances are you have everything you need to set a beautiful table at your home and if you don’t you know where to find us!

Setting A Table Basics

Here’s a list of “foundational guidelines” for setting a table that applies to nearly all of the place setting variations:

1. Plates go in the center of the placemat
2. Flatware is laid from the outside in according to the order of your courses
3. Knives always go to the right of the plates with the blades facing in towards the plate
4. Water glasses go to the top right
5. If your table is starting to look crowded, you can have a “community” plate for butter and another for lemons to be shared

The Everyday Place Setting

1. Lay the placemat on the table
2. Place the dinner plate in the center of the placemat
3. Lay the fork to the left of the plate and the knife (closest to the plate) and spoon on the right
4. Set the water glass above the knife in the top right corner of the setting
5. Add a napkin either on top of the dinner plate or underneath the fork

photo | Mustard Seed Photography

design | Jennifer Laura Design

The Informal Place Setting

1. Lay the placemat or charger on the table
2. Put the dinner plate down first then add the salad plate on top of the dinner plate
3. If you are serving soup, add the soup bowl on top of the salad plate
4. Add the napkin to the left of the charger or on the plates (if no soup course)
5. Place the salad fork on the left and the dinner fork on the right on the napkin then to the right of the charger add the knife (closest to the plate) and the spoon next to it
6. Above the knife, add the water glass
7. Next to the water glass, add the wine glass or other beverage glass

photo | Fulleylove Photography

design | Alyssa Meeks Events

The Formal Place Setting

1. Lay a charger at each seat at the table
2. Place a soup bowl at the center of the charger
3. Add a bread plate to the top left of the charger opposite of the water glass
4. Add the napkin to the left of the charger on on the plates (if no soup course)
5. To the left on the napkin, place the salad fork on the outside and the dinner fork on the inside
6. To the right of the charger, place the knife closest to the charger then the soup spoon
7. Add a butter knife horizontally across the bread plate with the blade facing towards the plate
8. Above the charger in the center, place a dessert spoon (also known as tea spoon) with the handle to the right
9. Above the knife, place the water glass. To the right of the water glass add a white wine glass then next to it add a red wine glass slightly above the white wine glass
10. If you have individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, add them above the dessert spoon in the center. Otherwise place them in the middle of each end of the table
11. Add a place card about the dessert spoon
12. If providing a coffee/tea service, add a coffee cup and saucer below the water and wine glasses

Swift + Company is here to help for all of your table setting rental needs. Give our team a call at 713.869.8151 or fill out our event request form. Happy hosting!