We all love the idea of being at a party - meeting people, having a get-together, unlimited rounds of eating, drinking, chatting and gossiping. Getting together with old friends after ages, having a family reunion, playing cards, games, dancing to music, and what not. While we all look for such occasions on weekends and adding spice to our otherwise mundane lives, have you ever wondered how much hard work goes into making these parties a success? Well, ask the host.
The right party setting involves a lot of things, and getting started is itself a challenge many of us steer clear of. From cleaning the house, removing clutter, cooking meals and setting the dining table to entertaining the guests and ensuring that the home is looking good, there is a lot for anyone who has invited guests over.
Food is one of the most important things that makes these parties desirable. However, along with the assortment of prepared delicious items, what is also important is to present them well. The right dinner setting has the power to mesmerize the guests who would sing praises for your dinner setting decor. So let us examine the best dinner setting ideas for a perfect family gathering.
What You Need In An Ideal Dinner Setting
You must go through the following step-by-step instructions for a gorgeous dining table set up to woo your guests.
- Keep it simple: Confused about the innumerable options in crockery, plates and design? No worries, just leave it bare. A minimal setup, aka the simple setup, might, after all, speak volumes about your subtle and classy taste. You do not need fancy stuff lying around just for the sake of it when you can make do with just the basics: plates, spoons, and salt and pepper containers. If at all you want something extra, have a pretty vase at the very center.
- The Placemat: There must be items in place to protect a high-quality table from developing stains and spots. For this purpose, the table mat comes in handy. Made from a thicker material, it prevents water, other liquids and fragments of food to seep through the crevices and develop spots that are cleaner to get rid of afterward. Consider thicker fabrics in striped or checked designs, and you have set the design for an ideal eating place. Other options: woven mats built out of jute or bamboo give a nice and raw vibe to your dining space.
- Keep Your Plates White: White is a neutral color that goes along with every design and setup. That’s the reason why people prefer having their wall colors as plain as possible so that any furniture or home decor items can go perfectly well with them. We prefer having plates in whites as well, as they allow you to experiment as much as possible with the other items on the table and be flexible with your choices.
- The Flatware Items And When To Bring Them: Instead of choosing the same old, plain designs in your knives and forks, go for brassy or rose gold-toned ornate designs in the “handle” part. The knife blades must be kept directly parallel to the plate, and other than spoons and forks to compliment them, there should be no flatware items present on the table. The soup spoon must be brought separately, and the smaller-in-size dessert spoons must be placed on the table only at the end of the meal.
- Display The Napkins: Placed and used for the purpose of avoiding the spillage of food or drinks on your clothes, napkins are essential and mandatory things in a fairly sophisticated dinner setup. They highlight refined taste and etiquette, and their inclusion enhances the dinner setting of any home. However, they are not used every time you eat anything. For instance, munching on a muffin or a sandwich won’t require you to wear a napkin. It’s only when you’re having a main course, when the chances of you dirtying your shirt or trousers is high, that you require them. They are built in a square shape and come in a variety of materials like cotton, polyester, and linen. When you choose your napkins, keep in mind how they will look in contrast to your dinner table or the tablecloth. We suggest going for something other than the plain and simply white. Bolder colors like dark green napkins would be perfect if your tablecloth is in a lighter color. Have them arranged in a scalloped shape on every plate, for the presentation is as important as the food.
- Keep A Water Container At All Times: No prizes for getting this right. A water glass or a jar is a necessity that must be always within the reach of your thirsty guests. Keep it in the middle of the table so that everybody has access to it. The container can well be experimented with. Sipper water bottles are common these days and in trend. However, you can be more responsible by having glass bottles or copper containers to store your drinking water for the purpose of environmental conservation.
- Choose The Right Wine Glasses: The hourglass shape of a wine glass is a sight to behold. What better than enjoying your post or pre-meal drinks in sophisticated red or white wine glasses? From the variety of shapes and sizes, we recommend Cabernet for red wine, and Chardonnay for white wine. The short and wide shape of the Cabernet allows your nose to be filled with the aroma of the red wine so that you can properly enjoy smelling and drinking it. For the best experience of red wine, we recommend not filling your glass to the brim. On the other hand, the Chardonnay glass is in a U-shape, which allows the white win to flow directly to the tip and the sides of your tongue, thus making you thoroughly relish its taste.
- The Champagne Flute: There’s no sleeker option to drink from than a champagne flute: a slim, conical glass meant for the drink reserved for wedding commemorations and for giving a “toast”. It is usually utilized during a large gathering of extended family members and distant relatives.
- Do Not Spare The Decorations: When setting up the dining table, keep in mind the aesthetics of the room. Your focus should not be limited to the table and the items on it. We recommend concise color palettes with neutral shades in grey on the walls. You may add a woven rug underneath for warmth and comfort and have chairs in an unexpected color for an unconventional contrast. And while you’re at it, mind the window shades in the room. Pleated Roman shades or aluminum blinds would be the perfect addition to protect the dining area from outside weather conditions when you and your guests want to dine in peace.
A dining table is an important place for everyone in the house. It’s where we get away from our daily activities like work, watching television or scrolling through social media. Needless to say, the dining room and the dining table, in particular, deserve much of our attention in setting them right. You need to create the right environment where you and your people can enjoy a beautiful aesthetic experience while having a range of dishes and drinks.