The definitive guide on setting your table
Celebrating with family or friends is one of the most fulfilling moments of the year, especially when it is an important date – the ones we have marked up in our calendars. What's more, it's celebrating round a table where you have those magical moments full of laughter, conversation and positive energy.
Preparing a delicious menu comes first but what to do with the table? The feelings, memories and emotions that can be evoked from a well-set table are just as important as having full and happy tummies.
And if there is one thing that we're great at, it's giving decoration tips, which is why we want to share our definitive instructions for setting the table, to make sure that your celebrations are unforgettable.
Choose a theme
At Christmas, you want the best of the best for family gatherings, parties with friends and unforgettable moments round the table. You can combine green, red and gold tones and put out a centrepiece made from a wreath of twigs, LED lights or Christmas baubles.
Are you a super fan of a series and can't get over the fact that it's over? Do you get on board with every holiday, wherever it originated from originally, like Halloween and Thanksgiving? Decorating your table for whatever gathering it may be is the perfect opportunity to let you imagination run wild!
The first step to setting a table is choosing the theme the table is going to revolve around. You can get inspiration from all kinds of places: nature, social media, a particular festivity, magazines, etc. The concept must incorporate all the elements and bring everything together. Channel your inspiration, together with textures and colours, onto a mood board to guide you through the creative process of creating your perfect table.
What will your main elements be?
You have to choose an element or some elements that are going to take centre-stage, such as special dinnerware, a centrepiece or a candelabra. The centrepiece is the most visible element. It will set the tone for the rest of the table and establish the theme but it's also important that it doesn't interfere with the functionality of the table and that all guests can see one another. Including lights adds a magic touch and creates ambience. Decorative accessories, such as candles, or wreaths made of twigs woven with lights, are a winner.
It doesn't matter if your dinnerware doesn't have all the necessary elements, you can combine different types and colours to add personality and you can even set the table with different plates for each guest. Check out our plates and dinnerware to buy the pieces that you need – and don't be afraid of mixing and matching.
The chairs that don't match are the ones that will blow you away the most! Having identical chairs in the house for more than 10 people is unlikely, so don't be afraid to mix and match the chairs that you have, interchanging them and adding cushions, ribbons, twigs or any other decorations that fit with your chosen theme. Mixing styles and colours will give it a cool and effortless look.
And if you need a new dining table, you can always go for an extendible one. That way you can adapt the size of the table to the number of guests that are coming round to celebrate with you. Check out our dining tables to find the one that best suits your requirements.
Let's set the table!
Once you have chosen your theme and the main elements, it is time to look at how to set everything. Firstly, if we're going for a more formal dinner, we can use a well-pressed tablecloth, and for something a bit more informal, we can use placemats. A mix of both is also a great option!
Cutlery is used from the outside inwards, and the pieces that will be the first to be used should be placed on the outside. Spoons and knives go to the right and forks to the left. This way, if the first course is going to be soup, the soup spoon will be first on the left, and so on according to the order that the courses will be served. Finally, we'll put the dessert spoon at the top, next to the glasses and right above the plates.
Moving on to the tableware, we'll put the plates in order of use; if we're planning to serve soup, the bowl should go on top of everything. And let's not forget the bread plate, which, if we're going to be serving bread, goes to the top left of the cutlery.
Glasses can go to the right; if the event is formal, you should set at least two: one for wine and another for water. The wine glass should be placed further to the right than the water glass.
Lastly, the napkin will be the final flourish, rolled or folded in an original shape. It will be placed on top of the final plate or bowl that we have set, or to the side of the cutlery, so that it's the first thing to be picked up when everyone takes a seat at the table.
The magic lies in the details
The details that we include on our table will be the thing that adds the finishing touch. This might be some sprigs of eucalyptus tied to the napkin with a bow of string, some little cards with the names of each dinner guest or a menu written by hand to whet their appetite.
If your dinner guests are vegetarian or vegan, you can pay homage to them by creating a table centrepiece of fruit and vegetables, which will add a splash of personality to your table and can be eaten cold as a starter.
If crafts are your thing, you can win over their hearts by creating handmade details such as mini jars of homemade jam or a photo to take home as a souvenir.
To top it all off, don't forget the most important thing: enjoying it to the max whether you're a guest or the one organising the event; if there's anything that we've learnt, it's that time spent together is what matters most of all.
