Hosting a dinner party is more work than anyone would think it is, and it won’t bring you any joy to be reminded that there’s much more to it than just the food. The perfect dinner party can only be possible when the table arrangement is professional, neat, and visually appealing.
This involves choosing the right sitting arrangement for your guests, setting the table while keeping professional table setting rules in mind. You can also add some color and personality to your dinner table. And of course, you can’t forget about the centerpiece. With same day flower delivery for every occasion available at your doorstep, this part isn’t hard at all.
If you’re confused about how to set a dinner table like a professional and want help, keep reading.
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Have a Theme in Mind
Taking photos of the food before you dig in is almost part of every meal now, which is why all your table decor has to be presentable and Instagram ready. It might be tough to think about your dinner table fitting in with photos of food from those fancy restaurants, but one little trick can really help.
Pick a certain theme for your dinner table and stick to it – the theme can be anything from chic and classic to cozy and warm, or it can be holiday themed if you’re throwing the dinner around Christmas or Thanksgiving. The same goes for any other traditional holidays that you might celebrate with a family dinner, like Eid.
For dinners on other occasions, make something like a color or a decor theme your focus. This will allow you to pick decor that doesn’t just match each other, but it goes with the theme you have. It will keep you from getting decor that’s tacky and all the same color too – when you get things ready with a bigger picture in mind, it all falls into place at the end.
Match it With the Food
One of the easiest ways to pick a theme for your dinner table is to match it with the food. If you’re serving pasta, your decor (and even the crockery you put on the table) will be different than when a giant birthday cake is on the menu, and you wouldn’t want to use the same decor as for your pasta for a hearty barbecue meal.
Knowing what kind of food you’re going to serve and what kind of ambience you want your dinner table to carry can be the difference between a great dinner party, and one that’s just all about the food.
Bring in Natural Elements
Nature has a way of making us all feel safe, at ease, and comfortable. Natural decor – be it floral or something else – is extremely visually appealing, and flowers are going to cost less than any other table centerpiece will!
At the same time, you can use natural elements all across the dinner table in the form of cute acorns scattered around strategically on a Christmas themed dinner table.
If you plan on going for grand centerpieces and huge arrangements, hold that thought for a moment. Bridget Elworthy, one of the minds behind the garden design and floristry duo The Land Gardeners, told the New York Times about how she prefers to use low vases and decor in her table arrangements – they don’t obstruct the dinner guests’ view while they sit on the table.
Use Candles
One of the most important parts of any dinner is the ambience. To set the mood right, you can make use of scented and non-scented candles. We only suggest using scented candles if the food you’re serving isn’t going to have any strong smells that would not go well together. On the other hand, it might be a good option to use some before dinner starts or after the main course.
If you don’t want to get into any such complications, take advantage of intricate and beautifully made candles to make your dinner table look great.
Mix Solids With Patterns
A great dinner table decor combination that probably won’t ever get old is patterned tablecloths and solid colored cutlery. You can also mix solids and patterns the other way around – use solid colors for the tablecloths and choose light and colorful crockery. This contrast will look great coupled with other table decorations and the centerpiece.
Additionally, you can go for a tablecloth with bold large prints and colors and them combine it with something that stands out against that, even if it has patterns too.
Opt for Textures for Some Depth
If you don’t want to use plain tablecloths, always opt for something textured – embroidery on the tablecloth can look pretty good, and so can using different fabrics and experimenting with the layers.
Keep in mind though that your tablecloth is likely to get dirty by the end of your dinner party, and whatever you use needs to be easy to clean because of that.
Quirky Kitchen Utensils
One of the best ways to add some fun to your dinner table and make it stand out is to use non-traditional and “quirky” utensils. There has been a recent trend in cutlery with unique and eye catching designs, and of restaurants shifting away from the norm in favor of something fresh and interesting.
By following the same trends, you will be able to take your dining table decor from home to professional level.
Add Something Fun to the Table
Adding something fun and extra to the table can start the dinner off on a good note. We suggest things like name cards, small goodie bags, herbs, or even artfully folded napkins on the table to delight your guests with. You can even write up a small menu and put that on the table so everyone knows what to expect from the dinner.
As for the goodie bags, choosing the right contents is up to you. You should take both the occasion and the people you’re having over when you make the final decision though. For example, small single flower bouquets or flowers on mother’s day are a great idea, or cookies for your ki8d’s birthday party. You can even put together a small bag with a simple bracelet or rings in there if you really want to go all out.