A well-appointed table—from linens and china to glassware and centerpieces—strengthens a chic setting. But the beautiful accessories are useless if you don’t know how to set a table properly. A Google search might even confuse you further, since arrangements will vary depending on what you’re looking for, whether it’s Thanksgiving table setting ideas or a casual dinner party table to enhance a wine night.
How to set a table for formal events
To further enhance a formal table, add a centerpiece. “Make sure not to block the view of your guests sitting across from each other,” Purvi Padia, the founder of House of Revelry, adds. A grand arrangement can quickly obstruct conversation or block sight lines, so I often favor a statement vase with an oversized arrangement at one end, paired with candlesticks, and then I keep the rest of the table more minimal,” she says. On that note, there’s no need to be super literal about your centerpiece. “It doesn’t have to live in the center,” Padia adds. “It can anchor one end, run the length of the table, or appear in sculptural clusters throughout.”
Wherever you choose to place your candles and flowers, the following steps will guide you as you set a table for any formal event, large or small.
