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How to dress the table

With a beautifully set dining table, you can turn every meal into a celebration. Dress your table to perfection with our stylish, practical dining table decoration tips. From natural decorations with a warm appearance to colourful napkins and tableware. At IKEA, we have everything for a personal, but affordable, set table. This way, you can enjoy long dinners and show your cooking skills. Get inspired and discover how to dress your table for every season. 

A dressed table with a linen tablecloth, beige dinnerware and green eucalyptus as decoration and a VINTERFINT scented tealight.

Dress the table in three steps

1. Start with the basics

Whether you’re setting the table for a festive occasion or a weekday breakfast, you always need the basics: tableware, cutlery, and glasses.Here’s how to set the table according to etiquette:

Plates

Are you going all out with multiple courses or dishes? Then use a different plate for each course. Stack the plates on top of each other, from large to small. Place napkins and bread plates to the left of the main plate.

Cutlery

Also set the cutlery. For cutlery, the rule is: forks on the left and knives and spoons on the right. Work from the outside in, with the cutlery you need first on the outside and the cutlery for the main course closest to the plate. Serving dessert too? Place the dessert cutlery above the plate.

Tip: the dessert spoon goes to the Left, the foRk to the Right.

Glasses

Place the glasses in a diagonal line above the plate to the right. Start with the water glass, then the red wine glasses, and finally the white wine glasses.

2. Choose a theme

Decorate your dining table with a tablecloth or runner and coasters for a festive look. At IKEA, we have linen tablecloths for a luxurious feel, but also plastic tablecloths so the kids can go wild. Keep the base simple by choosing one colour and create a playful effect with place mats or napkins in a striking colour.

3. Dining table decorations

The basics are set in a theme on the table, so now comes the fun part: the decorations. Let your imagination run wild. For a rustic look, choose decorations made from natural materials, such as wooden chopping boards and coasters. Going for a romantic look? Opt for silver-coloured napkin rings, candle holders, and vases. Finish it off with artificial flowers and leaves on the table.

Tip: make your festive dinner extra personal with handwritten place cards.

Hosting a dinner? Find out how to seat more guests

If you're hosting a dinner, it's crucial to have a seat for everyone. Even when you don't have a large dining room, it's still possible to create more seatings. IKEA has handy stackable stools and foldable chairs.

A festively table with a JÄMLIK scented candle and lit candles in a FINSMAK tealight holder and a SILVERPÄRON candlestick.

Dress the table in autumn

As the temperature drops outside and perennials lose their colour, it means that autumn is arriving. We’ll be spending more time indoors over the coming months. Together. This often involves cosy dinners with friends and family. Time to set the table. Completely in autumn style, of course. Get inspired for decorating your table in autumn.

Colours: green, beige, brown, white, orange, or ochre yellow.

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People are playing cards at a festive dinner table with candle sticks, wine glasses and plates with cheese and crackers.
People are gathered around a dinner table for a meal of cheese and fresh fruit, all in a cosy, atmosphere with candles.
People are gathered around a dinner table for a meal of cheese and fresh fruit, all in a cosy, atmosphere with candles.
Setting a table for autumn is done with many natural colours, such as white, beige, and brown.
A table set for autumn with two KRUSTISTEL plates stacked on top of each other with a white napkin on top.
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Dress the table for the holidays

During the festive months, there are many celebrations to dress the table festively. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Sinterklaas, Christmas, or another holiday, there’s always a reason for a beautifully set table. Gather with friends and family while enjoying the most delicious dishes. Set your table for the holidays with IKEA and cheers!

Colours: red, green, black, beige, and black.

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A cosy Christmas table is set with VINTERFINT decorations, lit candles and small wrapped presents in bowls.
A white-themed dinner table is decorated for Christmas with a VINTERFINT vase with branches in it as a centrepiece.
A festive dining table is set for the holidays with several white star-shaped STRÅLA lampshades hung above the table.
A small present sits in a bowl on a festive dinner table, wrapped in a red VINTERFINT gift wrapper with a snowflake pattern.
A red and white-checkered VINTERFINT paper napkin is playfully folded and set in a bowl, on a Christmas dinner table.
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Dress the table for NYE

A sparkling start to the new year begins with a delicious dinner on New Year’s Eve. Invite your friends and family for an evening full of fun, good food, and games. And don’t forget the countdown to midnight. Set the table with fun decorations in silver or gold and hang some garlands for an extra festive feel.

Colours: white, silver, gold, or black.

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A lady dressed in a silver glitter dress festively sets the table for New Year’s Eve with silver FRÖJDA decorations.
VINTERFINT decorations and STRÅLA lighting are on a festively decorated dinner table in tones of white and silver.
A brass-colour STOCKHOLM 2025 bowl and dish in the dining room
A festively dressed table for NYE with foldable white/grey TORPARÖ chairs and candles with candle holders on table.
A festive space to celebrate NYE with friends. The table is beautifully set with a festive tablecloth, cutlery and plates.
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