Creating a simple place setting for your table is easy! It may seem overwhelming or confusing on where to place the fork, napkin, or which size plate to use for your place setting. Now if you are asking or second-guessing yourself, how can I create a simple place setting for my family and friends for everyday casual use or when it is a special occasion?
Creating a causal simple place setting does not have to be difficult, too much work. It is also a great skill to have. It is a great way to teach children to pitch in and help with dinner. Your family, friends, or guests will feel like you adding a special touch to the table just for them (well you did!). Creating a placesetting also dresses up the table.
I will be sharing a simple and casual place setting setup that you can get started with today.
Tablecloth (optional) – A tablecloth is always optional for causal placesettings. For everyday dinners at home with the family, a tablecloth may be a little too much. Although a Sunday dinner or a pinic in the park may call for having a tablecloth for dinner. Figure out what is best for your table’s look that you may be going for.
Placemat – A placemat is also optional for your place setting. Although I feel like a placemat sets a foundation of where exactly to place the dinner plate, glass, silverware and napkin.
The placemat should be aligned with the center of the chair. Be sure to line up the placemats evenly across from one another and they have equal spacing on the table.
Dinner Plate – Next you will take you dinner plate (usually 10.5 in diameter or slightly smaller) and place it in the center of the placemat or directly in front of the chair.
Salad, Dessert, Bread Plate (optional) – The salad, dessert and bread plates are all optional with a causal placesetting. Although you may want to dress up your table a little more depending upon what you may be serving.
The bread plate will go to the left above the plate and fork. The salad or dessert plates can be placed in the center of the dinner plate. This keeps it simple and it is also considered a modern way of placement of the salad and dessert plates. We want to keep it simple for now!
Silverware: Spoon, Knife, Fork – A basic placsetting as one of each cutlery items such as a spoon, fork and a knife.
With the placement of the spoon and the knife goes on the right-hand side. And the fork goes on the left. Try to remember, there are five letters in the word “right” and four-letter in the word “left“. Once you remember those two concepts, it is easy!
Now the knife goes first (closes to the plate) with the blade facing the plate on the right side. Next comes the spoon beside the knife. On the left-hand side place the fork.
Bonus tip: Make sure the silverware is all lined up, evenly! Place your thumb on the edge of the table and that spacing should be where all of your silverware lines up. Adjust accordingly with the placemat, dinner plate, and silverware with your thumb and the edge of the table.
Glass – Water glasses or a cup can be used for you simple and causal placesetting. The glass in normally placed above the knife.
Napkin – Depending on how causal the dinner may be, paper or linen napkins may be your choices. The napkin goes on the left side of the placesetting. Although today, napkins rules are broken all of the time depending on the look that you may be going for.
The napkin can be folded and placed to the left of the napkin or in the center of the plate for a more simple place setting look.
