Where does table setting begin? General table setting rules: cutlery and utensils

Table setting includes correct placement utensils, cutlery and its decoration. Its design directly depends on the target area, it can be an ordinary feast, a solemn event or a business lunch. But some rules must be observed in any event.

Naturally, in order to arrange a real celebration, you need a large cozy hall where you can accommodate all the invited guests, and you should also take care of beautiful dishes, tablecloths, cutlery and a variety of festive dishes. Near each plate are knives, forks, spoons, glasses and glasses. As a rule, all devices are usually divided into individual and auxiliary. The latter are used to take food from common dishes, they include spoons, forks, tongs, scoops and more. With auxiliary forks and spoons, they place food from a common dish on their plate, while the spoon is in right hand, and the fork in the left. Sauces and hot soups are placed in ladles very carefully, so as not to drip onto the tablecloth. If this nevertheless happened, you can, without attracting everyone's attention, blot the soiled place with a napkin.

Traditional design implies a certain order of arrangement of dishes on the table. First, porcelain or faience products are placed, cutlery is laid, and then glasses, glasses, glass and crystal products.

A photo of the table setting is presented below:

Fabric and paper napkins are of considerable importance when decorating. Fabric harmoniously can complement general design They look sophisticated and elegant. According to etiquette, guests put them on their knees so as not to stain their clothes. Paper napkins wipe lips and hands during or after a meal.

Table setting for a birthday and a lot of photos

Name day is one of the most favorite holidays for both adults and children, so the table setting for a birthday should be elegant, original and even bright.

A large role in the design is given to tablecloths. It can be plain white or vice versa, colorful. And lace patterns on it will give the table a solemn look. In order to prevent the appearance of stains, an oilcloth is placed on top of the tablecloth.

Table setting for a birthday is not complete without tableware such as wicker fruit baskets, crystal vases for sweets and salads, china plates and elegant glasses.

It is very important to think over the number of invited guests in advance, so that there are enough devices for everyone present in order to avoid embarrassing situations.

A vase of flowers is placed near the birthday boy, but in such a way that it does not interfere and does not block the view. Fruit baskets are placed on both sides of the table, it is desirable that they be the same.

After that, several coasters with bread and sandwiches are placed at the same distance from one another and drinks. As for the plates, there is a generally accepted rule - to put them half a meter apart, and from the edge of the table they should be one centimeter. The use of disparate cups and plates for a special occasion is considered bad form, so it is best to take dishes from the service, because they are not only beautiful, but also the same.

It is arranged as follows: first, shallow plates are placed for the second, larger ones are placed on them for first courses, and on top are the smallest ones, serving for snacks.

The arrangement of cutlery has its own peculiarities: a fork is placed on the left, and a spoon and a table knife are placed on the right, and the spoon and fork should lie with the concave side up. Paper napkins are laid out on the left side. Glasses, glasses and glasses are arranged in descending order from left to right, starting with the largest capacity.

It is customary to start the holiday with cold dishes: salads, appetizers, sandwiches, then hot and dessert are served. Hot usually consists of the first and second. The hostess must definitely check the presence of a spoon in each salad bowl so that it is convenient for guests to put it on.

For kids festive table served in the same way as for adults, but now many parents prefer to use plastic utensils, in order to prevent possible injury and breakage of expensive services. In addition, today plastic glasses and plates delight with their bright and original appearance, which allows you to make children's table elegant and colorful.

As you know, children have a big sweet tooth, so you should pay special attention to sweets: cakes, cookies, sweets, ice cream, which should be served in beautiful vases and other desserts. Fruit can be unusually cut and spread out.

Juices, compotes, fruit drinks, tea or coffee are suitable as drinks for children. And of course, the main attribute of the celebration will be a beautiful birthday cake.

Do-it-yourself festive table setting

Each hostess, preparing for any solemn event, tries to decorate the festive table as best as possible. But, before covering, it is worth considering in what style it will be decorated.

First of all, the choice depends on the design and colors of dishes and tablecloths, and it is much easier to choose a tablecloth for dishes than dishes for a tablecloth. If in home arsenal there is a service made of delicate, exquisite crystal, a snow-white tablecloth and starched, perfectly white napkins will perfectly match with it. Bouquets of flowers in crystal vases will be a wonderful decoration. It is much easier to choose a canvas for porcelain dishes, because any combinations and accessories will look good on it.

The festive table setting will become more refined if you add an additional zest to it in the form of colored or plain napkins folded into various figures. Most importantly, the tablecloth, dishes and napkins should be combined with each other.

A plain tablecloth is very practical, on which you can place dishes of any color. To give a more solemn look, it is decorated with a silk ribbon. If there is an elegant coffee service on the table, a tablecloth and napkins with lace will be an excellent addition to it.

Paper napkins folded in a special way will help complete the look. Due to the wide variety of these products, they can be easily matched to any event, be it a wedding, New Year, Valentine's Day and other holidays. Special holders, which are now included in the set of services, will help to fix the napkins.

Candles and candlesticks on the festive table create a special unique atmosphere in the room and decorate the event. These attributes will be appropriate at any celebration, the main thing is not to replace lighting with them, since the festive table should be well lit. The color of candles must be chosen in a single color scheme with napkins or a tablecloth, dishes or glasses.

The New Year and Christmas table will convey the whole atmosphere of the holiday if you decorate it with white or red candles in candlesticks with fir branches. You can arrange them in a flower arrangement or between bouquets, or screw them to flower holders so that the candles rise above the bouquets. You can see a photo of what such a table setting looks like here.

Table setting for the holiday can be complemented by all sorts of things and objects, for example, silk ribbons that match the tone of the dishes. They make up patterns, or skip from bouquets to cutlery, thereby creating smooth lines and rings.

Various silver figurines are also not uncommon on a modern ceremonial table. And finally, flowers serve obligatory element serving. Properly decorated and arranged bouquets help cheer up, create comfort in the room where the holiday takes place, and also add a touch of charm and charm to the table setting.

Home table setting

As a rule, serving home table falls on weekends when the family has the opportunity to gather at the dinner table in full force. For such an occasion, delicious dishes are prepared, loved by family members, leisurely conversations are held, the time at such a dinner passes very pleasantly and sincerely.

A well-laid, beautifully decorated table teaches children how to properly use cutlery, promotes a good appetite, and gives pleasure to household members who are behind it.

Table setting for breakfast

Aesthetic table setting for breakfast cheers up the whole day, but it also has its own characteristics. First, plates for snacks are placed, and then cups or glasses on saucers. The handle of the cup and the spoon on the saucer should be on the right side so that they are easy to use. Eggs boiled "soft-boiled" or "in a bag" are served in a special stand on a long leg, which is placed on a plate for snacks along with an egg spoon (it is better to use a plastic device for this, since a metal spoon will acquire bad smell). Porridge is poured into a deep plate, which is also placed on the diner. Hot drinks: tea, coffee, cocoa are poured into cups from a teapot or coffee pot, which are placed in the middle of the table or on the side, so that they can be easily taken out. Pastries and sandwiches are laid out on a wide dish, butter, a plate with honey, jam or jam, a sugar bowl and a salt shaker are also placed on the table.

A small set of several napkins and a heater for a teapot (coffee pot) will decorate the table and create coziness. This set must be made in the same style from the same material. A classic option is a set of products in a cage, which will suit any kitchen interior. It is very practical and inexpensive to use paper napkins, which are placed under the appliance or on a plate of bread. It is useful to involve older children in setting the home table, and gradually they will learn this interesting, simple duty.

Table setting for dinner

Table setting for dinner requires compliance with several rules. Usually, it is customary to serve cold and hot dishes for lunch, and dessert at the end of the meal. Such serving will require the presence of several devices (spoons and forks) for laying out food into individual plates from common dishes. Snack plates are served for each member of the family, along with a fork and knife. A snack knife is used for butter.

First courses (hot soups) are served in bouillon cups and deep bowls. Both of them are put on the table in a special substitution plate in order to make it easier to clean these dishes and then so that the table and tablecloth do not heat up. Tablespoons are served with broths and soups, and knives and forks for meat.

The main dishes are laid out in small, pre-served plates. If this is a fish dish, the table is served with a fork and a spatula knife, which separates the fish fillet from the bones. Cutlets, meatballs, zrazy, omelettes, casseroles and similar dishes are divided into pieces with a fork. Dessert is served at the end of a meal, when all used dishes after the first and second meals are removed.

Table setting for dinner

Table setting for dinner is similar to lunch setting, with the only difference being that there are no hot appliances. A casserole, pancakes, pancakes, or a sweet pie are prepared for the evening meal.

Dessert plates are preliminarily placed on the table, dessert forks are laid out to the left of them, and dessert knives are laid out to the right. Cups for hot drinks are placed to the right of the plate, or closer to the center of the table.

A very useful acquisition for the kitchen will be a utility table, which perfectly helps out the hostess while eating. Additional plates, cups, cutlery and other items that may be required for meals are placed on it.

Table setting at home is a painstaking, but at the same time pleasant and interesting activity that will bring a lot of pleasure and benefit to the whole family.

Of course, the beauty and originality of the design depend on the imagination and diligence of the hostess. In this case, it is important to take into account a lot: the choice of dishes and cutlery, the color of the tablecloth, napkins, as well as the correct arrangement of all items and decorative elements. But besides this, there are generally accepted and long established rules table setting, they must be taken into account when making it.

One of the main requirements is the presence of a spotlessly clean and ironed tablecloth. Its ends should evenly hang from all sides of the table by about 30 cm, and the corners should cover its legs.

When arranging the dishes, you need to start with the plates, cleanly washed, wiped with a towel and polished to a shine with a napkin. Snack plates are located opposite each chair and at a distance of about 2 cm from the edge of the table. A pie plate is placed to the left of the snack bar. On the table should be only necessary appliances, it is not worth overloading it with extra dishes, firstly, it spoils general form, and secondly, it creates certain inconveniences for guests.

To make it easier to seat a large number of guests, you can pre-make cards with the names of all those present and place them near the glasses.

The distance between the chairs should be approximately 50 cm, this will ensure a comfortable pastime at the table.

Despite all the complexity that seems at first glance, do-it-yourself table setting will be successful if you put maximum effort and patience into this work, show ingenuity and imagination as much as possible, and, of course, bring a piece of your soul into it. Then any event will be held with a bang and will be appreciated.

Table setting in our reality is not so much a tribute to etiquette as a desire to diversify an everyday lunch and please your loved ones. You don't need to know how many tines an oyster fork has, but why not learn the tricks of decorating your dinner? Today I will share with you the rules for arranging instruments and secrets unusual decoration table.

Serving rules for every day

Knowing at least the basic rules of serving will help you effectively set the table and stand out favorably if guests arrive. After reading this material, you will learn how to turn the most everyday lunch into a small holiday.

For breakfast

What is the best way to serve breakfast at home? Do not worry, for these purposes it is not at all necessary to acquire a snow-white starched tablecloth and expensive crystal. Knowledge of the correct arrangement of dishes and the manifestation of imagination is quite enough.

To make breakfast memorable for every member of your family, follow these rules:

1. First, cover the table with a tablecloth. Let it not be snow-white, but it simply must be well-ironed. Make sure that the pattern fits into the overall interior of the kitchen or dining room.

Instead of standard and already slightly bored panels, you can use runners - strips of fabric that spread along the center of a square or rectangular table. They look interesting and beautiful.

1. Use a wide flat plate for hot dishes (scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs, for example) as the center of the composition. If you prefer cereal or porridge in the morning, set a deep bowl for them. Provide good mood bright patterns on the dishes will help for the whole day.
2. Arrange the plates according to the number of people having breakfast. Next up is the instrumentation. Table setting rules according to etiquette say that a knife is placed to the right of the plate with the blade towards it, behind it is a tablespoon with the convex side down, a little further a teaspoon.

By left side from the plates, spread the forks with the teeth up. The napkin is also located on the left, just behind the fork.

1. Diagonally and to the right, place a coffee cup on a saucer, attach a spoon to it.
2. Slightly above and to the left of the main plates are snack plates for sandwiches or pastries. It is good to attach an additional knife to the same plate, laying it with the blade to the left.

1. For breakfast, it is better to serve refined sugar in a beautiful sugar bowl and with special tweezers..
2. Prepare cute rosettes with spoons for jam, arrange the sliced ​​\u200b\u200blemon on a separate saucer.

In principle, decorating in this way will already bring a note of celebration, but if you want to make breakfast truly unforgettable, you can try a little more. Why not put a small bouquet in the center of the table?

If flowers are not to your liking, you can use other accessories. Time them for a holiday or memorable date. For example, for Valentine's Day, decorate the table with a decorative heart, for an anniversary, a joint photo is perfect.

For lunch

Table setting for dinner is in many ways similar to preparing for breakfast, but with minor differences.

• It all starts in a standard way - with the choice of a tablecloth on which your dishes will look even more appetizing.
• Since most often a dinner consists of at least two or three courses, a plate will need to be prepared for each of them. Plates are placed near the edge of the table (at a distance of several centimeters) - at first small, and deep on it.
• A knife and a soup spoon are laid out to the right of the plate, and a fork for the second course is placed to the left of it. Remember, hot appliances are always located as close to the plate as possible.

• A glass for wine or water is placed next to the installed underplate. Note that if alcohol is provided during lunch (wine, champagne, etc.), the bottle is uncorked in advance and served on the table already open.
• Oil must be supplied in a special oiler. If you don't have one, a small flat saucer will do just fine. To him, you should pick up a knife with a wide blade.
• If you want to serve dishes according to the rules, then you should get a good tureen. In most cases, it is placed near the place occupied by the hostess.

• Another important element of good serving is napkins. Their place is on the dinner plate. Even the use of cloth or paper napkins can be turned into art by folding them in the shape of a swan or something similar.

For more effect, choose napkins that contrast in color with the tone of the tablecloth.

For dinner

And again, the beautiful dinner setting in many respects coincides with what I described above. I will no longer write about the tablecloth, I will consider other excellent nuances.

• Plates for appetizers and the main course are placed one on one, to the left of them is a bread plate. This is classic version, and variations in serving are available, it all depends on the number and type of dishes served.
• Two or three forks are laid out on the left side, and knives on the right. The process of eating starts from the outer cutlery (the most extreme).
• Glasses, glasses and wine glasses are placed in front of plates and cutlery.

• Paper or linen napkins are necessarily laid out on a plate (speaking of paper, I mean high-quality, at least three-layer options).

A small bouquet of flowers can be a good addition to dinner serving, which will play favorably on the atmosphere. In winter, you can do otherwise - decorate the table with a spruce branch or cones, clusters of mountain ash or viburnum.

Table Decoration Ideas for the Holidays

Above, I talked about how to decorate a Sunday or weekday breakfast, lunch or dinner, now it's time to talk about holiday occasions. If you want to impress your guests and make the evening memorable for them for a long time, the following instructions will come in handy.

Preparing for the Feast

As the popular phrase circulating on the Internet says, "you can't just take it and ...". So, you can’t just take it and prepare a real festive dinner in 30 minutes.

You need to take into account several nuances:

1. In the process of setting the date and time of the celebration, determining the list of guests and other trifles, do not forget to conduct such an audit of the service. If you don’t have beautiful dishes, salad bowls, tureens or cutlery, you should look for them. You can ask relatives or buy something for such cases. Yes, the price of current services brings little pleasure, but it is worth considering it as an investment in the future.
2. The set table for the holiday is distinguished by the presence of stands for cakes, dishes for sweets and fruits on it. Do not forget about candles (adhering to elementary fire safety rules, of course).
3. Prepare nameplates for each of the invited guests. They look very elegant.

1. Consider table decoration. Tie it to the theme of the holiday.

Table decor

Ideas for decorating the table - a lot, among them there are a lot of quite budget options. I will talk about a few of them, citing the example of decorating a table for a birthday.

Dealing with seasonality

Consider the seasonality of the birthday:

1. Let the festive table setting for the summer birthday boy be overflowing bright colors and flowers. No need to clutter the table with a huge bouquet, replace it with a few small flower arrangements in miniature vases. And, of course, do not forget about the bowls with seasonal fruits.

1. Autumn birthdays are a real expanse for decor. Collect fallen leaves, tie them into bouquets or distribute around the perimeter of the table.

The color scheme for such decor seems to be inspired by nature itself - use more shades of yellow, orange and red.

1. Table setting for a birthday in the winter month should be done in cold, restrained colors. For example, you can use a rich blue tablecloth, put openwork napkins on it that resemble snowflakes. Complement the composition with silver appliances and porcelain.

White or silver candles, beads, cones or artificial snow can also be used as decor.

1. Spring birthday should be the embodiment of light and warmth. Ideally, if you manage to use the first greens and yellow napkins in the decoration - they will perfectly set off the white dishes.

Set the theme

Themed parties are one of the most popular European trends, gaining more and more fans with us every year. I can give you some original ideas.

1. pirate Party. Decorating a table in a pirate style is as easy as shelling pears: use striped textiles that resemble vests, install name cards with the image of a Jolly Roger.

1. Gangster party. For her, you can arrange a table as a platform for playing poker, decorate it with napkins with a money print.
2. Collection of stylists. One of the brightest and most colorful themes for framing the festive table. Instead of standard cymbal stands, use old ones. vinyl records, let the dishes themselves be with original catchy ornaments.

1. Hello Hawaii! Azure napkins and plates, lots bright colors paper, shells on the table - that's what will create the feeling of a holiday in a warm country. A completely exotic option is to use coconut halves instead of cups.

As you can see, there are a lot of options for experiments. It remains only to decide what is closest to you in spirit and acquire everything you need. And you can find even more serving ideas in the video in this article.

Instead of totals

Now that you know the basic requirements for arranging appliances and gleaned a few decorating ideas, any lunch or dinner you have can turn into a small celebration. And how does it go holiday serving table at your place? Share your secrets in the comments.

It takes ~3 minutes to read

Have you ever wondered what is the main sign of the attention of the hostess of the house to her guests? Of course, this is the correct table setting. Unfortunately, not all housewives know how to do this. Many people think that a beautiful table setting takes a lot of time. However, this opinion is erroneous. Knowing and observing certain rules, you can create festive mood not only on holidays, but also on weekdays.
To create an unusual table decoration, you can attract household members. Most likely, they will like this activity, and you will save time and effort.

It is incorrect to assume that ordinary life you can not bother, and all the complexity of the decoration is used exclusively for holidays. Psychologists claim that appearance dishes and the table as a whole depends on the mood and taste perception of food.
Table setting at home differs from the solemn one in a smaller number of appliances and decor details.

1. Take into service that coaster plates are a must. Using them, you will avoid staining the tablecloth. Agree that sometimes it is very difficult to remove borscht stains from it.
2. It is not recommended to replace the tablecloth with oilcloth. To make the table look "smart", sometimes it is enough to lay a checkered cloth on it. Of course, everything should look harmonious and the tablecloth should be combined with common interior kitchens.
3. If your menu includes a first course, then the presence of deep plates is a must. It is much easier to walk around with a pot and pour the broth for everyone than to rush around with plates.
4. Under a deep plate should be a container for a side dish.
5. In order not to constantly run for forks and spoons, provide them in the right amount in advance.

Why is table setting necessary?

Everyone will agree that it is much more pleasant to eat at a chicly served table. If everything is properly organized, then the daily meal turns into a holiday.
It is not necessary to cook gourmet dishes, you can use ordinary inexpensive products. The very idea of ​​\u200b\u200bdecorating a dining table is important.
Serving planning for specific meals
Introduce new traditions into your family. Due to the lack of time in the modern world, not every family can afford joint meals. In this case, you can limit yourself to one common meal, which will take place in the evening.
Not only for a festive meal, but also for a simple dinner, you can arrange the serving in an original way. Children will be happy to help you with this, as a rule, they are very fond of arranging plates and laying out napkins.
At this table you can chat with all family members. The atmosphere of comfort is conducive to confidential conversations, everyone can talk about their problems or achievements. Such a tradition will bring a piece of joy into everyday life. After everyone gets used to gathering at home for dinner, you can start introducing gatherings on weekends into family traditions.

Table setting rules

1. You need to use the same devices.
2. Each dish should have its own serving.
3. When arranging objects, it must be taken into account that about 80 cm of space must be allocated for each person. This condition will make guests feel comfortable.
4. Plates are placed in the middle of the allocated place, at a distance of two cm from the edge.
5. When planning the serving of several dishes, deep dishes are placed on a flat surface.
6. At a distance of 10 cm to the left of the person, plates for sweets or bread are placed.
7. Spoons, forks and knives are placed with the tip up, on the right - knives, on the left - forks. If dessert is to be served, the soup spoon is placed above the plate.
8. Glasses and glasses should be placed on the right. If alcohol and water are served at the same time, then the container that should be combined with the first course is placed closer.
9. All utensils must be clean and free of stains and streaks. Before serving, it must be wiped with a dry towel.

How to choose the right tablecloth

A mandatory attribute is a tablecloth. It can be both for everyday use and for solemn. What recommendations do experts give when choosing a tablecloth?

• for a banquet, a tablecloth made of natural fabrics, preferably white, is used;
• for everyday dinner or lunch, you can use an acrylic attribute, it should fit the shape of the table;
• it is important that the tablecloth is of suitable length, it should cover the entire surface, and the edges should hang down by 20-25 cm.

Required condition!!! Any tablecloth must be clean. Therefore, you need to have several options available.

Plate arrangement

So, the tablecloth is laid. Now you need to arrange the plates. The scheme is very simple. There should be a decorative plate in the very center, it should not be too close to the edge. A plate for snacks is placed on it. If there are liquid dishes on the menu, then a deep container is also placed on decorative plate. It is important to note that when serving puree soup, a soup bowl is served, and when serving broth, a cup must be served. The bread plate is placed to the left of the decorative one.

Location of devices

Serving provides a certain location of all appliances. Everything must comply with the rules of etiquette:

• appliances should be placed on the sides of the plates, in some cases they are placed on top;
• there should be forks to the left of the main plate;
• knives are placed on the right, their blades should be directed towards the plate;
• on top of the plate should be a spoon for soup;
• a dessert spoon is placed on the right side, it should enclose a row of knives.

Important!!! The utensils that will be used first should be closest to the plate. Appliances for first courses should be the most distant. It should be borne in mind that all devices must be freely available for use.

How to choose glasses

For serving a festive table, it is very important to choose the right glasses. For each drink, a certain type of wine glasses or glasses is provided.
For red wines, cognac and brandy, "pot-bellied" glasses are used. And for wines from white varieties, small glasses are used. The tallest or narrowest glasses are for champagne. For juices and water, glasses are served that are intended for cocktails.

Use of napkins

How beautiful to set the table? One of essential elements decorations in the design of any holiday or banquet are napkins. A lot of techniques have been invented, following which you can create from them an exquisite and unusual composition. When choosing napkins, you need to pay attention to the color. You can buy napkins of the same color with holiday candles.
Napkins need to be folded so that after unfolding they do not look too wrinkled. This decoration is placed on a plate for snacks. Using napkin figurines, you can make your table very stylish.

Table setting for dinner

1. Festive dinner with the family. Beautiful candles and plates are placed on the table, wine and light snacks are in store. Later, you can serve a hot dish, dessert and fruit. Remove the glasses and replace them with cups and saucers.
2. How beautiful to set the table for a romantic dinner? A small table is laid, at which two people sit opposite each other. Candles and flowers are a must. A dark-colored tablecloth will add a special flair to the romantic mood.
3. For a themed dinner. You can serve dishes prepared from products that are grown in your country house. The table is decorated with compositions of vegetables. All dishes are simple, prepared from natural products.
4. For dinner with a friend. No extra details. Delicate tablecloth, the minimum number of appliances, light meals. Perhaps cold cuts or seafood.
5. Dinner for friends. Friends come to visit for simple informal communication. So forget about solemnity, everything should be simple. But of course cook some delicious meals

Table setting for a children's event

Organization children's event This is always a concern for parents. It is necessary to take care not only about the deliciousness of the food and the beauty of the presentation, but also about the safety of the children.
How to set the table for a children's holiday?

1. In order for the children to feel like adults, set a separate table for them.
2. It is necessary to withstand the design in one scale. It is better if you pick up any cartoon theme. It must be present in everything.
3. Disposable tableware is a real godsend for parents who need to organize children's holiday. Just do not think that we are talking about simple disposable plates. In stores you can buy very beautiful dishes from durable plastic or special cardboard. Such dishes are very practical, because they do not break. She is very beautiful, so the kids will be delighted with her.
4. Do not cook a variety of salads and meat dishes. After all, this is a children's holiday, and children do not like to eat this at a party. Surprise them with beautiful buffet appetizers, this is exactly what they will like.

Benefits of proper table setting

If your family gets used to eating in a cozy and beautiful environment, then food will be a real pleasure. Children will grow up cultured, knowing the place for each item on the table. Evening gatherings at a beautifully laid table will unite your family. And this family tradition will be passed down from generation to generation.

Today we will talk about how to set the table beautifully and correctly, citing as an example a photo of serving for various holidays or everyday dinners. Proper serving The table says a lot about the hostess, her education and taste, because one of the basic norms of ethics is the ability to set the table, know the purpose of all cutlery and use them correctly.

Tablecloth selection

First of all, a tablecloth is laid on the table, it would seem that this is understandable, however, this business has its own subtleties. The tablecloth must be absolutely clean, smoothly ironed, otherwise it will only become an indicator of your untidiness. After you set the table with it, check that it has an equal length everywhere, and at the same time does not hang too low, as long edges can cause inconvenience for guests, and besides, they can be accidentally pulled, which will be an unpleasant end holiday. Too long ends can be secured with fabric snaps, which most often have an interesting design.

Also, the tablecloth should not be too short, otherwise it will look like the girl was wearing a dress several sizes larger. In the absence of a tablecloth or the desire to set the table in an unusual way, you can use special large napkins for each person. Please note that these are not the ones that lay on your knees or wipe your mouth with, they are much denser in material, have big size, as they should fit plates, cutlery, glasses.

Serving rules

The next step is to arrange the plates, they are placed on top of each other depending on the size and purpose. Three types are most often used: soup, snack bar, dining room. They are put on the countertop in reverse order, as the guest will start with soup, then move on to snacks, simply removing the already used plate from above.

Knives are placed to the right of the plate, followed by spoons in order of use. Today, the number of devices, their location are not determined as strictly as before. Insofar as huge role the design itself plays, based on which, according to the idea, a teaspoon may not be located at all at the plate, but, for example, next to a saucer for cakes or served only with tea. The forks are placed on the left side with the teeth up, so the sooner it is used, the closer it is to the plates. This arrangement of cutlery contributes not only to ease of use, but also helps guests not to get confused.

Dessert cutlery is placed behind the plate, perpendicular to how all the rest are stacked. There, on the right side, there are several glasses. There must be a glass for soft drinks: juice or mineral water. Also about 2-3 glasses, each designed for a certain type of alcohol.

Types of glasses

Let's start simple, everyone knows what a flute glass is, as traditionally, especially on New Year, champagne is poured into it. Although glasses of this shape are also suitable for sparkling wines. The main feature is the upwardly elongated shape, which allows the foam to rise and air bubbles to play inside the liquid.

Red wine glasses are just as easy to imagine for most, they have a thin stem, a rounded bottom, are quite bulky and taper towards the top. However, the type of glasses varies greatly depending on the type of wine, for example, glasses for Burgundy and Montrachet have a much larger volume, more like a ball or pear, tapering less towards the top. However, quite rarely people at home and even far from always in restaurants follow such subtleties.

The white wine glass has more elongated shape, it looks more like an oval. Usually two types of wine glasses are placed side by side, a glass or a glass for the selected strong drink is added to them, and other glasses are brought as needed. Otherwise, the whole table will be filled exclusively with glasses of different types.

A glass for whiskey or cognac is low, with a thick bottom, expanding towards the top, has a simple, fairly spacious shape. The martini glass is shaped like an inverted triangle, so it's not difficult to recognize it at all. For cocktails, straight glasses, glasses or two-tiered complex shapes are used. If you do not arrange a bar separately, then better near with bottles place small saucers with lemon, lime, olives.

Placement options for napkins

When serving, three types of napkins are used:

• decorative;
• napkins, creeping on your knees;
• wipes adapted for wiping hands or mouth.

Napkins that are placed on the lap can be placed on top of the soup plate, folded nicely. Thus, a person sitting at the table will immediately understand what it is intended for. On top of it, you can put a small postcard with the name of the guest or a nice short wish. You can add to the postcard miniature flower or a piece of spruce branch.

Decorative napkins are usually placed under the plates, sometimes additionally and between them. They can be folded into triangles, diamonds, or overlapped so that the colors are intertwined. In addition, you can also put small lace napkins under candles or glasses.

The most ordinary napkins are usually located under the cutlery, or behind the plates, but only one at a time. There should be a few more napkin holders in the center so that guests can easily use any number they may need.

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Boho decor

The "boho" style is distinguished by its brightness and an abundance of various interior and decor items, in which you can combine dishes absolutely different styles, colors and shapes. Serving looks insanely beautiful when all the wine glasses are made of different materials, some have blue color, some pink or green. In addition, this style is characterized by an abundance of textiles, that is, under each plate there can be several napkins from the same various materials, fringe, tassels are welcome, with which you can complement the monotonous tablecloth.

An important element is lighting, around the table or above it you can place several lamps, shades, garlands, and place candles on the tabletop itself. different forms with unusual candlesticks or small lamps. Small frames and voluminous vases with flowers will interestingly fit into the decor. Bouquets are best made from a mixture of field and garden flowers, so that among the many greenery peek out large heads roses, lilies, peonies.

Easter table

Easter decor is truly one of the cutest, because decorating eggs, baking Easter cakes and creating little bunnies with your own hands is a favorite pastime for both children and adults. The Easter table often looks amazing due to the baskets with painted eggs, candles and sprinkles on the tops of Easter cakes. However, this is not all that you can think of to create a beautiful festive interior.

You can make a small basket of recruiting branches, an egg carton, or any other shape. Inside put napkins, lace (which goes very nicely with canvas and coarse craft thread). You can also complement the decor with grass and flowers, both natural and artificial. And eggs are already laid on top, or parts of their shells, from which toy chicks, hares or, again, flowers can crawl out.

The table can be decorated with candles of different diameters and colors, low, thick candles can be placed in shells or on varnished wood cuts. Napkins, tablecloths, the color of plates and dishes should be chosen according to general decor. Below are photos of Easter servings for inspiration.

New Year decoration

When decorating New Year's table The most commonly used colors are:

• red;
• green;
• white;
• gold.

However, it is better not to mix them in the total mass, only three colors should always be the main ones. It is better to combine gold only with white, for example, white tablecloths, beige napkins, white dishes, several of which can be with a gold or black border, the pattern can also be in the form of specks. Transparent wine glasses can also be supplemented with gold ribbons, white candles can be placed in golden candlesticks. You can add greenery to the bouquets, lingonberry or spruce branches are amazingly suitable for the atmosphere.

Jewelry from spruce branches especially popular when serving on winter days, the photo below will show an example of how best to do this. They can be laid out on the table between dishes, you can use them to decorate candles, or create a wreath into which white long candles will be inserted, which can be lit closer to midnight.

New Year's Eve or Christmas, held in a red and green theme, is a classic. Checkered napkins, red tablecloth, fir cones, striped lollipops, Santa socks and white candles. This design is considered one of the most stylish and is quite traditional in America, where the New Year can be called the main holiday. You can also create a more relaxed design by placing decorations in bright colors on a snow-white tablecloth.

Another amazing color combination, just the same more suitable for Russia: white, blue, silver. Just the same here again you can use glasses and napkins of different colors. You can place small Christmas decorations with silver glitter on the table, for example, deer or Christmas trees.

Holiday in nature

Perhaps one of the most beautiful views serving is a combination of boho, rustic and natural styles. The rustic style implies maximum closeness to nature, so it mostly uses natural materials, and dishes and decor are selected in calm natural shades. In a similar decor are often decorated wedding tables, on which there are always a lot of bouquets made in delicate color variations, the main elements of which are again wild flowers.

Napkins are selected from canvas and white lace, cutlery can be tied with lace beige ribbons, and glasses can also be decorated with them. The abundance of lighting is also characteristic of all three styles, however, the color variations are far from being as bright and bold as in boho. Often garlands with white or yellow bulbs are chosen, which can be hung over the table or laid out on it, they can also be hung around on trees or braided around trunks.

Candles or others lighting it is not necessary to put exclusively white, but it is better to turn to pastel colors. It can be beige, light green, lilac, or pale pink - these colors can be used throughout the interior. But again, make sure they match.

Table setting in nature

The culture of eating is an integral part of the general culture modern man. And table setting is a process that now inevitably accompanies any feast. And therefore, you should not underestimate the importance of table setting, because we all love high-quality shoes, a beautiful hairstyle, any job well done by someone ... And the very first thing that starts an ordinary breakfast (lunch, dinner ...) or a festive table is its serving .

According to the data of the free Internet encyclopedia, table setting is its setting and placing cutlery on it. The word "serving" itself comes from the word "service", which means service, or service. Do not confuse table setting with table decoration, serving wines, decorating dishes, etc. - these are already somewhat different concepts and processes. It is the setting of the table and the placement of cutlery on it - correct, convenient, stylish and harmonious - that is precise definition the term "table setting".

Of course, dishes prepared with diligence and soul, with sincere love and respect for future “eaters”, a set table, fantasy, originality can be much more important for most of us than the classic principles of table setting. And yet it will be very useful to know the general rules of serving - after all, from time to time we will still be forced to set the table according to generally accepted standards.

Basic principles of table setting

After analyzing a number of articles on the subject under consideration, we can conclude that the general principles of any traditional table setting are: the correct arrangement of cutlery; convenience in their use; the harmony of their sizes, proportions, colors and shades; and, finally, compliance with the menu and the nature of the feast. Here are some obvious examples of improper table setting: the impressive size of the table itself - too small plates; white tablecloth - dark glasses; homogeneous dishes - and different color; bright colors and shades - at a business reception ... Eliminating or preventing such imbalances is already half the battle. And we will consider the main nuances and some subtleties of table setting further.

In most articles it is written that the style in which any table is served should correspond to the type of the upcoming feast and the range of dishes prepared. It is worth adding here also one more important factor - the psychological factor - namely the contingent (!) for which the served table is designed. And this factor of the contingent, quite possibly, can significantly modify the style of serving your entire table. After all, it is he, the human factor, in most cases - fundamental (unfortunately) in many areas of our lives. And, regardless of our desire, this factor constantly has to be taken into account ...

Starting with a tablecloth

In the classical sense, table setting is usually divided into four types: 1 - dinner table; 2 - cold table; 3 - tea (coffee) table; 4 - buffet (options: buffet, cocktail table, buffet table ...).

In any case, initially the table itself is covered with a perfectly clean and ironed tablecloth. The choice of a tablecloth by material and color is very important - please do not miss this important point. According to the generally accepted rules for table setting, the edges of the tablecloth should hang evenly from all sides by 25-30 centimeters from each edge of the table, but not lower than the level of the seats of the chairs, otherwise it can be very uncomfortable for those present.

The corners of the tablecloth should cover (or almost cover) the legs of the table. And one more thing: all secondary and additional furniture - tables, sideboards, coasters, etc. - should also be neatly covered with tablecloths or napkins.

Serving the table with crockery and cutlery

The next step is the arrangement of dishes and cutlery. Naturally, they should be absolutely clean, and, if possible, polished to a shine with a napkin or towel. For each of the participants in the meal, of course, their own personal snack plate should be provided. At the same time, it should be located strictly opposite the corresponding chair and at a distance of about 2 centimeters relative to the edge of the table. (In order not to lose sight of it, we immediately note here that indents from the edge of the table of at least 2 centimeters are required for all other cutlery, as well as other items and attributes of the feast).

Then, at a distance of approximately 5 - 10 centimeters to the left of the diner, a patty plate is placed. And at the same time, the centers of all the plates standing in the same row should be “lined up” in one line. Also, the distance between the plates of the "neighbors" should be no less than 60 - 80 centimeters (!). A neatly folded napkin is placed on each snack plate. (Spices are placed symmetrically in the center of the table).

Next - the layout of spoons, forks, knives. In the gap between the pie and snack plates, you need to put a dining and snack fork (both forks must lie with their prongs up). To the right of each snack plate, table and snack knives are laid out (the blades of both knives must necessarily “look” at the plate). Neither forks nor knives should be “hidden” under the edges of the plates, and also should not touch each other. If the menu also includes fish dishes, then each of the “feasters” is additionally laid out: a fish fork (should be between the dining fork and the snack fork) and a fish knife (placed between the table knife and the snack knife).

Deepening up - to the right of each snack plate, near the knife - there should be a soup spoon. On the right side of each pie plate, you need to put a meat knife ... The last nuance: the table setting should initially be designed for a maximum of 3 sets of cutlery. If the menu is very extensive and you need the 4th set (for example, fish), then this set should be placed directly on the snack plate, carefully covered with a napkin.

The next stage is the layout of dessert devices. They should be located in front of each snack plate and "approach" the center of the table in next order: first a knife, then a fork, then a spoon. In some cases - if the dessert is "modest" - there may be fewer dessert devices. For example - only a dessert fork. Or - a dessert knife and a dessert spoon. A dessert spoon is usually placed with the handle to the right and the indentation up. The dessert fork should lie up with the tip and to the left with the handle. That's it, a whole science! ..

Arrangement of wine glasses (or glasses). A glass intended for a drink with the most basic dish should be placed opposite the knife blade. A glass for a drink with an appetizer is somewhat to the right and should be lower in height. The basic rule here is this: all glasses (glasses, wine glasses) are set to the right of the very first one - in the order corresponding to the order in which the dishes are served. It is also allowed to arrange glasses (glasses, glasses, glasses) and in 2 rows.

Example: row 1st - a glass, a glass for wine, a glass for vodka; row 2 - a glass of champagne, a glass of wine. And one more essential rule: the higher the dishes in which the snacks are placed, the closer to the center of the table these dishes should be placed; and vice versa - snacks in smaller dishes are usually placed further from the center and, accordingly, as close as possible to the guests.

Don't Forget Herbs and Spices

Spices and seasonings - crucial moment in such a creative process as table setting! Remember from history? There was a time when a bag of peppers equaled a fortune! And indeed, without seasonings and spices, our table would be much more meager and insipid than with their presence. So, with special attention and all responsibility, one should treat the preparation of a set of such popular spices and seasonings as pepper (pepper), salt (salt shaker), mustard (mustard), vinegar (bottle for vinegar) and other seasonings and spices (and their now many) - taking into account the needs of the entire expected contingent! (And here the human factor comes to the surface again J…).

And further: correct selection and preparing a set of spices and seasonings is at least a few impressive paragraphs of detailed text. For simplicity, we highlight only the most basic: containers for all spices (seasonings) must be absolutely clean or transparent, with closed lids or corks (so that they do not exhale and absorb moisture and odors), and finally - half filled. These are the rules of culinary etiquette.

We pay close attention to napkins

Napkins. How many times have we bought them in packs and put them on the table, not really thinking about their color, material, size, shape ... But it turns out that napkins are also a science to a certain extent! So, first of all, the color of the napkins should be in harmony with the color of the main dish. Napkins are folded in different ways - depending on the type of upcoming event. Without going into such details, we note the main thing: napkins are folded in such a way that they can always - easily and quickly - be unfolded, wipe your mouth, put on your knees or use for other, individual, purposes.

And one more important nuance: in the event that the table does not provide for snack plates, instead of them, starched linen napkins are laid out on it, folded four times, and paper (in this case) are not used at all.

Decorate and decorate the table

And the final step: ashtrays, flowers, decorations, souvenirs, attributes and many other useful "little things" - all to make the table setting as close to perfection as possible! This is more likely not even serving, but the design and decoration of the table. But, nevertheless, the process is so close to the topic under consideration that it is difficult not to mention it. Yes, both the decoration and the design of the table are the most important detail in our creative event. And this detail can sometimes become simply decisive - for example, if complex negotiations are to be held at the table. The main thing is to decorate and decorate the table with taste, harmony, imagination and everything that can at least cheer up any of those present.

We bring the zest of personal fantasy

In conclusion, I would like to add that table setting is a process both creative and very individual. Do not deprive yourself of the opportunity and pleasure to supplement it with your personal highlight (or invention). Individual imagination and an informal approach to preparing the table will once again emphasize your indifference to those present, and will also give you the strength to create everything in the best possible way.

I will give an example from my own experience. I personally like a table that has the least amount of cutlery, while all of them are minimal. overall dimensions- and at the same time very capacious (capacious). Thus, a maximum of space is formed at the table and at the same time a lot of food is placed. And when I have to carry out such a delicate process as table setting, I always try to adhere to this principle. This nuance is usually noticed by a few, but so far no one has complained. After all, the good is almost always taken for granted, and therefore it is often simply not noticed ... But in this particular case, I absolutely do not regret it. After all, the main thing is that the table turned out!

Everyone - bon appetit and wonderful mood! Eat for health! But always remember that the basis of any successful meal is thoughtful, correct, beautiful, comfortable, stylish, harmonious, refined, precise, sincere ... table setting.