The art of setting a festive table

They say that you eat with your eyes first, which is why carefully setting the table is an essential part of a successful festive dinner.

If the dihes are not served buffet-style, with the dishes and cutlery washed, dried, and set aside, then they must be placed on the table, according to a few simple rules.

It is true that the placement of dishes, cutlery, and glassware varies depending on the menu served and the occasion, that everyone has their own style, and that a touch of modernity is welcome, but the code of etiquette clearly table manners.

A properly set table is a sign of respect, refinement, and good taste, especially when perfectly complements the theme, design, colors, and decorations chosen for the occasion, offering more than just food: a sense of well-being and a pleasant atmosphere.

The basic rules of table setting,which we must follow, are:

1. Space - used efficiently

Choose plates basen on the occasion, but also on the shape and size of the table where you will be serving the food, so that they fit harmniously into the space you have available.

The tablecloth should be made of linen or cotton (not plastic or oilcloth) and, generally, should not hang more than 30–35 cm below the table. It’s best if the napkins match the tablecloth, and securing them with a special napkin ring will add a touch of elegance to the table.

Tip: An elegantly arranged table involves using a maximum of three dominant colors at the same time. For example, for a Christmas table, white/silver is suitable, combined with red and green, and for an Easter table, pastel shades of pink, yellow, orange and green can be successfully used, which give brightness and chromatically express the spirit of these holidays.

2. Plates – the first to be placed

The first ones we place on the table are the basic plates, 1 - 2 cm from the edge of the table, and the ideal distance between them would be 50 - 60 cm. These are flat plates, from which nothing will be served, on which the plates of the first course will be placed. The plates that sit on the flat, basic plate will always be smaller than it, stacked in order of size, from largest to smallest.

Once the plates have been arranged, we can use them as a guide for positioning the other elements. For example, the drinking glasses and possibly the cups will be placed on the right side of the main plate, and the butter and salad plates will be on the left side.

3. The place of cutlery and napkins on the table

Cutlery is arranged in order, from the outside to the inside, starting with the first to the last dish, as follows: forks on the left side of the plate, and knives and spoons on the right side.

The only exceptions to the rule are the dessert knife, which sits in front of the main plate, with the handle on the right and the cutting edge facing the plate, and the dessert fork - placed with the handle on the left.

The knife edge will be directed towards the plate, and the cutlery will be aligned according to the edge of the table, at a distance of 1-2 cm from the handle (aligned with the edge of the plate). After each course, the used cutlery must be collected together with the dishes from which it was served.

Napkins are placed to the left of the table forks or, if they are wrapped and secured with a decorative ring, they initially sit well on the main plate.

4. Table centerpiece

Create a unique arrangement of dried branches, cranberries and fir cones. For example, you can create a unique arrangement from a few dried branches, peeled and painted white. You can use the frame of an old lantern as a base, for example.

5. Raise your glasses! And then?

The drinking glasses should be positioned on the right side, above the knives. They are aligned diagonally, toewards the left, starting with the smallest and ending with the largest. The image indicates the types of drinking glasses for the wine varieties, as well as the order in which they will be placed if all are served at the table.

Tip: If you are also serving coffee, the coffee cup will sit to the right of the main plate, after the cutlery, with the coffee spoon placed on the right side of the coffee cup's saucer.