Are table settings just fancy dress-up for your dining room? Or is there a deeper meaning behind pulling out your napkin rings and linens?

Beyond eye-catching aesthetics, the art of table setting is an easy way to celebrate an occasion or elevate the everyday meal while conveying respect and appreciation for those who break bread with us. 

Whether you’re hosting guests or enjoying a family dinner it can be rewarding to set your table in a meaningful way. We’ll show you how!

What it means

Everything in our home is already a reflection of our personal likes and inner state of life – our interests, work, culture, and preferences. Taking a little time to thoughtfully set our table is a continuation of this reality.

Meals are for more than nourishing the body. They equally have the potential to nourish the spirit as they restore our strength, pull us out of our mundane tasks, and, when shared, provide opportunities for human connection. 

When we add a little ceremony to our eating, we take one of our most basic animal needs – food – and add to it our most distinctive human qualities – language, art, and even love.

Just as etiquette conveys respect for your neighbor, using that extra moment to put out some table settings shows your guests or loved ones that they (and you) are worth the effort to enjoy something personable, unifying, and beautiful. 

How we do it

You don’t have to give in to overconsumption or break the bank to create a beautiful dining atmosphere. You can use an intentional collection of traditional table-setting elements, shop your household items and backyard to create your own, or do a lovely combination of both! 

Set the scene

Whether you’re feasting on filet mignon or serving up easy takeout, the basic place setting template is the same. 

Lay out dishes, glasses, napkins, and utensils at each person’s seat ahead of time so everyone knows they’ve been thought of and provided for. If serving buffet style or for a more formal party, a handwritten name card or initials before each place setting is a nice touch to make all feel welcome and easily find a seat. 

Tablecloth or placemats – While a good tablecloth is great for formal dining, it can do just as nicely to dress up a casual lunch. Placemats are more informal and great for setting a clear separation of space for each guest without the chance of dirtying your best linens, and can even be directly used over a tablecloth to create a layered look. Especially for a rustic or beautiful wood table, sometimes the simplicity of a placemat over the exposed wood says it all. 

Napkins – While choosing paper or linen napkins is entirely up to your laundry or environmental preferences, we think focusing on napkin presentation plays a bigger role here. Cloth or paper, a traditional napkin ring keeps both options looking neat and polished and there are loads of fun and fancy variations from floral, to woven metal or statements like nautical or animals. 

Have the napkins, but no rings? There are plenty of handmade options that can be just as elegant and allow creativity to flourish. Try tying your napkin with a pretty ribbon, yarn, colored paper ring, or nice fabric ends. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can string on some pearls or colored beads to your tie, or stick a flower or sprig of greenery into each one. 

Dishes – If you’re waiting for an opportunity to bring out your finest china and tableware, why not start now? Whether it’s Christmas dinner or a Saturday brunch with the family, any day can be a special occasion if you make it one. Add complexity by layering multiple dishes, such as soup bowl over dinner plate, and top with napkin. And feel free to mix and match different styles, patterns, and colors to create a unique look.

Utilizing service ware whenever possible is another way to add to your setting. Switch out plastic bottles and canned beverages with a pitcher or decanter and arrange packaged desserts, sides, or takeout in serving trays and bowls to elevate their presentation. 

Decor

Candles – Lit or unlit, day or night, candles are a surefire way to provide warmth and elegance to your table setting. We love pillar candles on a tray, in a bowl with pebbles or standing alone. Votives or tea lights are also versatile options from floating in a bowl of water, to casting a gentle glow from a glass jar. 

Nature’s bounty – Bringing some of the great outdoors inside is one of the best ways to beautify your dining and the possibilities are endless. From a classic florist’s bouquet in a vase to DIY wildflowers and greenery from your backyard, go with what’s best for your budget and aesthetic. Evergreen or berry branches, pinecones, colorful leaves, beautiful rocks, seashells, herbs, and fruits are some of our favorites (don’t forget to check for bugs before bringing your foraging finds indoors). 

Make branches and small items into a runner down the middle of the table or incorporate items like a flower or seashell into the place setting, such as tied into the napkin ring.  

Color – From neutral earthy colors, to vibrant jewel tones, choose a color palette that fits into the season and ties together all your various dining elements. In the winter, for example, think bright white, gold, green, purple, blue, silver, or burgundy. Table linens, dishes, and decor can all be coordinated from this palette. 

Get ready to set up, sit back, and enjoy!