Martine Sicard
Setting Your Dining Room Table
By Amanda Bashore

Whether you're planning a formal dinner party or a casual
get-together with friends, the care you take in setting your dining
room table can express the thought you put into entertaining
your guests. It isn't difficult to set a beautiful table with things you
already have.

Planning Your Center Piece
When it comes to centerpieces for a dinner of course we tend to
think of flowers and candles and these are probably by far the
most popular but you don't need to be stuck with tradition. A
beautiful tray of perfect red apples arranged in a pyramid can be
simple but elegant. Or try a grouping of white pillar candles in
varying heights placed on a mirror or tray of clear glass marbles.
Your dinner table will sparkle.
If you do choose flowers, make sure your arrangement looks
good from all directions since your guests will be seated around it
and that it isn't so tall that people can't see over it to carry on a
conversation.

Deciding on the Linens to Use
One of the first steps in setting your table is to decide on the
linens you'll be using. A white tablecloth and napkins are
considered traditional for a formal dinner, while a patterned
tablecloth or place mats work well for a more informal gathering.
If the tablecloth has fold marks from being stored, iron it with an
iron on steam setting or put it in the dryer with damp towel for a
few minutes.
Napkins don't have to be a match with the tablecloth but they
should match each other. At a formal setting, the napkin is either
folded or rolled in a napkin ring and placed centered on the
dinner plate or to the left of the left of the forks. If you're setting
an informal table, the napkin can be placed under the forks or on
the dinner plate. Try some creative napkin folding techniques for
your more informal settings.

Selecting Your Dinnerware
When it comes to dinnerware, it's not important that everything
be an absolute match. Use plain white plates set on gold charger
plates for a very formal look or use the same plates set with
contrasting salad plates for an informal setting. Add Grandma's
serving dishes with the tiny floral pattern and gold rim for a touch
of vintage charm.

Placing the Flatware
Silverware is used for the most formal table settings but
otherwise any quality stainless steel flatware is fine. The general
rule for arranging flatware is that it is placed in the order of the
courses to be served, starting from the outside and working in
toward the plate. Forks are always on the left with knives and
spoons on the right. The blades of the knives should be facing
inward toward the plate. If you us bread and butter plates the
knife is placed across the plate.

Arranging your Glassware
Using simple but elegant stemware is an easy way to bring a
sense of quality to any table whether your settings are planned
for a formal gathering or a few friends dropping by for pot luck. If
you're setting just one wineglass, place it at the tip of the knife. If
using more than one glass, follow the same rule as that used for
flatware and arrange them in the order they will be used, in a
triangle shape above the knife.

Remember there are few hard and fast rules when setting your
dining room table. Even with a formal setting there is room for
flexibility and creativity. What's more important is the time you will
spend sharing with family and friends around your beautifully set
table.



Amanda works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home
improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of
products to help customers with common household repairs, as well as decorative
accessories for the home. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com
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