At first glance, the idea of how to set a table sounds very easy and common sense. After all, isn’t this something that all of us know from when we were young children watching our mothers as they prepared for the family meal or to greet any guest? Yet setting a table has its rules, definitions, and limitations. This is especially the case when a centerpiece is involved as well.
One of the first things to take into account is how many courses will be served at the meal. This will tell you how much silverware to put out and in which order. Do you need to include fish knives or cake forks? The main rule to remember for table settings is that you start from the outside in – in other words, the silverware for the first course is on the outside and as you go through each course you move more inwards.
It is also important to know how many people will be seated at each table (if there will be more than one) and the shape of the table. You might set a round table differently from a square table. If you already have a good idea of the places that you need, this will prevent unnecessary squashing.
Do you have plenty of room on the table? If you are short of space, don’t bother with a centerpiece. Your guests’ comfort is most important, and if the centerpieces would end up making it difficult to put down plates and bowls of salads, it is far better to do without the inconvenience. Even if you do have enough room, this is an issue where the comfort and convenience of your guests should really come first. For example, the table decoration may look very ornate and beautiful, but if it is causing an obstruction so that your guests can’t speak to each other or it is always in the way, then it is really not worth it.
Another point to remember is how to make the centerpiece. If you have decided to go green and use ferns or any other kind of greenery, please make sure that is not the kind that molts leaves everywhere. Finding green ferns in your soup can be extremely off-putting! If candles will be part of it, make sure that they are not scented as the combination of their fragrance with the odor of the cooked food can also be unpleasant even if both fragrances on their own are very nice.
If you are thinking of a certain theme, such as a high school reunion or you are looking at centerpieces for weddings, it is worthwhile sifting through the many suggestions and magazine articles that you may find. But before you actually make them up, think about your guests and their interests and what would appeal to them. Do you want to be a little humorous or make something cute?
Once you have all of these points down, think of a color scheme. Find something that blends in with the theme and the centerpiece.
Noting all of these factors is sure to create a beautiful table.