Believe it or not, setting the table in adulthood is more than just throwing a few white plates and your mismatched silverware on the table. While that habit from your college days may be hard to shake, setting the table with careful thought and attention to detail—especially to fit a particular occasion—can deliver an incredible impact for your guests.
Whether you’re dining with your S/O on a weeknight after a long day of work, or you’re dressing your dining room to the nines for a formal dinner with your in-laws, there are few rules to follow for every situation, and our expert design contributor Daniela Benloulou is breaking it down for us below. Here’s the skinny on how to set a formal dining table, for any occasion… Take it away, Daniela!
Scenario 1: Just you and your spouse/partner/roommate, weeknight.
Place setting checklist:
Easy-to-clean placemats
Salad fork
Dinner fork
Salad plate or bowl
Entrée plate
Butter knife
Water glass
Scenario 2: Friends coming over for dinner, weeknight.
Now that you’re expecting company, it’s time to add a little more interest to the table. Because it’s still a weeknight, use only casual items, but mix up textures, colors, and patterns to have a little fun.
Place setting checklist:
Salad fork
Dinner fork
Beautiful placemat and/or decorative charger
Entrée plate
Salad plate
Napkin + napkin ring
Butter knife
Water glass
Wine glass
Scenario 3: Sunday brunch with the in-laws.
Now let’s begin with more formal tableware. Use some fine china (or fancier casual china), but keep colors light and bright for Sunday. Note the addition of a water glass with a stem.
Place setting checklist:
Folded linen napkin, placed under your forks
Salad fork
Dinner fork
Charger plate
Entrée plate
Salad plate
Butter knife
Soup spoon
Teaspoon
Water glass with stem
Wine glass
Scenario 4: Dinner party where you want to impress.
Now it’s time to bring out all your registry stuff! Set the table with both red and white wine glasses, as well as stemmed water glasses. Add name cards for a seamless transition from cocktails in the living room to everyone seated and ready for the meal. In this tablescape I kept colors neutral, as it often feels the most formal and lets you add color through fresh flowers (and beautiful food!).
Place setting checklist:
Salad fork
Dinner fork
Beautiful placemat OR table runner
Charger plate
Entrée plate
Salad plate
Napkin + napkin ring
Butter knife
Soup spoon
Teaspoon
Water glass with stem
Red wine glass
White wine glass
Name or place card
Itching for more color? Especially if your fine China is neutral? I suggest table runners and napkins to add the pop without overwhelming the table in color. Here’s a bold use of emerald that still feels elegant and modern:
You can also just add a multi-colored napkin, like this one I had made from a Balinese fabric:
There you have it, everyone! Thanks to Daniela, it looks like we’ll be hosting our fair share of dinner parties this season… No complaints there. ;)
What expert tips would you like to see here on the blog next?
Shout out at us @GrayMalin on social media to let us know. And while you’re at it, follow along with Daniela’s work by following her on Instagram here, or visiting her website right here.
Xx Team GM
Photos: Daniela Benloulou