Wow your guests with the perfect table setting

A carefully set and lovingly decorated table makes a dinner party a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. When setting a festive table, you should arrange things beautifully — but remember to keep it simple for both you and the guests.

• Place plates about one centimetre (1/2 inch) from the edge of the table. The distance between the centres of two place settings should be 60 to 80 centimetres (24 to 31 inches), so that you can fit a good number of guests at the table without anyone feeling cramped.
• There should be no more than four pieces of silverware on the right; three on the left.
• Always place the dessert silverware horizontally above the plate. Point the handle of a fork to the left, and the handle of a spoon to the right. If you're serving fresh fruit for dessert, place a dessert fork (instead of a spoon) at the top edge of the plate.
• Place bread plates, along with a small butter knife, to the left of the setting if necessary.
• Set glasses above the silverware on the right-hand side in the order in which they will be used.
• White wine glasses should be positioned slightly further right and filled two-thirds full.
• Red wine is generally served in large, wide goblets that taper slightly toward the top. Fill the glasses only a quarter-full so that the wine has room to breathe.

Choose your table linens according to the occasion, making sure they don't clash with the flatware, silverware, and glasses.

• A tablecloth should hang over the edge of the table about 25 to 30 centimetres (10 to 12 inches) on all sides. Lay a table protector under it to save your table from hot dishes and spills, and to keep the tablecloth from slipping.
• White tablecloths allow the greatest latitude in choosing the other decorations. To add a bit of colour, place a runner or band of pretty fabric lengthwise or widthwise across the table.
• For rustic place settings, use simple place mats.
• If you need several tablecloths for a fairly long table, make sure that the edges overlap and that the tablecloths are all straight.
• For napkins, either tuck them into wine glasses, or fold them and lay them on the plates or to the left of them. Use napkin rings or fold the napkins into decorative shapes.
• With a little creativity, you can make one-of-a-kind napkin rings. Tie some grasses, flowers, or leaves around the napkins with a string, or transform silk ribbons into colourful napkin rings. At Christmas time, fasten small wooden toys around your napkins with red or green ribbons.