Proper table setting at home. Setting a festive table at home: arrangement of dishes and design ideas Table decoration with two tablecloths

Peculiarities

Serving is a clear arrangement of dishes and all the utensils necessary for eating on the table. A number of ordinary people are unaware that properly decorating a table takes time, although for savvy housewives this process will be quite simple. The entire table design process consists of several steps:

1. Choosing a beautiful tablecloth and matching napkins.
2. Buying dishes.
3. Purchasing beautiful spoons, forks and special knives.
4. Buying glasses.
5. Choice of service for tea and coffee breaks.

When all the necessary items are at your disposal, then you can start planning your meal.

You should not forget that a tablecloth is considered a mandatory attribute of table decoration for a celebration at home.

You should know that it can be purchased for special occasions and everyday use. Experts recommend:

• For a festive feast, buy a tablecloth made of natural material.
• For frequent family tea parties, purchase a tablecloth made from more durable materials.

It is better that the shape of the product follows the shape of the tabletop. Pay special attention to the length of this important accessory. According to all the rules of etiquette, the tablecloth must completely hide the tabletop, and also hang down from its edge 20-25 cm.

The classic design of the table requires a special arrangement of dishes on it. First, earthenware and porcelain tableware is installed, then all kinds of cutlery are placed, then glasses, cups and shot glasses, crystal items, vases and glass candy dishes are taken out.

Napkins are important. Fabric products can perfectly complement the design of the table itself; they look elegant. Invitees place them on their laps so that their clothes do not get dirty. Paper analogues are simply used to wipe fingers or lips both during and after meals.

If you put different cups or plates on the table for a celebration, your guests will clearly consider such a move bad manners, so it is best to select all the dishes from the same set, then they will not only be stylish, but also of the same color.

Before serving dishes, the hostess should check the presence of spoons in all salad bowls, so that the guests have something to transfer the chosen salad to their plate.

For children, a table for a birthday or New Year decorate in almost the same way as for adults, but these days most parents buy for children plastic dishes. It allows you to avoid injuries and loss of expensive service items.

In addition, cups and plates made of plastic always delight with their attractive appearance, which will allow you to make a table at home for fun children as elegant as possible.

A couple of days before the holiday, you need to resolve all the issues related to its organization and prepare well: count the number of invited guests, think over the menu, determine whether the tablecloth is in order and whether there are napkins of the right color, take into account the availability in the house holiday sets dishes, come up with original decor. On the day of your celebration, wipe all items with a clean cloth until they squeak and shine, and then you can begin setting the festive table itself.

Location of items

First, all the plates are set out. The main place on the table is always occupied by a separate plate for decoration, which is placed no less than 2 cm from the edge of the tabletop. A dish for cool snacks is placed on top of it; its size should be medium. In addition, you can also place a soup product on the main plate if your menu includes puree soup. If you are going to treat your guests with broth, then it is best to serve a special broth for it. The bread plate should be at left side from the main one.

For any kind of plates there is general rule –you need to place them 50 cm from one another so that the invitees do not feel crowded at the table. Cutlery is placed on either side of the plates or above them. The plugs are usually located on the left side of the main appliance. Knives should be placed on the right, with the blades facing directly towards the dish. A spoon for all kinds of soups is located on top of the main dish. The dessert spoon lies on the right and is considered the last in the line of cutlery.

Those items that are used first are placed closest. Furthest away will be the knives and forks for the latest dishes. When arranging devices, you need to remember that they should be easy and simple to reach.

You cannot hide the cutlery under the large edges of the guest plates; they must be clearly visible.

To set a table with food at home in an interesting way and according to all existing rules, you need to choose the right glasses. It is worth knowing that for any drink there must be a specific type of glass or glass. Experts suggest that:

• Pot-bellied glasses are used for red wines, aromatic cognac, and aged brandy.
• Small glasses will adequately preserve the bouquet of dry white wine.
• Narrow glasses are useful for champagne.
• Glasses will be needed for pouring juice and mineral water.

On the tabletop, all these items are placed to the right of the invitee’s plate. Napkins should be interestingly combined with the main color of the selected table service. The napkins are folded so that when unfolded they look as neat as possible. These items are placed on the snack plate until it is in use. With these accessories you can decorate the table in any fashionable direction.

How to arrange ready-made dishes?

Any housewife will prepare many of the most incredible and delicious dishes to amaze guests with her cordiality and hospitality. But you need to take into account that excessive abundance will then be difficult to arrange in all its splendor on the table, which can lead to unpleasant moments:

• The guest will have nowhere to put his plate.
• There won't be enough space for all the food.
• You will not be able to reach certain dishes.
• The table may look cluttered.
• You will not be able to arrange all the devices correctly.

To avoid this, when planning a celebration, you need to immediately make a list of all the dishes that will need to be prepared.

If you dream of holding the most formal reception, then you will need to think about setting the table 3 times:

1. Serving hot dishes and arranging cutlery on the table for them;
2. Decorating a separate table with various snacks;
3. Final table preparation for dessert dishes.

You need to think about how to quickly and correctly set the festive table for all these stages. Special attention should be paid to the details of the arrangement of the main dishes.

Place the salt and pepper shakers in the very center of the table, leaving a small distance between them. Place a mustard pot and all kinds of gravy boats nearby. Serve the butter with a special knife, and put the smallest spoon into the mustard.

The bread is brought in on separate plates, which must be placed on different sides of the table so that any guest can reach it. You need to arrange cold appetizers correctly - they can be fish, meat and vegetables. If you need to serve the drink in a bottle, then bring an already opened vessel to the table.

Correctly serving various types of drinks should follow the following rules:

• It is better to place sweet water and mineral water separately; you should open them before the start of the celebration.
• Juices and fruit drinks are poured into glass jugs and placed around the table.
• Decanters are needed for vodka and various liqueurs.
• Cognac and wine are placed on the table only in original bottles.

If many people are invited to the celebration, then you need to know the correct order of serving dishes. The feast should begin with cold appetizers - delicious salads and small sandwiches. Afterwards, hot food is brought in - this can be soup and a variety of main courses. Sweet dishes are considered the end of the meal - they are served at the end of the holiday. Each dish brought in should have a separate spoon so that your guests can easily transfer the treat to their plates.

If you have introduced a number of main dishes to the menu, then before the next shift you need to change the dirty plates to clean ones.

You can place the main courses on the table in this order - first the fish ones, after them the meat ones, and then just under the “curtain” - the vegetable ones.

If you have prepared fried or stuffed fish, then the meat or poultry on your menu should be stewed or vice versa, and then your guests will be satisfied. Vegetable dishes are those that contain green peas or cabbage.

Before dessert, it is better to remove all unnecessary dishes from the table, with the exception of glasses. On the table there are small dessert plates with knives and forks, which are laid out according to the same principle as the usual cutlery for main courses.

Required elements

A serving plate is a flat product of large diameter. An ordinary hot plate can successfully play its role. It is used not only for decoration: such a product will protect the table from accidental splashes.

A snack plate is a small and flat saucer. It is needed for a salad or canapé and is removed from the table as soon as the appetizers are finished. A deep dish for hot dishes or a special cup for broth is placed on top of the appetizer and serving plates if you have soup on the menu.

The stand plate for sliced ​​bread is located at left hand and is individual for each invitee. In everyday serving, it is most often abandoned. Glasses are set according to height. They are placed diagonally on the right hand of the person sitting, the row begins with the tallest and largest glass or glass.

Usually all devices are divided into individual (for each of the invitees) and additional. These are special spoons, forks, tongs and scoops, etc. With these additional utensils, guests transfer food to their plates from a common dish.

Serving cannot be complete without serving items such as fruit baskets, crystal vases for berries, sweets or salads.

Today we will talk about how to set a table beautifully and correctly, giving examples of photos of table settings for various holidays or everyday dinners. Proper table setting says a lot about the hostess, her education and taste, because one of basic standards Ethics is considered to be the ability to set the table, to know the purpose of all cutlery and to use it correctly.

Choosing a tablecloth

First of all, a tablecloth is laid on the table, it would seem that this is already clear, however, this matter 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, make sure that it is the same length everywhere and does not hang too low, as long edges can cause inconvenience for guests, and they can also be accidentally pulled, which will lead to an unpleasant end. holiday. Too long ends can be secured using fabric snaps, which often have an interesting design.

Also, the tablecloth should not be too short, otherwise it will look as if the girl was wearing a dress several sizes too large. If you don’t have a tablecloth or want 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 are placed on your knees or used to wipe your mouth; they are much denser in material and have large size, since plates, cutlery, and glasses should fit on them.

Serving rules

The next step is to arrange the plates; they are placed on top of each other depending on their size and purpose. Three types are most often used: soup, snack bar, and canteen. They are placed on the tabletop in the reverse order, since the guest will start with soup, then move on to appetizers, 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 and their location are not determined as strictly as before. Since the design itself plays a huge role, based on which, according to the idea, the teaspoon can be placed not at all on 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, and the earlier it should be used, the closer it is to the plates. This arrangement of cutlery not only contributes to ease of use, but also helps guests avoid confusion.

Dessert cutlery is placed behind the plate, perpendicular to how all the others are laid out. There, on the right side, there are several glasses. There must be a glass for non-alcoholic drinks: juice or mineral water. Also about 2-3 glasses, each intended for certain type alcohol.

Types of glasses

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

Red wine glasses are also easily imaginable for most; they have a thin stem, a rounded bottom, are quite voluminous and taper towards the top. However, the type of glasses varies greatly depending on the type of wine, for example, wine glasses for “Burgundy” and “Montrachet” have a much larger volume, more reminiscent of a ball or pear, tapering less towards the top. However, it is quite rare that people at home and not even always in restaurants follow such subtleties.

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

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

Napkin placement options

When serving, three types of napkins are used:

• decorative;
• napkins spread across your lap;
• napkins designed for wiping hands or mouth.

Napkins that are placed on your lap can be placed on top of the soup plate, folded beautifully. Thus, when a person sits down at the table, he will immediately understand what it is intended for. On top of it you can put a small card with the guest's name or a sweet short wish. You can add a miniature flower or a piece of a spruce branch to the card.

Decorative napkins are usually placed under plates, sometimes additionally and between them. They can be folded into triangles, diamonds, or overlapping so that the colors intertwine with each other. 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 guests can easily use whatever quantity they may need.

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Boho style decor

The “boho” style is distinguished by its brightness and abundance of various interior items and decor; it can combine dishes absolutely different styles, colors and shapes. The serving looks incredibly beautiful when all the glasses are made of different materials, some have blue, 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 also made of various materials, fringe and tassels are welcome, with which you can complement a monotonous tablecloth.

An important element is lighting; several lamps, lampshades, garlands can be placed around the table or above it, and candles can be placed on the tabletop itself different forms with unusual candlesticks or small lamps. Small frames will fit interestingly into the decor, and volumetric vases with flowers. It is better to make bouquets from a mixture of wild and garden flowers, so that large heads of roses, lilies, and peonies can be seen among the abundance of greenery.

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 stunning with baskets of colored eggs, candles and sprinkles on top of the Easter cakes. However, this is not all that can be thought of to create a beautiful festive interior.

You can make a small basket from a bunch of branches, an egg carton or any other shape. Place napkins and lace inside (which goes very beautifully with canvas fabric and coarse craft thread). You can also complement the decor with grass and flowers, both natural and artificial. And eggs, or parts of their shells, are placed on top, from which toy chicks, hares, or again flowers can emerge.

The table can be decorated with candles of different diameters and colors; low, thick candles can be placed in shells or on varnished sections of wood. Napkins, tablecloth, color of plates and dishes are best matched to the overall decor. Below are photos of Easter table settings for inspiration.

New Year decorations

When decorating the New Year's table, several colors are most often used:

• red;
• green;
• white;
• gold.

However, it is better not to mix them together; 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 may have a gold or black border, the pattern can also be in the form of specks. Transparent wine glasses can also be complemented with gold ribbons, white candles can be placed in golden candlesticks. You can add greenery to the bouquets; branches of lingonberries or spruce will suit the atmosphere perfectly.

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

New Year or Christmas, celebrated in a red and green theme, is a classic. Checkered napkins, red tablecloth, fir cones, striped candy canes, 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 bright colors on a snow-white tablecloth.

Another stunning color combination, just more suitable for Russia: white, blue, silver. This is where you can again use glasses and napkins of different colors. You can place small ones on the table Christmas decorations with silver glitter, for example, deer or Christmas tree.

Holiday in nature

Perhaps one of the most beautiful views The table settings are a combination of boho, rustic and natural styles. The “rustic” style implies maximum closeness to nature, which is why it mostly uses natural materials, and dishes and decor are chosen in calm natural shades. In such decor they are often decorated wedding tables, on which there are always many bouquets made in delicate color variations, the main elements of which are again wildflowers.

Napkins are chosen from canvas fabric and white lace, cutlery can be tied with beige lace ribbons, and glasses can also be decorated with them. An abundance of lighting is also characteristic of all three styles, however, the color variations are no longer as bright and bold as in “boho”. Often, garlands with white or yellow bulbs are chosen, which can be hung above the table or laid out on it; they can also be hung around trees or braided around trunks.

Candles or other lighting fixtures do not have to be exclusively white, but it is better to use pastel colors. It can be beige, light green, lilac, or soft pink - similar colors can be used throughout the interior. But again, make sure they match.

Table setting outdoors

You need to set the dinner table beautifully not only for the arrival of guests, but also for your family. Even the kitchen and coffee tables deserve special treatment. We offer a few tips to help make your table setting simple and stylish. The main secret lies in the combination of texture, color and accessories.

1. Porcelain and glass

You don't have to spend a fortune on plates or glasses to have an elegant table. If you decorate it correctly, it will look like a million. First of all, you need to pay attention to porcelain and glass.

We start with porcelain. There should be a small plate, a salad plate, and a bowl on the table.
Use a trivet plate. It is large enough and perfectly frames the dishes, outlining its boundaries. You can use a special mat, which you can make yourself from decorative paper if you wish. Simple wreaths and even leaves will do.

Grouping the glasses. If you place more than one glass on the table, then this trick alone will give the table a stylish and elegant look. Glasses should be grouped, there should be glasses for wine and glasses for water.
Cutlery can be connected using ribbon or twine. In addition, they can be beautifully wrapped in a napkin.

2. Tablecloths

Tablecloths can completely change the mood, immediately creating a festive mood. Now there is a huge selection of all kinds of tablecloths, napkins, runners, which must certainly be different colors, textures and patterns, it is desirable that they all combine with each other. In addition, there should be themed sets that are suitable for certain holidays.

Table runner- a tablecloth in the form of a narrow strip running across the entire table. This is one of the most modern ways to decorate a table, especially if you don’t want to hide a beautiful wooden or glass tabletop completely under the fabric. Such paths are universal. They can be easily laid out on top of a regular tablecloth along the table, you can put them across and designate places for guests.
Tablecloths must be on the holiday table, especially if you want to emphasize the theme or color scheme set table.

Napkins. No need to give up cloth napkins in favor of disposable ones. They are an integral part of the table design. If you really don’t want to wash them after the holiday, then you should take a closer look at banquet-style paper ones.
Cutlery mat determines a seat for each guest. They can be not only rectangular, but also square (give modern look), and round (break the angularity of the table).

3. Central composition

There must certainly be a central composition on the holiday table that will decorate it. It will add volume and unite the entire table, but you need to remember that it should be low and narrow.
The main rule is that there should be at least 35 cm left on each side for a person and his cutlery. Therefore, we subtract at least 70 cm from the width of the table; the rest of the space can be used for composition. For the tabletop composition we use flowers, candlesticks, twigs, and stones.

Nowadays, every city has such a variety of restaurants, bars and cafes that inviting guests home has become a rarity. Despite this, the comfort of family dinners and home celebrations with close friends cannot be replaced by any fashionable restaurant. When a housewife is faced with the question of setting a table at home, many begin to panic, because they don’t want to “fall face down in the dirt.”

In fact, there is nothing wrong with setting the table at home. You just need to know the basic rules of etiquette, serving and proper serving of food.

Basic serving rules

When setting the table, special attention should be paid to certain details. Let's get acquainted with them in detail.

Tablecloth

Pay special attention to the tablecloth, even if you are serving a regular one, not festive table. Eating at a bare tabletop is not as pleasant as sitting at a clean, light tablecloth. Psychologists and nutritionists are confident that the correct color of this element will improve your mood, eat less, and also gain aesthetic pleasure.

• You should not replace the tablecloth with cheap oilcloth, despite its availability and ease of care.
• The color of the tablecloth is selected to match the interior, or a calm neutral color.
• The tablecloth should fit the table in size - no more, no less. Otherwise, the furniture will look ridiculous and careless.
• The shape of the fabric is selected based on the shape of the tabletop.

Dishes

Despite the high cost of good tableware, every housewife should have at least one quality set for 6 or 12 people, a set of identical cutlery, glasses, glasses, and napkin holders. We must not forget that there are separate dishes for cold, hot, appetizers, soups and desserts. Choose it to match the overall service so that there are no awkward combinations.

For everyday purposes, it is enough to have plain dishes from one set. It is much more pleasant when all family members are in harmony even at a home-cooked dinner.

For an anniversary or birthday, standard dishes are suitable white, which seems to never go out of style.

Casual serving

When serving a family lunch or dinner, there is no need to take out your entire “real housewife” arsenal. It is enough to look at the menu to determine the types of plates and cutlery that are needed for it. Decide whether there will be alcoholic drinks on the table and how many people will drink them. There is no need to give children the same glasses as adults.

Let's get acquainted with the nuances of everyday serving.

• First, place a decorative plate, then dishes for the main course. A deep bowl for soup is placed on it.
• Decorative plate primarily serves to protect the tablecloth from contamination, since its edges protrude beyond the main elements. If you don’t have decorative dishes on hand, a large flat plate for hot dishes will do.
• Be careful: even for everyday serving, it is better to pour soup from a tureen at the table (into everyone’s plate) than to carry dishes from the stove, spilling at every step.
• It can be exactly the same with hot– if a hot dish is already on the table, you can serve it from a common plate. If this is not possible, ask your children or spouse to help you bring hot food.

• There should be devices for everyone– the “one knife for all” option will not work. Even when dining at home, each family member should feel comfortable.
• Based on the rules of etiquette, the knife and tablespoon are to the right of the plate, the fork is to the left.
• Glasses and glasses located on the right side of the serving plate diagonally.
• At a normal lunch or at dinner it is more profitable to use simple paper napkins. Match their color to the color scheme of the entire table - white will still look great.

Festive table setting

Only small nuances appear.

• So, when serving a holiday, in addition to a decorative plate, a plate for hot dishes, and a plate for soup, a snack plate is served.
• For festive serving, in addition to a knife, a tablespoon and a fork, a dessert fork and a small spoon for coffee or tea should be placed above the decorative plate.
• If a pie plate is placed when serving, you must place a knife on it.
• The tallest glass should be placed first, and the spirit glass last.
• Fabric napkins will not only add sophistication to your table, but will also become a basic necessity for guests. There is a large selection of folded napkins for serving with various accessories. You can also fold it beautifully yourself.

• Sauces, salt and pepper are placed in the center of the table so that any guest can reach them without problems.
• All drinks must be already opened and uncorked on the table.
• With a large number of guests, we must not forget about the rule of serving dishes: the feast begins with the presentation of appetizers, canapés, and sandwiches.
• Every dish placed on the table must have a spoon. This way, you make it clear to the guest that he can serve his own food.
• The order in which plates of food are served to a person should correspond to his status and position. First, adult women are served, then men, and then children.

Features of festive serving

Knowing the basic rules of etiquette and the principles of basic serving, there is nothing easier than setting a festive table. Here your imagination, taste and small tricks that you need to know will help you.

Before preparing dishes and setting the table, think over the concept of the holiday. It will be very ridiculous if a children's birthday party is decorated in monotonous colors, and a business lunch is decorated bright napkins with clowns or flowers.

It is important to remember that all guests are different: festive table setting requires a larger number of people - some may be tall, some may be short, some may be left-handed, some may be right-handed.

Consider the convenience of all guests.

If the table does not allow you to place all serving items in the required order and sequence, or there is not enough space to arrange appetizers, salads and other dishes, then use the idea of ​​a serving table. This can be a coffee table option or any other one, designed in the style of a common table. Match the tablecloth and decoration with napkins. It is important that the decor does not seem out of place.

Decorative elements can create a festive mood:

• candlesticks;
• fresh flowers;
• accessories (including ribbons and bows).

So, when decorating a wedding banquet, a lot of voluminous accessories are always used - it doesn’t look vulgar.

It is important not to overload the table, not to clutter it with unnecessary things, and also to choose appropriate decor for the occasion.

Don't be afraid to use balloons or whole arches if it's someone's birthday or anniversary.

If the festive table setting is being prepared for a themed event, be it New Year or Christmas, complement the table with suitable decor: gingerbread cookies in Santa Claus hats, candy canes, gingerbread houses. Each thematic event has its own set of elements, which depends only on your imagination.

There will be many guests, but not enough identical dishes - and here there is a solution. Plates and cutlery can be combined with each other, even if they are of different shapes and colors. Determine the overall color scheme, experiment with placing dishes on top of each other, and complement them with napkins.

Do not use more than three colors for one table setting. Bright colors will distract the eye, or even kill your appetite. Calm, pastel colors can merge into one inconspicuous spot.

Your main assistant will be timing. Properly planned serving times for dishes and dessert will help you avoid putting all the dishes on the table at the same time, as well as correctly distribute your energy.

Another nuance of proper serving is the location of the guests. It’s unlikely that you want, instead of admiration for your table, dishes and comfort, to hear the barbs of the guests sitting next to you all evening.

Children's holiday

Celebrations attended only by adults or adults with children are much less hectic than children's birthdays.

Despite the fact that here you need to think through the space as much as possible, make it not only comfortable, but also safe for children, one can only envy the freedom of imagination.

• Style and Unity– important elements on children's day birthday, so take care of the harmonious combination of the holiday, the number of boys and girls with everything around: from the choice of tablecloth to decorative elements.
• Refer to details of positive colors. There should be no dark fabrics or napkins on the table. Avoid Gothic or Gothic decor vintage style. Use exclusively cheerful details.
• It is useless to put porcelain dishes on children or family heirloom(antique service). There is no point in scolding kids for breaking a cup if they accidentally knocked it over with their elbow while playing.

Now in stores you can find a huge variety of disposable colored cardboard tableware with faces, balls or characters from your favorite cartoons. Children will be happy with this serving.

A home holiday always promises pleasant chores. Inviting guests, drawing up a holiday menu and diligently preparing planned dishes is an incomplete list of what household members do. A true housewife will never lose sight of such a detail as setting the festive table. Pay attention to every detail, and then your guests will be delighted with what they see.

Peculiarities

The festive table setting may differ from the format of the holiday itself. So, you can plan a celebration for lunch (with soup) or dinner (without soup). Decorating a table for a birthday celebration is often done using the second option. The buffet table involves exclusively cold appetizers, which guests will eat with forks. Place snacks on large, beautiful plates, and pour drinks into carafes.

Individual dishes should be placed in one part of the table. Guests take their favorite dishes themselves and eat while standing. At home holidays there is also a so-called cold table. It can be a snack bar, Swedish or buffet type. The table itself is placed against the wall and covered with a tablecloth that hangs all the way to the floor. Place treats in the center of the table, and individual dishes at the edges. You can place comfortable chairs and sofas for guests, or you can offer to eat while standing.

The tea (coffee) table can be set after the main feast, or less often - independently. It is customary to set the coffee table from 5 to 7 p.m., and the tea table until 8 p.m. There are treats on the table, often desserts. You can put fruits, berries, nuts. Serving involves the presence of dessert priors and plates, tea or coffee utensils.

The table for a children's party has its own specifics. The tablecloth and napkins are in bright colors, often with interesting prints. Cards with the children's names are placed on or near the plates. The place for the birthday person is decorated in a special way - a fork, spoon or plate is decorated with ribbon. Children's dishes must be beautifully decorated.

The holiday table for children should not contain dishes that need to be cut with knives. If you cannot do without it, cut everything in advance and remove dangerous items. Make sure you have plenty of drinks. You can use fresh flowers to decorate the table. The birthday cake is brought in with lit candles.

Preparation

Before serving, you must go through several preparatory stages. For a home party, you need to choose sophisticated and attractive tableware. White plates without additional decorative elements are considered a classic. All dishes and utensils must be washed and polished to a shine.. Pay special attention to the choice of tablecloth. This element can create a special atmosphere of celebration.

Consider materials such as satin and taffeta. A plain tablecloth is a classic solution for decorating a home holiday table. A tablecloth with a lace print will be appropriate for children's party or a big celebration.

When choosing the color of the tablecloth, it is important to take into account the color of the tableware and the interior of the room in which the table will be located. These three elements must resonate with each other.

The product must be washed well and ironed thoroughly. The presence of creases and wrinkled edges will spoil the overall impression. The size of the tablecloth also matters. The canvas should hang from the tabletop by 20-30 cm on each side. If there is less overhang, it will create an impression of untidiness, and more overhang will disturb guests.

A festive table is not complete without napkins. Without this simple element, all the charm and chic of the celebration is lost. You can fold the napkin in the shape of a rose, a swan, or in any other way. If you don’t have time for this, then special napkin rings will help you out.

How to cover?

Most often, a home celebration is scheduled for dinner. Organizing a holiday is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Setting the table with your own hands is interesting and pleasant. You can create a special atmosphere thanks to simple techniques. Serving utensils on the table should not consist of elements different sets. Immediately think over the menu and take care of the successful combination of serving and tableware.

There should be 80 cm of table space per guest. Each guest's tableware should look the same and be located at the same distance from each other.

You should not pile up a large number of different dishes. For appetizers, this could be sliced ​​herring, salad tartlets, canapés and cold cuts. Remember, everything should be not only tasty, but also beautiful. An overabundance of dishes creates the impression of chaos. Moreover, with this design it will be difficult to maintain the personal space of each guest. Bread bins are never placed in the center of the table.

Place several plates at different ends so that each guest can reach them. Place the main dishes around the perimeter. In the center of the table you can place only the hostess’s signature masterpiece. Be sure to place the spices on the center line of the table. There should be a small distance between the salt and pepper shakers. Mustard should be placed with a small spoon. Serve sauces in containers designed for this purpose. Serve the butter in a butter dish along with a knife.

A properly set table will evoke positive emotions in you and your guests. It is important that all serving elements are successfully combined not only with each other, but also with the interior of the room.

Decorations

Name days, anniversaries and any other home holiday are a good reason to elegantly decorate the table. Personalized napkins for guests can become a real work of art. Each napkin can be folded into an envelope and flowers can be placed inside. Napkins for men can be folded in the shape of a bow tie, and for women - in the shape of a heart. Details matter a lot. Stylish decoration will set the guests in a solemn mood.

Keep in mind that decorations should not interfere with the dishes on the table. The best solution is to decorate the table with fresh flowers. Give preference to neat bouquets in low vases and place them in the central part of the table.

If you decide to set a themed table, then choose the same decorations. On New Year's table You can lay out napkins in the form of Christmas trees or holiday hats. Place holiday figurines in the center of the table. Decorate the perimeter of the table with rain.

Dishes

There are stable rules for arranging dishes on the holiday table. First of all, they place products made of porcelain and earthenware. The next stage is instruments. Then you need to arrange the glass and crystal: glasses, glasses, glasses, wine glasses. Luxurious table setting consists of the following elements.

Plates

Place the serving plates on the table first. They are not eaten from, they serve as a kind of coasters. There should be a distance of 2 cm or more from the plate to the edge of the table. Place a snack plate or soup bowl on top. By the way, if you are serving bisque soup, place a soup plate, for broth and light soup - a broth pot. The bread and butter plate is placed above and to the left of the guest's main dishes. Moreover, it is worth maintaining a distance of 8 cm between them.

Devices

Place forks on the left side and knives on right side from the serving plate. The sharp ends of the fork should point towards the ceiling, and the tip of the knife should be turned towards the plate. Cutlery is placed closer to the plate, fish cutlery is behind it, and snack bars are placed at the edges. Remember that cutlery should not lie under the edge of the decorative plate. The location of the soup spoon directly depends on the presence or absence of dessert on the menu. No dessert - place the spoon at the top of the serving plate, if there is dessert - to the right of the knives. Place dessert and fruit utensils horizontally under the serving plate.

For drinks

The number of cutlery for each guest depends solely on the drinks that will be on your table. For each type of drink, its own glassware is selected. For light wine, use small glasses. For champagne - narrow and tall. For all non-alcoholic drinks, you can use beautiful glasses. Place drinkware in the upper right corner of the serving plate. There should be 1.5 cm from the tip of the knife to the water (juice) glass. Dishes for vodka and wine are placed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the edge of the table.

The same rule works with glasses as with cutlery - those that are further away from the plate are used first.

Dishes

There is a certain order in which dishes are served at the table.

1. Snacks.
2. Soups.
3. Hot main courses.
4. Desserts.
5. Drinks

The correct arrangement of cold appetizers involves alternating dishes of fish, meat and vegetables. The soup is served in a special tureen, but not in a saucepan. For hot dishes, use dishes. Place salads in special salad bowls, do not use bowls. For each dish, place a common utensil that the guest can use to put food on the plate. Bottled water is placed so that every guest has access to it.

Open bottles only before you call everyone to the table. Serve soft drinks in jugs. Pour strong drinks into a carafe before serving. Expensive alcoholic drinks are usually served in a bottle. Desserts are served towards the end. Before serving sweets, remove all unnecessary items from the table - spices, sauces, dirty napkins and unnecessary dishes. Fruits must be displayed in vases. Place portioned desserts behind wine glasses.

The signature cake can be placed in the center where the spices previously stood. Ice cream is served immediately before consumption.

Etiquette rules

Among the important information, it is worth highlighting the rules for using different devices and behavior at the table during the holiday. Both topics are quite important and deserve attention.

Serving items

• The cutlery is located on different sides of the plate for a reason. This is a kind of hint for you about which hand to take the item in.
• There are no particular difficulties with dessert cutlery either. If the handle is directed to the right, then the device should be taken with the right hand. If the handle is directed to the left, use your left hand.
• When using the knife, its handle should be directed into your palm. Bend your unused fingers.
• When serving, the tip of the fork faces the ceiling, but when eating, you need to hold it the other way around.
• There is only one reason to break the rule written above - when eating side dishes, turn the fork over and use it as an impromptu spoon.
• Take the spoon so that its end rests on the base of your index finger.

Table manners

• Remove the individual napkin from the plate when serving the dish and place it on your lap. After finishing the meal, this napkin should be placed to the left of the decorative plate.
• Don't engage in small talk with guests while you're eating.
• Don't bite off many large pieces of food at once, it will look awkward.
• At the festive table, do not blow on the dishes in order to cool them.
• Handle bread products with your hands, not with utensils.
• Cut the meat into small pieces that are easy to eat.
• Fish dishes are always served with a slice of lemon. After eating food, you should apply it to your lips to neutralize the smell.
• Soft dishes (cheese cakes, casseroles, aspic) are not cut with a knife, but separated with a fork.
• From the common dish you need to take the piece that is closest to you.
• If you come across berry seeds in a compote or dessert, you should not spit them out in a saucer. It is correct to bring a spoon to your mouth, silently move the bone into it and then transfer it to a saucer.
• Don't reach across the table for food. Ask other guests to serve you the dish.
• After finishing your meal, place the cutlery on your plate.

If you want a solemn tea ceremony, buy a samovar. Place the tea utensils around it, but make sure that the cups do not get in the way. Arrange the tea set correctly - put the saucer, put a napkin on top and only then put the cup. Place containers with sugar and spoons on different sides of the table. The festive table for children has specific serving and decoration. Simple recommendations will help you avoid incidents.