It doesn’t matter if your dinner party is a party of two or a party of twenty, setting the table ahead of time is not only a huge time saver for you but is the first step toward making your guest or guests feel welcome. I can’t tell you how many times someone has come to my home and noticed the place settings and said to me, “Oh this looks so nice! You did this for me?” Even if the place setting is just at my kitchen island counter, which it often is, it’s inviting and let’s your guests know they can settle in and relax and enjoy the ‘experience’ of connecting.
Table Setting Do’s & Don’ts:
- DO pick a color or two, at max, and stick with those. Simple is better.
- DON’T over complicate it with too many decorations. Leave room for the food!
- DO try to incorporate flowers or fresh herbs or something from nature to soften the tone. Even a sprig in the napkin or a single flower in a vase is a nice touch
- DO set out wine bottles along the table or nearby on a beverage table so guests can help themselves without feeling like they need to be served
- DON’T use flowers or candles that are too high or wide that they make it tough to see across the table and prohibit conversation
Table Setting Ideas from Simple to Extravagant:
Simple:
This simple setting is an example of what I’d put out if a friend is popping over for dinner and it’s just the two of us catching up and I were serving soup and salad. Place mat, which dishes, linen napkin and silverware, wine and water glasses and few votives.
Family Style:
If you are planning to serve your dinner family style a few flowers are all you need so you don’t overcrowd the table when you set all that delicious food out! The placement of the flowers is important because they are in between the place settings so everyone can still chat.
Casual Elegance:
A splash of color and some small votives are all you need when you have beautiful natural lighting or a view. A round table setting is nice for a medium sized group so that conversation can flow easily.
Outdoor Ambiance:
With the fireplace and pool as a backdrop you don’t have to do much to create an elegant ambiance for an evening outdoor dinner party.
Formal Occasions:
There are times when you may want to go all out and really dress it up. These table settings give your guests exactly that.
And for more inspiration check out the decor section of my blog here!
