Believe it or not, setting the table in adulthood is more than just throwing a few white plates and your mismatched silverware on the table. While that habit from your college days may be hard to shake, setting the table with careful thought and attention to detail—especially to fit a particular occasion—can deliver an incredible impact for your guests.
Whether you’re dining with your S/O on a weeknight after a long day of work, or you’re dressing your dining room to the nines for a formal dinner with your in-laws, there are few rules to follow for every situation, and our expert design contributor Daniela Benloulou is breaking it down for us below. Here’s the skinny on how to set a formal dining table, for any occasion… Take it away, Daniela!
## Scenario 1: Just you and your spouse/partner/roommate, weeknight.
**Place setting checklist:**
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Easy-to-clean placemats
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Salad fork
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Dinner fork
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Salad plate or bowl
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Entrée plate
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Butter knife
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Water glass
## Scenario 2: Friends coming over for dinner, weeknight.
Now that you’re expecting company, it’s time to add a little more interest to the table. Because it’s still a weeknight, use only casual items, but mix up textures, colors, and patterns to have a little fun.
**Place setting checklist:**
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Salad fork
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Dinner fork
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Beautiful placemat and/or decorative charger
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Entrée plate
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Salad plate
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Napkin + napkin ring
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Butter knife
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Water glass
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Wine glass
## Scenario 3: Sunday brunch with the in-laws.
Now let’s begin with more formal tableware. Use some fine china (or fancier casual china), but keep colors light and bright for Sunday. Note the addition of a water glass with a stem.
**Place setting checklist:**
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Folded linen napkin, placed under your forks
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Salad fork
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Dinner fork
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Charger plate
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Entrée plate
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Salad plate
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Butter knife
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Soup spoon
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Teaspoon
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Water glass with stem
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Wine glass
## Scenario 4: Dinner party where you want to impress.
Now it’s time to bring out all your registry stuff! Set the table with both red and white wine glasses, as well as stemmed water glasses. Add name cards for a seamless transition from cocktails in the living room to everyone seated and ready for the meal. In this tablescape I kept colors neutral, as it often feels the most formal and lets you add color through fresh flowers (and beautiful food!).
**Place setting checklist:**
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Salad fork
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Dinner fork
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Beautiful placemat OR table runner
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Charger plate
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Entrée plate
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Salad plate
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Napkin + napkin ring
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Butter knife
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Soup spoon
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Teaspoon
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Water glass with stem
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Red wine glass
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White wine glass
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Name or place card
Itching for more color? Especially if your fine China is neutral? I suggest table runners and napkins to add the pop without overwhelming the table in color. Here’s a bold use of emerald that still feels elegant and modern:
You can also just add a multi-colored napkin, like this one I had made from a Balinese fabric:
There you have it, everyone! Thanks to Daniela, it looks like we’ll be hosting our fair share of dinner parties this season… No complaints there. ;)
**What expert tips would you like to see here on the blog next?**
Shout out at us @GrayMalin on social media to let us know. And while you’re at it, follow along with Daniela’s work by following her on Instagram here, or visiting her website right here.
Xx Team GM
Photos: Daniela Benloulou