The way you set your dinner table will depend on the event, the number of guests and the impression you are trying to create. If you are hosting a formal occasion, your table will look quite different than it would during a family dinner. Here are some things to consider.

Basic place settings

This is great for family meals and last-minute guests. It’s the most basic of all and involves limited cutlery. With your dinner plate in the middle, your dinner fork to the left and knife on the right. You can place a napkin to the left of the fork and a dinner spoon to the right of the knife. If you like, you can add a bread plate and butter knife to each place setting. Simply position them above the fork and napkin. A glass can be placed above the knife and spoon.

Informal place settings

Somewhat more intricate but still not technically formal, you can add a few pieces of cutlery and crockery to the table. Start with your dinner plate in the middle with a salad plate on top. To the left, you will place your dinner fork next to the plate and then your salad fork. To the right, you will add your knife, dinner spoon and soup spoon. The bread plate and butter knife will be placed above the forks. A water glass can be placed above the dinner knife. A wine glass can be placed above the dinner spoon and a coffee cup and saucer can be placed above the soup spoon.

Formal place settings

This is for when you want to pull out all the stops. Your dinner plate and salad plate will take centre stage as usual. On the left you will arrange your salad fork, dinner fork and then your fish fork furtherest away from the plates. To the right, you will arrange your dinner knife, fish knife, soup spoon and cocktail fork. To the top left of the place setting, you will add a bread plate and butter knife. To the top right, you will have a water glass, red wine glass, white wine glass and finally a champagne flute.

It all might sound confusing at first. Make sure that you keep your guests in mind when lining up all that cutlery. Not everyone understands the various types of place settings and the different types of cutlery. Sometimes simple is best – especially when serving children.