Setting the table was one of my first jobs to do at home when I was young. Every evening it was a way that I could be involved, make my own decisions on what plates to use, and it taught me the setting-the-table "rules" very quickly. No, this is not Downton Abbey (although I love that show) - nothing has to be perfect or matching- but I always found that setting a table makes a dinner feel that much more special.

I have sectioned this off into three different settings. One: for a relaxed "Everyday" sort of night. Two: for just one "Step- Up" sort of night when perhaps you have some guests but things are still relaxed. Three: for a "Festive Occasion" kind of night! You can have fun with each one. While there is the formal or standard British way of setting the table, which this is not, it is away to step up our "Table Game" and make a beautiful setting. 

Everyday At Home Dinner Set Up:

• Dinner plate in the middle
• Napkin folded on left side of the plate
• Dinner fork on napkin 
• Knife on left of plate with sharp side facing in
• Water glass on upper right above the knife

One Step Up at Home Dinner Set Up:

• Place mat
• Dinner plate on place mat
• Napkin folded on left side of the dinner plate
• Dinner fork on napkin
• Salad plate on dinner plate
• Soup bowl on salad plate
• Salad fork left of dinner fork (unless you decided to serve salad after dinner, then you would place the salad fork on the right of the dinner fork closest to the dinner plate) 
• Soup spoon on the right of the dinner knife 
• Water glass right upper corner above the knife
• Wine glass next to water glass on the right slightly above. 

Festive at Home Dinner Set Up: (Thanksgiving/ Christmas/Passover/New Years): 

• Tablecloth 
• Dinner plate in middle right in front of chair
• Napkin folded on the left side of dinner plate
• Salad plate on top of dinner plate
• Soup bowl on top of salad plate
• Bread plate to the far upper left of dinner plate above forks
• Bread knife on butter plate
• Dinner fork on left of dinner plate on napkin
• Salad fork to the left of dinner dork ((unless you decided to serve salad after dinner, then you would place the salad fork on the right of the dinner fork closest to the dinner plate)
• Dinner knife with sharp side facing in on right of dinner plate 
• Soup spoon right of dinner knife
• Dessert fork lay horizontally over the dinner plate over dessert spoon
• Dessert spoon lay horizontally over the dinner plate under the dessert fork
• Water glass right upper corner above the knife
• Wine glass to the slight right above the water glass 
• Champagne glass to the slight right above the wine glass

 Enjoy and watch the companion reel on Instagram!

Elizabeth