HOW TO SET A FORMAL TABLE USING WHITE DECOR

White decor is clean and elegant. It opens opportunities for colorful accents and intriguing textures without overwhelming the senses. I love playing with white—warming it up with creamy hues and neutrals or maintaining its modern essence with sharp geometric shapes and glistening metals. For this tablescape, I relied on my favorite color, accenting white dinnerware and florals with touches of gold plating and the flitting flames of votive candles.

I’ve always felt that white is the perfect color for a formal table setting. It creates an air of refinement, only augmented by the setting itself. If you have yet to host a dinner party with a formal setting, it’s really quite simple.

I always follow the rules below:

Place your charger first, followed by a cloth napkin placed vertically and draped over the edge of the plate.
Top both with your dinner plate and then your salad plate.
The dinner fork goes to the left of the plate and the dinner knife and dinner spoon to the right. Always turn your knife facing inwards towards the plates.
Rest a dessert or tea spoon at the top of your dinnerware, with the handle facing towards the right.
Finish your setting with a water cup and a wine glass at the top right corner of your setting.
Don’t forget the menu! In other posts, I mention how a physical, printed menu adds such a unique touch to your table setting. This is especially true for formal settings, where guests will experience true fine dining.

The steps above cover the basics of a formal setting, but there are always additional rules for expanding courses. I suggest starting with the basics and building from there. With the simple steps above you can begin to transform your dinner into an authentic, formal experience!