Rules for A Proper Place Setting

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I have been doing some research and brainstorming on stylish centerpieces and table settings.  While flipping through some of my favorite magazines and blogs, I came across some helpful diagrams and tips for proper place settings from The Classy Woman.  As some of you may be hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year, I thought you may find this helpful.   I have a copy printed out and stored with my china so I can access it when needed.

Image from The Classy Woman

The diagram above illustrates your basic everyday table setting, which is the easiest of the two. The fork, knife and spoon are placed on the side in which you are required to hold them when cutting and eating. This is considered proper etiquette vs. cutting up much of your food and then switching the fork to your right hand to eat your meal.

A meal that requires a formal place setting will consist of salad, bread, soup, drinks and a main course with dessert and coffee following.

Silverware:

• Similar to the informal place setting, again forks are placed on the left of the dinner plate, knives and spoons go on the right.
• Silverware is to be placed on the table in the order it will be used; silverware that will be used first should be  set to the farthest left and right sides of the plate.
• Knives should be placed with their cutting-edge toward the dinner plate, except the butter knife which should be laid flat on a bread plate.
• Utensils should be roughly 1/2 inch away from the plate and should be lined up evenly by using the bottoms as measure.
• The dessert fork and/or spoon should be centered above and parallel to the dinner plate. 
• Note that you should only place silverware that the meal calls for.

Plates and Bowls

• The bread plate should be placed to the right and slightly above the salad plate.  
• Salad plates are placed to the left and just above the forks.
• Dinner plates should be placed about 2 inches from the table's edge, centered on the place mat or squarely in front of the chair for a proper place setting.
• Soup bowls are placed on top of the dinner plates.
• Clear dishes and utensils after each course is finished by all at the table.

Cups and glasses

• Water glasses should be placed above the dinner knife, with other drinking glasses arranged neatly nearby the water glass and to the right.
• Coffee cups and saucers may be placed on the table to the right of the knife and spoon.

Napkins and name cards

• For a less formal proper place setting, napkins are placed either on the plate or to the left of the forks. For a more formal place setting, napkins are placed inside a drinking glass whereby a server may place it in your lap upon being seated at the table.
•  Name cards should be placed above the dessert utensil and to the left of the drinking glasses.
• During the meal the napkin should always be placed in your lap. If you must excuse yourself from the table, the napkin should be left on the arm or seat of your chair, or to the left of your plate as a last resort (as dirty napkins on the table are never appealing). When everyone at your table is through with dessert, you can fold your napkin neatly to the right or left of your plate.