Secrets of table setting

Table setting is the most ancient art of decorating a table for a joint dinner or feast. To perform table decoration according to generally accepted rules and customs, you should familiarize yourself with them. It is necessary to learn the order of decoration of cutlery and serving dishes, as well as take into account the recommendations of experts on the choice of decorations and decorative elements to translate the perfect serving.

Today, few pay due attention to the study of traditions and customs, so not every hostess can talk about table setting, explain what it is. But you should familiarize yourself not only with the concept itself, but also with the history of serving development.

Serving can be presented in several varieties:

• Preliminary - is the easiest. With such a setting, it is enough to make a partial arrangement of the dishes and appliances that will be required initially to the dishes presented first in the menu. When a new dish will be served, the dishes will be replaced in parallel.

During the pre-serving it is necessary to use a table knife, a fork, a teaspoon, a pie plate, a wine glass, a wine glass, objects for decoration in the center, a pepper pot and a salt shaker, as well as a tissue napkin without a print.

• Banquet - is the simultaneous arrangement of decor, plates and appliances. To create this type of serving, you will need snack devices, namely:
  • forks and knives;
  • soup spoon;
  • devices for fish;
  • baking dish;
  • a plate for bakery products;
  • butter knife;
  • dessert spoon;
  • pepper pot;
  • deep plate;
  • small saucer

• "Bistro" - the usual arrangement of dishes for an everyday breakfast or lunch in an informal setting. It can be used in rooms where self-service is used. This table setting is used in establishments where personal staff is served. The choice of cutlery, their location depends on the menu, the cost of dishes and even the style of the institution. The table should be decorated with a tablecloth, as well as additional napkins.

For competent design of the table at home, in a chic restaurant or cafe must be guided by generally accepted serving rules. If you set the table correctly, then the holiday will be brighter and more spectacular. An error in the choice of dishes can ruin the whole holiday. The type of meal affects the choice of plates, glasses, even napkins, as well as other elements.

Used frequently serving for two. This option is ideal for the embodiment of a romantic atmosphere. For decorating the table, you can use a variety of elements (candles, alcohol in the form of champagne or wine, a basket of fruits). It is necessary to prefer a tablecloth of snow-white or bright red color.

To lay a table for two, it is necessary to withstand synchronicity. The dishes should be placed opposite each other, and the distance between the interlocutors should be small so that you can touch at arm's length.

When planning home banquet care should be taken of the comfortable location of each guest, and for this it is necessary to maintain a certain distance. If you need to fit at the table 4 people, then you can use both square and oval version. But remember that for a convenient location for one person you need 76 cm, and for a guest with excess weight - 90 cm. Furniture with standard dimensions is ideal for comfortable placement of 4 people.

If the table should seat 6 people, then you need to take into account more information. You can choose a rectangular or round table.

In order to plant two people on one side of a rectangular table, it should be 240 cm wide, since 46 cm should be left at each end.

When choosing a round table for 6 people, it should be borne in mind that the tabletop radius should be at least 80 cm, then 76 cm can be used per person for serving.

Experts recommend sticking with the following sequence when setting the table at home:

• It should decorate the table with a tablecloth.
• Lay out the plates, given the number of people at the table.
• Place cutlery.
• The location of glasses, glasses, wine glasses depends largely on what alcoholic beverages will be consumed.
• Design and decorate the table with original napkins.
• Dressing on a specific theme.

To beautifully organize a meal at the table according to etiquette, you need to take into account many nuances and details. To organize a meal at home, first you need to buy a beautiful set of dishes. For all family members should be presented the same plates, as well as cutlery.

Before serving you must first consider the menu, because each dish requires a certain set of serving. When placing devices, it is worth remembering that at least 80 centimeters of free space should be allocated for one person. This distance is sufficient for a convenient location at the table.

All appliances must be clean. It is better, before placing them on the table, once again to wipe each fork, knife and spoon with a dry towel, to prevent the possibility of stains from water residue.

At home, you can beautifully decorate the table for a joint meal, if properly serving. First you need to lay the table with a tablecloth, buy a beautiful set of dishes and cutlery. For serving a table at home, you can not use all the dishes. It should be chosen depending on personal preferences and food needs.

Tablecloth plays a major role in decorating the tablebecause it sets the tone for the whole event. For a holiday, you should choose only a white tablecloth, for everyday use you can use the product in yellow or cream color. The main thing is that the tablecloth should be washed and ironed.

For informal meetings, you can use colored tablecloths of light colors, for thematic meetings - models with prints, for example, a tablecloth on children's themes will be suitable for celebrating the child's birthday. The table looks original, covered with two tablecloths, while they are arranged in such a way that the corners of the bottom tablecloth are visible from under the top.

When choosing the size of the tablecloth, remember that you need to build on the dimensions of the table on which it will be located. According to etiquette, the edges of the product should hang about 30 centimeters from the edge. But there are exceptions.For example, in Italian and French restaurants is considered the norm, if the edges of the tablecloth touch the floor. When choosing the material of the product is better to prefer cotton or silk.

For serving the table 35 types of plates are presented, but usually only 5 or 6 types are used. According to the rules of etiquette, all the plates should ideally be from the same set or at least be executed in the same style direction. The choice of the type of plate depends on the dishes that will be served on the table, and their number depends on the number of people who will be present at the dinner.

The main types of plates that are very often used for serving: soup, a flat plate (large and small), for dessert (small and deep), a pie plate, herring bowl, a plate for mustard or ice cream, a dish for meat.

Need to to choose the right cutlery, as well as correctly position them. For starters, a soup spoon should be placed on the right side of the dishes, a fork and a snack knife should be placed next to it, then a teaspoonful of coffee or tea. If all this needs to be placed directly next to the main plate, then it is customary to place a dessert spoon behind the plate. Knife for butter is usually on the pie plate.

A classic choice among glasses is the option for champagne and wine. There are other types of dishes for alcohol, but they should be put on the table depending on what kind of drink will be presented on the table. It can be glasses for liqueur, whiskey, glasses.

When arranging glasses, it is necessary to adhere to the following sequence: for red wine, white wine, champagne and a capacity for stronger alcohol in the order in which they will be served. Do not forget that on the table should be located on the left glass for water or juice.

For decorating the solemn feast serving napkins are an indispensable element. They can be both paper and textile. Most people prefer napkins made from different types of fabric. Often it is used flax models of square shape and large size. They can be placed on the knees to protect clothing from possible stains or be used as decoration.

In the modern interior of the dining room very often the main element is a round table. Many hostesses are faced with the fact that the round tabletop provides less space than rectangular. When setting the round table, only the necessary items should be used: a flat and deep plate, a fork for the main course, a knife and a wine glass. If desired, the guest can be served other items of dishes. To decorate the center of the table is a bouquet of flowers, a bright and unusual dessert or a bottle of wine, complemented by a red or black napkin.

If the birthday is celebrated in the home circle, then the table should be a bright accent when organizing a holiday. To achieve this goal, you should use unusual desserts, pick up decorations, and use a beautiful serving of dishes.

If you decide what to lay the table, then it is worth starting from the personality of the birthday man. To decorate the table in honor of the children's holiday it is worthwhile to decorate the table beautifully with the help of soft toys or cardboard images of famous cartoon characters. For children, you can organize just a sweet table.

To decorate the table in honor of the birthday of a young girl, then you should pay attention to fresh flowers at the table, fashionable dishes made of colored glass, a vase with fruit, attractive desserts.

When setting a festive sweet table, it is worth considering that desserts are exclusively presented on the table. You should not use the decor, because it will look superfluous against the background of bright desserts. It is necessary to use the plates in several tiers, stands for muffins or cake pops, pyramids. It should use the dishes in a single color scheme.

To decorate a table even for one person according to etiquette, use a tablecloth, put napkins of paper or fabric on it. From the kitchen utensils will need:

• the plate is flat, deep;
• tablespoon, dessert, tea;
• fork;
• knife;
• glass for water;
• wine glass

To decorate the dinner is to make a certain procedure:

• Table cover with a tablecloth.
• Place a large plate of a flat type, put a deep one on it.
• On both sides of the plate should be placed cutlery designed for the main course, and then - for a snack.
• The teaspoon should be placed in front of the plate.
• At the top on the right side of the plate is usually a pair of tea or a wine glass.
• Additionally, the table can be decorated not only with cloths, but also with exquisite candles or fresh flowers.

Table setting for organizing a dinner is quite simple, since it has almost no differences compared to the design of the table for dinner. The only difference is that the dining table can be decorated only with napkins or flowers. And also do not need to use a white tablecloth for the dining table.

If you are going to organize a dinner for guests, the table setting remains the same, but only the number of cutlery and plates increases. An alternative to tablecloths are special coasters designed to protect against hot dishes. Do not use additional decor.

It is very difficult to arrange the arrangement of devices during the holiday, when there will be a lot of guests sitting at the table, on their own. Therefore, you should not pay special attention to the arrangement of devices and plates, the main thing is to cover a white tablecloth and decorate the table with napkins. The main task is to create the most comfortable conditions for rest at the holiday table.

An integral attribute of serving are the napkins. To decorate the table for tea drinking, you can use napkins of square or round shape. Linen options are ideal for decorating the table in honor of the celebration.

There are many ways in which it is interesting to fold a cloth. It can be presented in the form of an envelope, cone or sail. Beautiful and stylish look unusual animals or delicate flowers. Each option looks elegant and cute, so you can think of your own option for decorating napkins.

At a holiday, the table always plays a huge role, because it acts as a stylish accent. You can use small vases with flowers, special napkin rings, angel figurines made of porcelain, as well as silk or satin ribbons to decorate a festive meal.Beautifully festive tablecloths, balls and serpentine.

For the usual dinner or lunch used napkins, decorated with rings, and fresh flowers. This decor is suitable for ordinary tea. It should be understood that the dishes, appliances, tablecloth and napkins should be very clean. To beautifully serve the table, you can use bright napkins. They will help give a feast of originality and showiness.

For registration of the banquet should make a lot of effort. To decorate the table in honor of the holiday of Christmas Eve or Easter, should apply the appropriate decorative elements. For the organization of a large banquet is to use decorative elements, made in the same color and style. Wipes may be bright colors, but must be sterile. Flowers can be used both live and artificial. The choice is completely individual.

When organizing a wedding feast, emphasis should be placed on places for the newlyweds. They should be decorated with symbols on the theme of love. These can be swans, roses, hearts, or posters with wishes. For newlyweds should be presented separate glasses, originally decorated. On the wedding table looks beautiful white dishes with a silver or gold platter and, of course, a white tablecloth.

For serving the Russian holiday table, you should understand that traditionally on such a table should be presented a lot of different foods. To decorate a table in traditional style, it’s enough to choose several dishes from the national cuisine.

When serving traditional Russian feast should follow the following scheme:

• Snacks - there should be a lot of them, because vodka is a traditional drink, and it requires a good snack. Be sure to have on the table should be pickled cucumbers and pickled tomatoes. Many people like mushrooms with onions or sauerkraut with beets. Among the cold snacks are in demand meat options and slicing salted lard. Among salads, one should give preference to “herring under a fur coat” or “Olivier”.

• Main dishes are served hot. Often on the table is preparing a pig or bird in the oven. They are usually filled with porridge and decorated with apples. Often on the festive table serves stuffed cabbage rolls and homemade roast or fish dishes.
• Dessert - traditional are cheesecakes, pies, gingerbread, as well as pies with filling, baked apples with sugar syrup and fragrant cinnamon.
• Drinks - traditionally strong vodka is put on the table, which is often insisted on tangerine peels, pine nuts or various herbs. Among soft drinks, kvass and fruit drinks made from berry jam are in demand.

Delicious food should have a beautiful attractive appearance so that at once there is a desire to eat it. When choosing dishes of a certain world cuisine, it should be understood that table decorations in different countries are made differently, using various elements of decor.

Table setting in France is a unique art. It is very different from the traditional serving in Russia. The French are famous gourmets who have a great understanding of tasty food, and also pay a lot of attention to decorating the table. They appreciate the quality and stylish dishes, tablecloths and decor.

Table setting in Japan It is very different from the European submission, so for us it is quite complex and multi-component. To perfectly master the features of the Japanese table setting, you need to be well versed in plates, cups, trays, bowls and chopsticks. The Japanese appreciate the convenience and comfort. When serving, they cause asymmetry, creating free compositions and allowing for free space. All decorative elements on the table should be located freely.

Then you can consider an interesting selection of ideas for serving the table, depending on the case or situation:

• Spring. It is necessary to focus on natural colors and textures. Tablecloth on the table is not required. Table can be decorated with wicker supply. Decorate the serving will allow a twig of a living tree. On a green plate you should put a white napkin, on top of a cream plate and a transparent dish. On the right side of the plates should be a fork and a teaspoon, and at the top right - a glass of wine.

• For a romantic dinner Fresh flowers and candles are often used as decorations. Tablecloth of red shade will allow you to adjust to the romantic wave. For table setting suitable white dishes. For a start, you can put a square plate, and on top - a plate of rounded shape. The perfect complement will be a soft pink cloth, folded in the form of an envelope. On the left side there is a knife, on the right side there is a knife and a soup spoon. At the top above the plates is a glass for water and for champagne.

On how to properly serve the table, see the following video.