Beautiful options for home dining and etiquette
The good organization of the table allows you to create a beautiful interior and make your meal more enjoyable. Many factors should be taken into account when choosing tableware and table decoration. These include party format, time of day, seasonality. The menu doesn't matter. To achieve an impeccable result, everything must be thought out down to the smallest detail.
Serve the order at home
It is recommended to take into account many peculiarities during the service. First of all, the order of the elements on the table is particularly important.
Tablecloth
The service begins with the choice of a tablecloth. If you are planning a solemn event, you should give preference to glossy materials. For a laconic table, coarse linen is well suited.
To organize a homemade feast, you need to choose a pastel tablecloth.
The material must be clean and ironed. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to cover it with oilcloth. The canvas should be placed so that it drops at least 25 centimeters. The material should not hang under the seat. Too long a tablecloth will cause discomfort.
Plates
A decorative plate is placed in the center. It is worth keeping a distance of at least 2 centimeters from the edge. Place dishes for soups or snacks on top. For pureed soup, a bowl of soup will do. If you plan to serve a clear broth, use a mug.
Cutlery
The cutlery is placed on the edges of the plate. They are also placed on top. It is recommended to place the forks on the left. They are directed horns upwards. The knives are placed on the right, orienting the blade towards the plate.
A device is placed on the edge, which will have to be used first. Therefore, objects for snacks are placed farthest.
If there is no dessert, place a tablespoon on top of the plate. If a sweet dish is provided, the device is placed to the right of the knives. The desserts are placed on the plate.
Glasses, wine glasses, glasses
It is recommended to provide separate containers for drinks. Cognac or red wine is poured into voluminous glasses. Small glasses are suitable for white wine. Champagne is drunk from tall, narrow wine glasses. At the same time, cocktail glasses are often used for juice. Water is often poured into it.
It is recommended to put a glass of water 50 centimeters from the tip of the knife. Next, a wine glass is placed at a 45 degree angle to the edge of the table. A vodka glass can be placed in the same place.
Napkins
Guests receive individual towels.It is recommended to fold them up nicely at the end of the service and arrange them on a plate for appetizers. There are many methods to bend this element.
It is important to choose a method that does not wrinkle the towel.
Decor and decoration
To provide guests with a good mood and prepare them for a solemn mood, it is worth using stylish decorative elements. It is important to keep a sense of proportion. Such additions should not interfere with the arrangement of dishes.
A statuette can be an elegant addition to the table. The candlesticks will look very attractive. They must be accompanied by sophisticated dishes and glasses.
Flowers are considered a good addition to the festive table. At the same time, it is important that they look harmonious and do not create inconvenience. Therefore, the bouquet should not be larger than the tallest glass.
When choosing flowers for serving, it is worth making sure that they do not have an intense aroma.
If you are planning a themed celebration, it is recommended to select the appropriate accessories. For the New Year's table, decor in the form of fir branches, balls, garlands is suitable.
Varieties and subtleties
The service may be different. Its characteristics are determined by the time of day and the characteristics of the festive event. Minimum items are served for breakfast, so the number of appliances may be limited. Dinner requires a lot of utensils.
For breakfast
This is the simplest option. To properly set the table, it is worth putting small plates. Then place glasses and cups, saucers with teaspoons. When using a butter dish, it is worth putting an extra spoon. A bowl should be placed on top of the snack plate. You can eat porridge from it.
On weekends, breakfast includes tea. Therefore, a kettle or coffee maker is placed in the center of the table. Original napkins are used to decorate the table. It is also allowed to use flowers.
For dinner
The frame of the lunch table is presented in different versions. It is influenced by the number of dishes and their composition. It is recommended to lay a white tablecloth on the table, place plates on it.
If dishes are served that cannot be eaten from the common container, they additionally put a small plate. Devices should be positioned according to label recommendations. For decoration, use napkins folded in an original way. A salt shaker and other devices for spices should be placed on the table.
Full evening
Family members and friends may be invited for dinner. To ensure convenience and comfort, it is worth considering the design of the table to the smallest detail.
For the celebration to go perfectly, you must follow a number of rules:
- Lay out a clean, well-ironed tablecloth. It is recommended to choose a dense product. This avoids ringing when the dishes fall.
- Choose items that match the colors. All components must be included in an assembly. The dishes should be clear.
- Unopened liquor bottles should not be placed on the table. It is recommended to serve alcohol in open containers and pour it directly into the glass. Textile napkins are placed near the glasses.
Banquet
This frame looks like a full party. At the same time, there are certain peculiarities. It is recommended to place shallow plates at a distance of 1 centimeter.They start doing it from the central part. First, the plates are placed on one side, then on the other. These elements must be placed opposite each other.
It is recommended to put saucers for snacks and pies on the plates. Then it is worth placing the devices.
In addition, it is recommended to maintain a distance of 0.5 centimeters from a shallow dish.
A feature of the banquet is the use of special business cards. They contain information about the participant in the celebration. These cards are placed on the left side of the glasses.
Buffet
This type of service is growing in popularity. It is often used for private parties or informal meetings with business partners. Often, buffets are also organized during official celebrations.
The service can be one-sided or two-sided. They are characterized by certain features. In the first situation, the table is placed close to the wall and decorated on one side only. The second option is used for birthdays, weddings, corporate events.
When arranging a buffet table, equal gaps between the devices and the rest of the elements should be observed. First, glass and crystal dishes are placed on the table. Then vases of flowers and alcohol are placed in the center. Often a separate table is used for drinks and snacks.
Coffee
The coffee service depends on the drinks. Strong coffee brewed on the stove is poured into porcelain cups. You absolutely must use a set. To create the perfect drink, you can use the geyser coffee maker.
When serving coffee, cups should only be 2/3 full. This will give guests the opportunity to pour cream or milk.With this type of service, 3 elements are used - a cup, a spoon and a saucer. Additional details include a dessert plate. This is for candy or fruit.
Tea Room
The main course is placed in the center. They put a pie on it. A cup, a saucer and the necessary utensils are placed next to each guest. Dessert plates are often used. The teapots are placed at the edge of the table. When using a samovar, it is placed in the central part.
Cutlery varieties
Different types of cutlery are used for service. This allows you to choose the best option, taking into account the dishes served.
Spoons
There are several types of spoons:
- Dining room - characterized by an elongated shape and served with soup.
- Broth - has a rounded shape.
- Dessert - served with desserts that do not need to be cut.
- Tea room - complements the drinking of tea.
- Coffee - served with coffee.
- For ice cream - it has a small size and an elongated handle.
- Salad - put on a salad plate.
- For caviar - it is a small scapula, made in the form of a shell.
- For the pie - allows you to put the specified dish on the plate.
- For a sugar bowl - made in the form of a spoon.
forks
Plugs also differ in function and appearance:
- Dining room - for all main courses except fish.
- Fish - used for fish.
- Dessert - designed for cakes and other hard candies.
- For spaghetti - it has an extra spit.
- For seafood and crab - has 2 prongs.
- For lobsters - has 2 small teeth and an elongated handle.
- For mussels and oysters - supplemented with a wider left tine.
- Salad - the device is placed in a common salad bowl.
- Casserole - has 3 prongs and is used for julienne.
- For lemon - the device is used for applying citrus.
- For olives, it looks like a spoon with holes in it.
- For fruits, it has 3 teeth.
Knives
The knives are:
- Table - used for all second courses, except fish dishes.
- Snack Bar - Suitable for all types of snacks.
- For meat - it has teeth and is placed in a common dish with a large piece of meat. Thanks to this, each guest can cut a piece for themselves.
- To fish, it resembles a shoulder blade in shape.
- For cheese - has 2 prongs bent upwards.
- For oil, it has a small size and a rounded blade.
- For fruit - the device is served when there are unpeeled fruits on the table.
Forceps
There are many options for clamps:
- For ice - put it in a common bucket.
- Confectionery - placed in a dish with sweets.
- For asparagus, they have a convenient shape.
- For the salad - are in a salad bowl.
- For spaghetti - required if a plate of spaghetti is served on the table.
- For the lobsters - served individually with a special fork. With this device, claws break easily.
Plates
There are these types of plates:
- Dining room - soup and soup plates are served when changing dishes.
- Diner - located near the dining room.
- Dessert - served separately.
- Pie - intended for bread and rolls.
- Fish - has an oval shape. It is set when the whole fish is served individually.
- Kokil - intended for mushroom julienne.
- Washer - usually used for a buffet. You can put several dishes at the same time on such a plate.
- Herring - has an oval shape.
- Rosette - designed for jam or honey.
- Kremanka - used for serving ice cream, jelly, mousse desserts.
Glasses and glasses
The appearance of glasses can be different - it all depends on the purpose:
- For champagne - there can be 2 types.
- Wide enough for red wine.
- For white wine, it is weaker and finer than for red wine.
- For wearing, it is small in size.
- For liquor - a small, narrow glass.
- For cognac, it has a convex shape and concave edges.
- For a martini, it has a triangular shape.
- For whiskey, it is a low round glass.
- For vodka, it can have a different shape.
The main types of glasses are:
- Thin cocktail glass - typically used for burning drinks.
- For punch, it's a small cup with a handle.
- For soft drinks - different glasses can be used.
Mugs
There are these types of mugs:
- Tea room - it is served with a spoon and a saucer.
- For espresso, it is small in size.
- For cappuccino - a large cup with a handle.
- For ice, it has the shape of a trapezoid.
Additional devices
There are many devices that make setting the table easier:
- Tureen - served if a second course is planned.
- Main course - intended for second courses that do not need to be served hot.
- Ice Bucket - Serve when there are cocktails or whiskey on the table.
- Sheep - are dishes covered with round lids. They are used for hot meals.
- Fruit vase - necessary for unpeeled fruit.
Recommendations for the arrangement of dishes
When arranging dishes on the table, a simple scheme should be considered:
- Each sector must contain the same number of dishes.
- Cold snacks should be placed half an hour before meals.
- The cold drinks came out 5 minutes before the meal.
- There should be room for main courses in the center.
- On the right side of the hostess, place is left to the soup tureen.
- Large vases are placed in the central part.
- The bread is placed on individual plates or in bread bins.
- Sauces are placed next to the dishes they are intended to be served with.
- Carafes of drinks are placed in the center.
Features and rules for decorating a festive table
In order to properly set the table, many features should be taken into account - first of all, the style and format of the event.
Festive dinner
On holidays, the table can be decorated with beautiful candles and tableware. Light meals are served first. Then you can place the main course, fruit and dessert on the table.
romantic dinner
For such a dinner, a minimum of cutlery and glasses is required. Fresh flowers and candles should be placed in the center of the table.
Red napkins and paths will help complete the design.
Thematic
Products grown in the country will help to make a thematic table. Plant compositions are used as decoration.
With a friend
A delicate tablecloth and a minimum of household appliances are suitable for meeting up with friends. The best option would be light meals, such as seafood.
For friends
In this case, the service should be as simple as possible. In doing so, it is important to prepare several tasty dishes.
For kids
Don't put a lot of cutlery on the table. In this case, a standard set of fork, spoon and knife will do. It is important that the instruments are safe.
By the new year
The New Year's table is necessarily decorated with candles. They should be placed in the center.You can also make a composition of fir branches, add balls, figurines.
dessert table
It is important to think about it down to the smallest detail. All items must be in the same style. It is desirable that the color of napkins and tablecloths match.
Bohemian style
In this case, it is allowed to use a variety of elements and colors. Plates can be decorated with geometric patterns. You can put colored glass glasses.
Easter table
A natural tablecloth made in a pastel palette is suitable for such a table. Bright towels can be a decoration. You absolutely must use egg carriers. In the center can be compositions of eggs, willow, rabbits.
For a birthday
When decorating a table for a birthday or another anniversary, it is worth using many elements - beautiful dishes, shelves for fruit, tubes for cocktails.
service tips
Dishes must be served according to the rules of etiquette. It will help you get a taste of food and enjoy food. In this case, the following sequence should be observed:
- Cold snacks - served in ceramic or porcelain dishes. An oval plate is used for meat, caviar is taken out on a special stand with ice.
- Hot appetizers - served in the dish in which they were prepared.
- The first courses are served on a hot plate.
- Fish dishes - Boiled seafood is served in oval plates. If fried dishes are planned, they should be served in special pans.
- Meat dishes - stews and stews are taken out in pots. For cutlets or steak, plates must be provided.
- Vegetable Dishes - Serve baked vegetables on hot plates.
- Fruits and desserts - served in vases and bowls.
Examples and options for a beautiful design
To set a beautiful table, you can choose one of the following styles:
- Loft - implies a minimum of draperies. In this case, glassware and massive household appliances are used.
- Provence - when decorating it is worth using pastel colors. It can be mint, green, lilac shades. The best option would be classic crockery.
- Minimalism - a small amount of inconspicuous tableware is used. At the same time, laconic forms and natural materials are actively used.
- English - looks laconic and luxurious at the same time. To decorate the table, it is allowed to use porcelain dishes with a floral pattern, golden cutlery and a light tablecloth.
- In the style of autumn - a bouquet of yellow leaves will help to embody such an idea. It is also allowed to use other natural details. Cones and acorns are a great solution.
- Country - is considered the epitome of rustic simplicity. In this case, natural materials and raw dishes are used. Wildflowers and baskets can be a table decoration.
- Eco - embodies naturalness and conciseness. The table is decorated with green decor. To make the design original, it is worth putting wooden fruit baskets.
- In a marine style - the table should be decorated with seashells, blue textiles. Kitchen utensils with matching pictures will work well.
- Italian style - this design is very attractive. Experts advise using voluminous wine glasses and fresh flowers. Wooden boards and trays are used to serve snacks. This makes the composition more natural.
Setting the table is a complex and responsible process.To create a harmonious composition, you need to think out everything in advance to the smallest detail. It is important to consider the menu, the time of day and the style of the event.