Table setting according to etiquette: what should be the position of cutlery

Table setting according to etiquette is an important detail of any meal. As a rule, this is an indicator of the hostess or host’s respect for himself and his guests. But many people don’t know how to set the table correctly. After all, there are a lot of details on which you need to especially focus your attention.

Table setting according to etiquette - photos, rules, beautiful napkins

When you are planning to invite guests to have dinner or lunch, and you want to impress them and do everything beautifully, then the question of proper serving may take you by surprise. There are some rules to follow.

What to serve?

Traditionally, the cake was considered the fundamental, and often the only dessert at the holiday. This tradition has not disappeared completely, as there are still many who like to celebrate various anniversaries in the classical style. However, new types of dessert are gradually becoming fashionable.

Now the list of delicacies served is very wide: muffins and cupcakes, cupcakes and profiteroles, cake pops and macaroons. This is not a complete list of popular dessert dishes in our time. If, nevertheless, the choice is made in favor of a cake, then it should be unusual, colorful and, of course, very tasty in order to surprise and delight the children.

In order for the children's sweet table (photos of some ideas are presented in the article) to be sufficiently stocked with sweets and all tastes to be satisfied, you need to create a menu correctly. It must contain desserts of three categories.

The first of them includes one, maximum two main or special types of dessert (cake or cupcakes). In the second category there can be up to 3 types of additional desserts (cupcakes, parfaits, mousses, cookies, profiteroles or mini-cakes - to choose from). The third includes 2-3 types of sweets, which are usually used to fill the table. For example, jellies, marshmallows, marshmallows, candies and more.

General rules for table setting

To create a beautiful table setting, you need to follow several principles of this process:

1. Cutlery should be placed in the same order as the food is served. Surely you know that each dish has its own cutlery. For example, salad or fish is eaten with a fork, while soup is made with a spoon. And if you serve soup first and then fish, then cutlery should be placed in the same order (spoon, fork).
2. Cutlery must be crystal clean. It is unlikely that guests will like it if they eat with a stained fork. And the owner will not be pleased at all. Therefore, before serving, wash and wipe the cutlery well to avoid incidents.
3. Avoid excesses. You cannot place unnecessary cutlery on the tablecloth; their number when serving should correspond to the number of dishes.
4. Follow the identity. Everyone needs to arrange the appliances the same way. It is advisable to choose dishes in one color.
5. The arrangement of cutlery should correspond to its purpose. So, the devices located on the right are in the right hand while eating, and the devices located on the left side are in the left.

Tablecloth on the table

The optimal and winning option is a white tablecloth. So she looks festive. But you can lay a tablecloth of a different color (brighter or darker), you shouldn’t be afraid of this. It is better to choose a tablecloth that matches the main shade of the appliances and objects on the tabletop. In addition to the cutlery, the tablecloth should be in harmony with the curtains and upholstery. This is the only way everything will look harmonious.

Now there are a large number of forms and materials. But, as a rule, they choose the most standard shape - rectangular. And if it is also made of natural materials and in light shades, then comfort in the kitchen is guaranteed.

Cutlery - layout diagram

You can’t put all the cutlery you have on the table. It looks messy and is not convenient to use, since the necessary devices will be lost. You need to put what you really need in accordance with your dishes.

To properly arrange cutlery, you need to know some rules:

1. We place the fork on the left side of the plate, because the guest will need to hold it with his left hand. And the knife is to the right of the plate.
2. When placing glasses, you need to hold them by the stem.
3. You should start using cutlery from the outer edge, changing them towards the plate as new dishes are served.
4. There is no need to place cutlery close to the plate. There should be a space of 1 cm between the plate and fork.

Proper table setting

Serving plates

Just like knives and forks, plates need to be placed in the correct sequence. So, the snack plate is located opposite each seat, 2 cm from the edge of the table. The bread plate is located to the left of the snack bar, 5-10 cm from it. In cases where more than one dish is served, then a dining plate should be placed under the appetizer plate. The housewife must remember her responsibilities: promptly replace dirty plates with clean ones.

Serving with napkins

Napkins are an integral part of table setting. And the one who knows how to fold them beautifully is a real creator, because folding napkins beautifully is a real art.

If the napkins are made from natural materials, then they are placed on the laps of people eating. And if you prefer paper napkins, then they should be placed on the right under the edge of the plate, or placed in general accessibility.

The color is not particularly important, the main thing is to fold the napkins beautifully.

Spice utensils

Spices must include pepper and salt. But everyone has their own taste, so it is advisable to add mustard and other spices to this list to please each of the guests.

Spice utensils are served in the center. They need to be placed on a special stand, board or saucer.

Serving glasses, glasses, wine glasses

The glasses are placed behind the plates in descending order, that is, from largest to smallest. The glasses are on the right side and the glasses are on the left. Each glass or glass is designed for a specific drink. So, wine glasses are used for wine, and glasses for water or juice.

General serving rules

Regardless of the size of the feast, there are several basic rules for table design. They will come in handy in any case:

1. The table is covered with a tablecloth so that the edges hang down by a maximum of 30 cm. Moreover, they must be higher than the seat of the chair, otherwise the tablecloth will interfere with the guests. If the table is rectangular, the ends of the tablecloth should hang down to cover the table legs.
2. It is best to cover the table with a white festive tablecloth or take a light solid one so that it looks harmonious against the background of the tableware.
3. To make it comfortable for guests to sit at the table, the distance between the devices should be at least 50-80 cm.
4. Plates for guests must be from the same set. If this is not at hand, choose plates of the same color.
5. There should be no extra plates, glasses or cutlery on the table. You should only place those that suit the range of dishes and drinks.

How to serve breakfast correctly

Serving breakfast is considered to be an easy task. Therefore, it is feasible for everyone, you just have to follow the list of items that should be located on the breakfast table:

1. Bread plate;
2. Snack plate;
3. Cup and saucer.

These are the most banal items that simply must be on the table at almost any time during the meal.

The appetizer plates are placed first, then the cups and saucers. A teaspoon is placed on them, or it can also be placed parallel to the plate with the handle to the right. We place the knife on the right side, the fork on the left with the teeth up. Then we put spices and napkins according to the rules stated above.

What to serve on a sweet table in honor of a birthday at work:

Cake

A large cake (weighing about 1 kg) can be cut into 12 large pieces or 24 small ones. Usually, each invitee receives one large piece of cake, which means that if you invited 12 people to your birthday, you can get by with one cake, but if there are 20 people, you will have to buy two. In this case, it is better to buy different cakes and cut them finely, then everyone can try.

An example of cutting a large cake into 24 pieces: purple lines - the first stage, bright pink - the second

An example of cutting a large cake into 12 pieces

12 people = 1 large cake, 20 people = 2 large cakes.

A small cake is usually cut into 8 pieces.

Example of cutting a small cake into 8 pieces

Candies

Buy different candies: caramels, barberries, dried fruits covered in chocolate, and chocolate ones with filling. In supermarkets, you can put candy in bags according to the number: some exactly according to the number of employees, and some half as many. Or you can choose candies based on the color of the wrappers, for example, buy only red ones.

Cakes and cookies

These are also very tasty things. For example, instead of one cake, you can buy pastries. Their number should match the number of guests, or if there are two types of cakes, then you can take half as many of each type as there are guests.

Juice, tea, coffee

If you usually celebrate your birthday standing, then it is better to treat your employees to juices and soda, and if there is a place where everyone can sit, then you can drink tea or coffee.

Calculate the amount of juice according to the number of guests. One single glass contains approximately 200 ml of juice, usually half a glass is poured, which means that 1 liter of juice package is enough for one serving for 10 employees. It is better to take 1 liter of different juice than 2 liters of the same one.

1 liter of juice package = half a glass for 10 employees.

Tea bags - one tea bag for each person. Although usually everyone brews their own tea or coffee or a “branded” one.

Fruits

Oranges, tangerines, bananas, apples, plums, pears, peaches, melons and others. But special variety is not required, so in winter there will be enough oranges and bananas, and in summer - apples and pears. The ideal quantity is half as many pieces as the employees invited to your birthday, because both apples and pears will need to be cut into pieces, at least 4. This means that each employee will be able to take two pieces of pear and two pieces of apple. Lemon wouldn't hurt for tea drinking.

Alcohol

If your company allows it, offer your colleagues alcoholic drinks. Usually, cognac and dry wine are offered for sweets; instead of wine, you can take brut champagne. At the sweet table, alcohol is usually drunk “symbolically”, so there is no need to buy one bottle for each employee + 1 spare. A 0.5 liter bottle of wine is enough for 10 people (if you pour 50 g each). However, for example, for 10 o'clock it is better to take 1 bottle of wine and 1 cognac or 2 bottles of red and white wine.

Wine 0.5 l = 10 people, 50 g each.

Dried fruits and nuts

If you have the financial opportunity, you can diversify the sweet table with nuts, dried fruits and other oriental sweets.

Important little things

Take care of large plates for fruit and small plates for pieces of cake, glasses for juice, alcohol, spoons, forks and napkins.

Calculation of food and alcohol for the holiday

How to serve lunch and dinner correctly

When setting the table for dinner, it is important that guests can quickly serve themselves. A snack bar is placed on a tripod plate, a bread plate is on the left, a knife and spoon are on the right, a fork is on the left, and a glass is in front.

Since this is lunch, you need to add a ladle to the serving to ladle the soup. And you need to put a separate device on the plate with the salad so that everyone can put it in for themselves.

Dinner is a delicate matter. You can arrange it not only for yourself and your family, but also invite guests. Then dinner will become a more formal event. In this case, you need to set the table according to all the rules so that everyone is comfortable. This way you will make a good impression on your guests.

To make your dinner exquisite and everything perfect, you need to follow simple rules:

1. The tablecloth should be clean and ironed.
2. Dishes must be in the same style and color. You need to wash it thoroughly to make it shine.
3. Bottles of alcohol are placed open and poured into glasses during dinner. A cloth napkin should be placed next to them.

What is it for?

There is a wide variety of serving items. Most of them are not used at home every day, but they may well be needed for organizing a banquet or festive dinner.

How to lay a tablecloth

Textiles on the table set the tone for the entire setting. A tablecloth as a background can emphasize the solemnity of the moment, or, conversely, ruin the mood. Therefore, it must be spotlessly clean, intact and without scuffs. It is checked in advance, washed and ironed.

Covering a table with oilcloth, even completely transparent, is bad form. If there is concern that the tablecloth may get dirty, place a cloth napkin, plastic or wicker mat under each plate. But this is not the best option for special occasions.

According to the general rules of table setting, the tablecloth is chosen in accordance with the occasion of the celebration:

1. A formal reception calls for white damask fabric. This is the name given to a linen or cotton tablecloth woven with shiny convex patterns. You can replace it with smooth linen or linen, but damask looks more solemn. A soft lining is spread under the main tablecloth so that cutlery and plates do not knock when serving and during the meal. For this purpose, use felt or felt, cut to the size of the tabletop. To set the table at home, you can use a sheet folded several times.
2. A gala dinner in an old mansion or a room designed in the style of a “noble nest” can be decorated with a lace or embroidered tablecloth. However, you should not choose bright and lush patterns.
3. Light, elegant and sometimes bright embroideries are more suitable for calm family celebrations and setting a festive table at home. In this case, you need to make sure that the pattern is positioned strictly symmetrically relative to the contours of the table.
4. Modern etiquette allows the use of colored tablecloths matched to the porcelain and napkins. However, it is not advisable to get too carried away with bright colors. Soft pastel shades chosen taking into account the style of the room, decor and occasion of the celebration will look good. For example, bluish and greenish tones will add coolness to a sunny dining room, and shades of yellow will warm you up in the winter cold.
5. Colorful, brightly colored tablecloths will be more than appropriate at a children's party or themed party. Setting the table with rich tones is acceptable for breakfast or tea.

According to the rules of table setting, according to etiquette, only plain tableware without a pattern is allowed to be placed on a colorful tablecloth. The decor in this case should also match the chosen color scheme.

Formal reception

Gala dinner

For family celebrations

For children's parties

The tablecloth should be ironed before use, even if it has been stored very carefully. Traditionally, vertical and horizontal folds running strictly in the center are smoothed out. When placed on a table, they should divide the tabletop into four equal parts, aligning the center of the furniture with the center of the canvas.

How to properly set a table with a tablecloth:

• shake it over a piece of furniture to create an air gap;
• align the centers of the table and tablecloth;
• place it so that the corners of the canvas cover the legs, and the edge goes down 30-50 cm (less is not aesthetically pleasing, more is inconvenient).

At the end ends of the dining table, the tablecloth can hang a little lower unless there are guests sitting there. For a buffet table, a fairly long tablecloth is usually used, since there are no seats at the table. However, under no circumstances should it touch the floor.

A starched tablecloth is much easier to spread on the table and easier to wash. A layer of starch tightly covers the fibers of the fabric, preventing dirt and grease from being absorbed. When washed, this invisible barrier quickly gets wet, taking most of the dirt with it.

Dishes

About 35 of their species are known. However, the most commonly used are:

• Soup. A deep plate in which not only soups are served, but also muesli, milk with cereal or oatmeal. But broths, according to the rules, are not served in such dishes - special bowls are provided for them.
• Table plates. They are shallow and deep. The shallow ones are used for serving main courses, and the deep ones are used to put pasta and other pasta dishes.

• Pirozhkovaya. Bread, croutons or butter are served on it. Place it on top and slightly to the left of the main set. Place a small butter knife on top of it.
• Chill. Externally it resembles a mollusk shell. Designed for salad appetizers or oysters.
• Fish. Slightly extended for easier handling of fish dishes.

In addition, there are caviar plates, egg plates, dessert plates, salad bowls and many others. In addition, there is also such a type of plate as a serving plate. It is placed under a plate for appetizers, soups or main courses.

According to the rules of etiquette, it may differ from the rest of the dishes (be from a different set or a different color).

Glasses

The most commonly used glassware for drinks is glasses and wine glasses. They can be different in shape, volume and have different purposes, which should also be taken into account when preparing to meet guests:

• Classic elongated glasses with a volume of 120-200 ml are intended for champagne sparkling wines. served for refined champagnes. It must be cooled before filling.
• The glass, slightly different from the classic one with an increased volume and a slightly narrowed neck, is served for sophisticated champagne wines. It must be cooled before filling. And fill it no more than 2/3.
• For white wine, use glasses with an elongated bowl on a narrow stem, with a volume of 180-260 ml.
• Red wine is poured into wider and more open glasses.
• Cognac glasses can have a classic shape (snifters) or a tulip shape.

Liqueur glasses, vodka glasses, beer glasses are also used - everything here will depend on the preferences of the guests and the suggestions of the hosts.

Cutlery

Over the years of evolution of the art of cooking and serving, no less than plates, cutlery has also appeared. All of them are usually divided into main and auxiliary (they are also called serving utensils).

The first ones are intended for individual use. The second is used by all participants in the meal. They are used to separate and cut dishes into portions and place them on individual plates.

The main devices, in turn, are divided into:

• Dining rooms. They are used to eat soups and main courses. The set includes a knife 20–24 cm long, a fork and a spoon, which are 5-6 cm shorter than the knife.
• Snack bars. Designed for appetizers and cold dishes. Consists of a knife and fork.
• Fishy. Set of slightly modified fork and knife. The fish knife is dull, in the form of a spatula. The fish fork has shortened tines.
• Dessert. A trident fork 18-19 cm long, a small spoon and a knife with a narrow blade. Served with pies, mousses, puddings and other desserts. The dessert spoon can also be served with fried eggs and creamed berries.
• Fruity. These include a two-pronged fork and a knife. They are used for fruit salads, melons, watermelons and unpeeled fruit desserts.

In addition, special utensils designed for specific dishes can be served (for example, a fork for oysters, sprat or lobster).

Decor

Decor will help complete the serving and give it completeness. The main decorative element is napkins, which can be placed in a glass of water, placed next to the plates or placed on top.

For a quiet family lunch, you can use large napkins; for breakfast, smaller ones.

For large celebrations and holidays, napkins can be folded in the shape of flowers or tied in an original way. The color and design of the napkins can be absolutely any, the main thing is that it is in harmony with the overall design picture.

In addition to napkins, it is customary to use vases with flowers, candles or themed decorations for table decoration.

Dessert table setting

The dessert table is associated with a festive table, so you can choose a brighter tablecloth. It would be good if you select a special service for this event. In this case, it is better to place the napkins in the center. The dessert table should be filled with the following equipment:

1. Cups, saucers, teaspoons;
2. Kettle with brewed tea (small);
3. Large kettle with boiling water;
4. Sugar bowl;
5. A bowl with jam, condensed milk;
6. A plate for sweets should be placed in front of each person;
7. Drinks are poured when everyone is seated;
8. Sweets can be served completely different, it can be buns, sweets, cake and others.

Fresh ideas for serving

Click on photo to enlarge

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Variations in different styles are possible in table setting, which will be appropriate for different occasions. Surely, in the listed options you will find the style that will best reflect your character and the atmosphere of the feast. So, the most popular are: Provence, Scandinavian, Art Deco, Eco-style, Rustic. Of course, you may well come up with your own style that is most close to you - in this case, simply base it on the general rules of table setting, supplementing them with your imagination.

For lunch or dinner

• Eco-style
  is perfect for setting the table at home before lunch or dinner. It is closest to the theme of “nature”. When setting the table at home, in this case, they usually use natural colors that are close to natural colors: sand, khaki, gray, brown, cream. Preferred materials: ceramics, natural stone, bamboo, cane, pebbles or wood.
• Rustic
  can be translated as “rustic” or “uncouth,” and from these words one can already get an approximate idea of ​​such table setting. Tablecloths and napkins are characterized by natural fabrics and pale colors. Wooden boards, pottery, and vintage cutlery are used to serve dishes when setting the table. The table is usually decorated with herbs or wildflowers.
• Scandinavian style
  will be no less appropriate for home table setting . Perhaps his motto can be called “Less is more,” which means: “Less is more.” Despite the fact that this style is usually thought out to the smallest detail, it does not contain anything superfluous. This style is characterized by minimalism and simplicity: round, rectangular or oval dishes without pronounced decor. Materials are chosen from clay, stone or wood. With this table setting, dishes and tablecloths in beige, creamy gray or white colors are appropriate.

Festive table

Many people prefer to serve their holiday table in Art Deco

. So, it is known because it came from France in the 20s and is associated with chic and luxury. We are talking about a rather pretentious and lush style, which is perfect for gala evenings. When setting the table at home, use dishes with gold or mother-of-pearl. Art Deco is characterized by a range of different colors, clear lines, symmetry, clear lines. Choose tablecloths with stripes and patterns, and gilded cutlery.

Provence

no less appropriate and popular style. Since it is named after an Italian village, the dishes and decor should be appropriate. The colors must include lavender and other light colors. With this table setting you should use lavender, olives, old-fashioned items - they can be in the form of patterns or as decoration. A soft purple color should be predominant, reminiscent of lavender. In home table settings and others, Provence implies some details. These include worn wooden trays, candlesticks, and small teapots.

Sweet table setting

For this occasion, you can choose any of the table setting styles suggested above. However, we advise you to adhere to a few unspoken rules.

Cutlery should be laid out in accordance with normal etiquette. Place a dessert plate, as well as a dessert spoon and fork in front of the guest. By the way, when setting the table at home, you can easily place the fork and spoon directly on the plate without crossing them.

Tea can be served in a stylized samovar, or in special teapots. When preparing to set the table, do not forget about coffee pots and small cups in which you will serve black coffee. You'll also probably need a cappuccino or latte.

If, having started setting the table, you notice that all the drinks may not fit, then it is better to organize a separate table or some other place for sparkling water and juices. Leave a few bottles of plain water, with or without sparkling water, on the table.

When setting a table at home, you should place the main dessert (cake, your signature pastries, etc.) in the center, and place plates with other sweets nearby.

Festive table setting

Although the dessert table is associated with a festive table, they are still different from each other.

A napkin is placed on the plate, on which the hot plate is placed. The bread plate is located at the snack bar level on the left side. When dishes are replaced by one another, all plates can be moved with the exception of the diner, its position remains unchanged.

To the right of the diner there is a soup spoon, two knives (snack and table), and forks, as always, are placed on the left.

The arrangement of cutlery follows the principle that the cutlery furthest from the plate corresponds to the dish that is served first.

Getting ready for the holiday

Setting the table for the holiday will require not only time from the hostess, but also fresh ideas. To make the place for eating look attractive and harmonious, you need to think about the style of the table.

The design and color of the dishes and tablecloths should be combined with each other. Usually a tablecloth is selected for the service, and not vice versa. Dishes made of exquisite crystal in delicate colors look great with snow-white textiles, which can be complemented with white fabric napkins. You can decorate the center of the table with a crystal vase with a bouquet of fresh flowers. Almost any tablecloth looks good with porcelain dishes, so here you can experiment with the colors of the canvas.

The highlight of the festive table are napkins folded into various shapes. Birds or animals are often made from colored and plain elements. Original ideas for creating beautiful figures can be found on the Internet. There are always suitable solutions for every event. For example, for Valentine's Day, red napkins can be folded into hearts or butterflies. For the New Year you can make snowflakes or stars out of them. To fix the figures, special holders are used.

A practical solution would be a plain tablecloth on which you can place dishes and cutlery of any design. If a special event is planned, the canvas can be decorated with silk ribbons. A lace tablecloth and napkins in the same design go perfectly with an elegant coffee service.

To create a special atmosphere, candles are used, which are fixed in metal or crystal candlesticks. These elements play a decorative role, since the festive feast cannot take place in semi-darkness. The room should be well lit with ordinary lamps, and candles will delight you with the play of flame on shiny surfaces.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pX5rDEM_bHI

It will be pleasant to celebrate New Year or Christmas with red and white candles, which are placed in candlesticks decorated with fir branches and cones. The center should be decorated with miniature decorative Christmas trees. All these details are arranged in a certain composition. If you choose tall candles, then you should think about reliable fixation for them. Decorative elements should match the color and design of the tablecloth and dishes.

On your birthday

Table setting for an adult's birthday is almost no different from the usual festive decoration. Here only the wishes of the birthday boy regarding the color scheme of the service, tablecloth and napkins are taken into account. To enhance the festive mood, the table should be decorated with decorative elements.

But organizing a birthday party for a child is often accompanied by parents’ concerns about the safety of their children. In this case, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to table setting. Forks, knives and other sharp objects must be removed

It is worth paying attention to the plates and cups. Porcelain dishes will be a bad option, since children can not only break an expensive set, but also cut themselves with shards

The ideal solution would be multi-colored dishes made of durable plastic.

Since many children have a sweet tooth, decorating a sweet table would be a good idea. Decorative elements are not used, since food served in interesting compositions is already a decoration. Candies, chocolate, muffins and cupcakes can be arranged on multi-tiered plates or arranged in pyramids.

If a large number of small guests are expected, then the large table can be decorated with toys or three-dimensional figures of cartoon characters made of cardboard. The idea with your favorite characters can also be used when choosing a tablecloth with napkins.

You can decorate a children's buffet in solid colors. For little princesses, pink, cream and peach shades are favorite colors. Blue and green shades are suitable for boys. A single color scheme for tablecloths, dishes and plates will help children feel like adults. But it’s better to serve food as portioned snacks: small portions will be convenient and fun to eat while talking and playing.

Decor

Setting the table correctly is good, but if this process lacks a touch of creativity and creativity, then it looks a bit boring. After all, setting a table, and even more so a festive or dessert table, is an occasion to show your creativity and experiment with decor from the heart.

Most often, flowers are used as decoration, standing in a vase in the center of the table. They refresh the appearance of the table well and add a touch of lightness and tenderness. But even in such a seemingly win-win decor option, you can find flaws and you need to take into account all the smallest details.

So, you can put flowers on the table if:

1. Those present do not have an allergic reaction to flowers;
2. The composition does not contain flowers with a strong aroma (this, at a minimum, can kill your appetite or cause disgust);
3. The vase should be placed at a distance from the cutlery.

But flowers are not the only way to decorate; for example, candles will decorate a romantic dinner, and figures of wedding rings or a figurine of newlyweds will look good at a wedding feast.

If you are throwing a party for children, then you should be especially creative with the decor. You can attach balloons with images of cartoon characters to the chairs. The only thing is that you need to take into account the size of the ball and hang them at the optimal level (so that they do not interfere with comfortable interaction). The main thing is that the decor and serving are in harmony with each other and do not look pretentious.

Table decoration

Properly selected, beautiful tablecloth, dishes, cutlery, napkins - all this in itself serves as decoration. But additional decor in reasonable quantities never hurts. Flowers and candles are traditionally used to decorate the table. Bouquets should be low enough so as not to interfere with guests' conversation. Candles are placed in small candlesticks or transparent glasses; tall candelabra on a thin stem are also suitable. They also should not block the guests' view.

Classic design is necessary for special official events, but with your family you can allow yourself more freedom. This applies to birthday parties or any family occasion. Sometimes even the table for guests at a wedding is decorated in a “free” style.

For home lunch

A home-cooked meal does not require full serving. A side plate is optional; dessert utensils can be served at the end of the meal. Table setting with flowers, beautiful table textiles, uniquely decorated dishes, and the hospitality of the hosts are the best decor for any feast.

Recently, eclecticism is often used for original table setting; this is the name given to the combination of tableware from different historical eras, styles, colors and shapes in one set. If the selection is made by a person with excellent taste, the result can be a truly beautiful table setting. However, this is not so easy to do. A chaotic jumble of remnants of old sets looks quite sloppy and can spoil the mood.

For a festive dinner

Today there are no strict rules for a ceremonial meal. The only condition is that everything must be in the same style. Therefore, first of all, you need to choose a suitable idea for table setting:

1. Russian style. Matryoshka dolls, cockerels on sticks, painted cards, bagels, a samovar.
2. Rustic style (abundance of objects with natural texture). Uncovered table made of natural wood. Rustic tableware, glasses instead of glasses.
3. Color combinations. A combination of bright colors on the tablecloth and napkins, diluted with contrasting patterns. Choosing this option is quite risky, but if you have artistic taste, you can create a real masterpiece.
4. The contrast of the white tablecloth and the plates painted with bright colors. Moreover, flowers should be present in the rest of the decor: on vases, glass, napkins.

For themed receptions, decoration with exotic fruits and plants in the Hawaiian style, colorful dishes, bright bouquets, napkins in the spirit of Mexico, etc. are suitable. Seasonal parties involve unique decor: pine needles, pine cones and tangerines for the New Year; pumpkin theme for Halloween.

Beautiful table decoration is the first step to a real, fun holiday. It is not necessary to invent something unprecedented and exotic. Elegant textiles, sparkling clean dishes and cutlery, tasty and beautifully presented dishes are the key to the success of any reception, even the most modest one.

How to choose plates for serving desserts

The choice should correspond to the overall design of the table and emphasize the appetizing nature of the dish. Dessert serving plates should be combined with table and tea (coffee) sets, sets for juice or milk.

It can be either a classic plain color or an unusually shaped dish with a bright pattern made from a non-standard material. You can focus on desserts - bright ones look good on a clean white background. White plates are also needed in cases where the dish requires decoration with chocolate and fondant sauces.

Colored dishes with avant-garde designs are suitable for modern interiors. The gilded decor emphasizes luxury and goes well with the classic style of the interior. But here it is important not to forget about the peculiarities of care and the prohibition of use in microwave ovens.

Dinner and tea sets, as a rule, include only small dessert plates measuring 19-20 cm. They are flat, so they are well suited for pastries, pies, cookies, and fruit. Do not confuse them with pirozhkovye, which are much smaller in diameter.

If you have to purchase plates for sweets separately, consider not only beauty, but also practicality. If you plan to use it often, give preference to glass or glass ceramics; these materials are not afraid of the microwave, dishwasher, detergents, and changes in water temperature.

It is more practical to buy dessert plates in sets, but if guests are not in the house often, purchase according to the number of people living in the house.