PHOTOS BY ALLISON ELEFANTE
Before we discuss where the forks belong or which glass goes where, I’d like to share something I often say during my speaking engagements. Opening your home to others is one of the most personal gifts you can give. It is an expression of love, kindness, and generosity. Whether you’re welcoming lifelong friends, new neighbors, family, or someone who simply needs a place to belong for an evening, inviting people to your table says, “I’m glad you’re here.”
For many years, entertaining carried the reputation of being complicated or expensive. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case. Today’s grocery stores make hospitality more approachable than ever before. In one stop, you can purchase flowers, wine, and food. You don’t have to visit specialty shops or spend days preparing an elaborate menu to create a memorable evening.
What guests remember most isn’t whether your napkins were perfectly folded or whether every piece of china matched. They remember how they felt. They remember the conversation, the laughter, the stories shared across the table, and the feeling of being welcomed into your home.
A properly set table isn’t about impressing your guests; it’s about honoring them. Taking the time to thoughtfully arrange a table communicates that this gathering matters, and more importantly, that the people seated around it matter. The plates, glassware, candles, and flowers become the backdrop for what is truly being celebrated: time spent together.
I often encourage people not to wait for the perfect occasion. Set a beautiful table, light the candles on a Tuesday evening, use the good dishes. Celebrate ordinary moments because, more often than not, those ordinary evenings become the memories we treasure most.
Understanding the proper placement of each piece on the table gives us confidence, but genuine hospitality comes from the heart. Etiquette provides the structure; kindness is what brings the table to life.
The Art of a Proper Table Setting
There is something special about sitting down at a beautifully set table. It tells your guests they are welcome before a single word is spoken. While table settings can seem intimidating, they are actually based on a few simple principles that make entertaining both elegant and effortless.
The easiest rule to remember is this: work from the outside in. The utensils you’ll use first are placed farthest from the plate, with each successive course moving inward.
Begin with the Foundation
Start with a dinner plate centered at each seat, approximately one inch from the edge of the table. If you’re using a charger, it serves as the decorative base and remains on the table until the entrée is served. Salad or soup bowls are placed on top of the dinner plate when needed.
A Note About Chargers
Traditionally, a charger is removed before the entrée is served. However, today’s entertaining has become a bit more relaxed, and many hosts choose to leave the charger in place throughout the meal. While this isn’t considered traditional etiquette, it has become a common practice.
Chargers are beautiful, help protect your table linens or placemats from spills, and add another layer of texture and sophistication to the table. If you love the look, don’t be afraid to enjoy them from the first course to the last.
The Forks
Forks are always placed to the left of the plate.
- Salad fork: far left
- Dinner fork: immediately beside the plate
The Knives and Spoons
Knives and spoons are placed to the right of the plate.
- Dinner knife: directly beside the plate with the blade facing inward
- Soup spoon: to the right of the knife
- Additional spoons or specialty utensils: placed farther to the outside as needed
Dessert Utensils
Dessert utensils are placed horizontally above the dinner plate.
- Dessert fork: handle pointing to the left
- Dessert spoon: handle pointing to the right
If dessert is served casually, these utensils may be brought to the table with dessert.
Glassware
Glasses are arranged above the knives. A traditional arrangement includes:
- Water glass directly above the dinner knife
- White wine glass slightly to the right
- Red wine glass slightly above and behind the white wine glass
- Champagne flute, if used, behind the wine glasses
You don’t need every glass for every meal. Use only those appropriate for the beverages being served.
Bread Plate
The bread-and-butter plate is placed above the forks on the upper left side of the setting. The butter knife rests across the plate. A simple way to remember this is, “bread on the left, drinks on the right.”
Napkin Placement
The napkin may be placed:
- Centered on the dinner plate
- To the left of the forks
- Under the forks for a more tailored presentation
While elaborate folds can be beautiful, a neatly folded linen napkin is always timeless.
Napkins: Tradition Meets Today’s Style
A folded napkin resting in the center of the dinner plate is always a timeless and elegant choice. Another current favorite is placing the napkin beneath the dinner plate, allowing it to peek out around the edges. This layered look adds softness, texture, and another decorative element to the place setting.
Personally, I prefer not to place the forks on top of a folded napkin. While it certainly isn’t incorrect, guests must first remove the utensils before unfolding the napkin, creating an unnecessary extra step. A beautifully folded napkin on the plate or layered beneath the plate for a more contemporary look creates a cleaner presentation while keeping the place setting both elegant and functional.
Keep It Balanced
One of the most common mistakes is overcrowding the table. Place only the pieces your guests will actually use. A thoughtfully edited table feels more gracious than one crowded with unnecessary items. Fresh flowers and candlelight add warmth without overwhelming conversation. Centerpieces should be low enough that guests can comfortably see one another across the table.
The Best Etiquette Is Hospitality
While proper placement is important, the most memorable tables are not defined by perfection. They are defined by hospitality. Whether you’re serving a holiday feast, Sunday supper, or takeout on a Tuesday evening, a thoughtfully set table invites people to slow down, linger, and enjoy one another’s company. Good etiquette isn’t about impressing your guests. It’s about making them feel comfortable, welcomed, and cared for.
Amy Montgomery is the owner and creative force behind Amy Montgomery Home, reopening this fall in Columbia, Tennessee. The shop will feature entertaining essentials, timeless home décor, and The Wardrobe by Amy Montgomery. Visit amymontgomeryhome.com for additional information.
Amy’s Simply Perfect Guacamole
Guacamole is entirely based on preference. Some like cilantro, some definitely don’t. Some like it hot, some… not so much. Some like it chunky, some like it smooth. Take these recipe guidelines and make it your own. It will be delicious!
INGREDIENTS
- 3-4 ripe avocados
- 1-2 limes
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder OR ½ cup diced white onions
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Several good shakes of cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- Chopped fresh tomatoes (optional)
PREPARATION DIRECTIONS
- Peel and mash avocados in a bowl with salt and lime juice.
- Add remaining ingredients and refrigerate for an hour.
- Can’t wait? Eat it right then.
Tip: Make sure the avocados easily dent with a squeeze before peeling to ensure they are ripe.
Food lore says the avocado pit keeps the guacamole from turning brown. The jury is still out on this, but I add one in the middle for good measure. Plus, when you put it in a serving bowl, that pit looks great plopped in it. I also prefer no- or lightly salted tortilla chips. Let the guac speak for itself. Enjoy!
