How to set the table properly: Useful tips and recommendations

The importance of placing cutlery correctly on the table

The passion for cooking begins in the kitchen, but it doesn't end there - it continues with the joy of serving a meal in your own style. Setting the table properly, choosing the right tableware and accessories are almost as important as the food you serve.

How to place cutlery on the table correctly: useful tips and recommendations

Table setting etiquette isn't just for formal or festive meals. A proper and elegant table setting will make your guests feel appreciated and respected, whether you're preparing a special meal during the holiday season or hosting a dinner with friends.

Although the topic may seem overwhelming, it's really not that complicated (after all, we are not hosting banquets at the royal court). There are some basic rules that are easy-to-remember and you can practice them even during everyday family meals. Read on to find out the proper order of placing cutlery on the table, which side of the plate to place the fork, spoon, and knife on, and how to arrange your cutlery on the plate when you're finished eating.

Basic rules for setting the table

If you enjoy hosting meals for family and friends, first of all, make sure you have a large enough cutlery set. That way, you won't have to set the table with forks and knives of different designs. We recommend buying high-quality stainless steel pieces to prevent stains or corrosion over time. Check our article on Zwilling – the largest and most renowned German manufacturer of exceptional stainless steel knives, cookware and cutlery ("All about Zwilling – German manufacturer of knives, cookware and accessories").

If you already have your cutlery ready, here is a brief overview of the placement rules every host should know:

Place the cutlery in the order of its use, from the outside towards the plate.
Forks are placed on the left side of the plate.
Knives and spoons are placed on the right side of the plate.
The dessert fork or spoon sits at the top.
Place knives with the blades facing the plate. The exception is the butter knife, which should be placed on the bread plate.
Only place the cutlery on the table that will be used for the food you are preparing. Don't put dessert forks on the table if you are not serving dessert (but why wouldn't anyone serve dessert)?

Placing cutlery in the correct order

Perhaps the most important aspect of table setting is the order in which the cutlery is arranged. As mentioned above, cutlery is placed in the order in which it will be used, starting from the outside inwards. Simply put: the cutlery furthest from the plate is used, for the first course.

If you are serving only appetizers and a main course, place the appetizer cutlery on the outer side, and the main course cutlery next to the plate. If the menu includes soup, the soup spoon is placed to the right of the main course knife because soup is generally eaten before the main course.

Which side is the cutlery placed on?

A quick internet search will turn up plenty of photos where the cutlery is simply arranged around the serving plate. "There's an exception to every rule", say the most creative people among us. However, if you want to follow etiquette and avoid faux pas, stick to the rules of good manners:

Forks are placed on the left side of the plate, with the prongs facing up.
Knives are placed on the right side, with the blade facing the dinner plate.

If you know you have guests who eat with their left hand, you can reverse the placement of the cutlery. It is a gesture of utmost consideration and appreciation for your guests, one that will not go unnoticed.

Placing the dessert cutlery

You can serve dessert with any of these cutlery: teaspoons, dessert spoons, or dessert forks. Dessert spoons are usually larger than teaspoons, but smaller than soup spoons.

Choose the cutlery based on the dessert you are serving: teaspoons are suitable for creams and soft cakes (creme brulee, pannacotta, tiramisu, chocolate mousse), while forks are appropriate for sweet tarts, cheesecakes and other desserts with a dense or crunchy texture.

Regardless of the option you choose, place the dessert cutlery on top of the plate, with the handle on the right. Note! If you are serving multiple desserts and/or fruit that require both a dessert spoon and a fork, the rules change: the dessert fork goes closest to the plate, with the handle facing left. The dessert spoon is placed above it, with the handle facing right.

Dessert cutlery generally has a simple and timeless design, but if you want to impress down to the smallest detail, we recommend these charming heart-shaped dessert spoons.

How do you place the cutlery on the table after eating?

Cutlery plays an important role throughout the meal, from how it is arranged around the plate to how guests use it. There are, of course, rules of etiquette regarding the handling and placement of cutlery during the meal.

One of the most common etiquette mistakes is placing the fork or knife halfway on the the plate and halfway on the table. Once you have started eating, the cutlery should no longer touch the table.

So how do you place your cutlery on the plate during a meal? When you take a break from eating, place the knife and fork with their handles at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions (imagining that the plate is a clock). The tip of the fork should be placed under the knife blade.

When you finish eating, both utensils should be placed paralle to each otherl, with the handles at the 4 o'clock position. Don't hesitate to follow these rules in restaurants as well; this is an elegant way to signal to the waiter that you have finished your meal or would like to be served again.

Special cutlery sets

Give your meal an exceptional touch with special cutlery for specific dishes. For example, if you plan to serve beef steak or any other roast, use a set of steak knives with a serrated blade.

To serve serve seafood properly, choose a set of special forks. However, it is advisable to make sure your guests are already familiar with using these special utensils, to avoid putting them in an awkward position during the meal. The order of positioning the cutlery applies here as well: the earlier you use them, the further out they should be placed.

We hope this concise guide has given you an overview of how to set the table according to proper etiquette. Of course, cutlery is complemented by other essential elements on the table: napkins, tablecloths, dinnerware, drinking glasses, decorations, olive oil dispensers, salt and pepper shakers. Their appearance and placement on the table must follow a few simple principles. Discover how to create an elegant and harmonious dining setting in our article "The Art of Setting a Festive Table".