Set a Formal Table

• 1). Place the cutlery pieces at the place setting in the order they will be used. The small salad fork is placed to the left of the plate. To the right of the salad fork, and to the left of the plate, place the larger dinner fork. On the other side of the plate, the small teaspoon is closest to the plate, the knife lies to its right, then the larger spoon, or soup spoon, to the far right. Save space by placing the dessert fork and spoon horizontally above the dinner plate. These pieces are essentially the same as the salad fork and the teaspoon. Place the dessert fork with the handle pointing toward the other forks. Place the dessert spoon above the dessert fork with the handle pointing toward the other spoons.
  
  
• 2
  
  
  Arrange the glasses at the upper right corner of the plate. Place the shorter red wine glass immediately above the knife. Place the larger water glass diagonally and to the left of the red wine glass. Place the taller white wine glass diagonally and to the right of the red wine glass. The glasses should form a triangle shape.
  
  Place the coffee cup to the upper right of the dinner plate, slightly below the glasses.
  
  
• 3). Stack the salad plate on top of the dinner plate. Put the plates in the center of the place setting. Put the bread plate in the upper left corner of the place setting.
  
  
• 4). Fold the cloth napkin as you desire and place it either on top of the salad plate or to the left of the forks.
  
  

Set a Casual Table

• 1). Place the cutlery pieces in the same arrangement as the formal place setting, but do not place the dessert fork and spoon on the table until you are serving dessert.
  
  
• 2
  
  
  Arrange the glasses at the upper right corner. Place the wine glass immediately above the knife. Place the water glass diagonally and to the left of the wine glass (if the wine glass is the center of a clock, the water glass should be at the 10 o'clock position).
  
  Place the coffee cup to the upper right of the dinner plate, slightly below the glasses.
  
  
• 3). Stack the plates in the same fashion as when setting a formal place setting. Place the bread plate in the upper left corner of the place setting or do not include one.
  
  
• 4). Fold either a cloth or a paper napkin as you desire and place it on top of the salad plate or to the left of the forks.