When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Mary Hollis Huddleston Setting a perfectly laid table is an essential part of hosting.

Table settings will vary depending on the type of event and the food being served. Set up silverware and glassware so guests can work from the outside in and top to bottom. A floral centerpiece is a ...

Dining habits have changed drastically over the years. And while dining etiquette is still just as valuable as good table manners, some more traditional expectations have fallen by the wayside, ...

Place a dinner plate in the center of each place setting. If you're serving salad, place a salad plate on top of the dinner plate. Place a folded napkin to the left of the dinner plate. Place forks on ...

Have you ever wondered how to set a table? The holidays are here, and with it, dinner parties as well as formal family meals that finally put grandma’s silver to use. Laying them out, however, can be ...

A group of people enjoying a meal. Image source: Pexels. Use our complete guide to help you know where to position the cutlery, how to choose the right decor, and which glasses are best. Whether ...

Napkins on the right or the left? Which way does the knife face, anyway? Sometimes it’s just plain hard to remember. Follow this guide and your table will look picture perfect, whether you're going ...

Many of us remember our mothers starting a week in advance of Thanksgiving, polishing sterling stemware until it gleamed, setting the table three days in advance with the good china, then cooking ...

The art of how to properly set a table has long been forgotten. I won't complain about it because setting one every single day can be a real pain, but boy do I love a fancy table. With Thanksgiving ...

Mackenzie Schmidt is the Home and Travel Editor for PEOPLE. She's worked at PEOPLE for over five years as a writer and editor on the Lifestyle team. Real talk: You eat all your meals on the couch.