Some of our best memories happened around a table. In Brazil, dinner with friends is never quick. The food comes out, then the stories, then someone opens another bottle, and before you know it it's midnight. Setting a nice table is how we tell people we're happy they came and they should stay as long as they like.
You don't need a cabinet full of china or a book on etiquette to do it. Here's how we set a table for a dinner party, whether it's a casual night with friends or something more formal.
Start with a tablecloth or placemats
A tablecloth feels generous and festive, and it's great for bigger groups and holidays. Let it hang about 8 to 12 inches over the edge. Our Rosemary and Jardim Green Check tablecloths are cut extra wide, so they drape nicely.
Placemats give each guest their own space and let a pretty wood table show. Handwoven buriti placemats add a lot of warmth. If kids are coming, or you're serving red wine and pasta, our spill-proof placemats wipe clean in seconds.
You can also do both. A placemat on top of a tablecloth is one of the easiest ways to make a table look put together.
The basic place setting
For most dinner parties, this is all you need:
- Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat, about an inch from the edge of the table.
- Forks go on the left. If there's a salad first, the salad fork goes on the outside.
- The knife goes on the right, with the blade facing the plate.
- If you need a spoon, it goes to the right of the knife.
- The napkin goes to the left of the forks or on top of the plate. A napkin ring finishes it off.
- The water glass sits above the knife, with the wine glass just to its right.
The one rule worth remembering: guests use their utensils from the outside in, so set them in the order the food comes out.
If you want it more formal
For a special occasion or a longer menu, add a small bread plate at the top left with a butter knife across it. A dessert fork and spoon can go sideways above the plate. If you're serving both white and red wine, add a second glass next to the first, in the order you'll pour. A charger under the dinner plate makes it feel like a real occasion.
The details
This is the fun part, and it's what people actually remember.
Linen napkins feel soft and relaxed. Mix colors, or use an embroidered one like our Lavender Garden or Mykonos napkin. (You can see all of them here.) Napkin rings are a little thing that makes a big difference. We love a handmade buriti flower for a natural table, or the rattan fish when we're feeling playful. More napkin rings here.
Keep flowers and centerpieces low so people can see each other across the table. Unscented candles are best, so they don't compete with the food. And if you're doing drinks before dinner, a set of embroidered cocktail napkins like our Happy Hour set is a nice touch.
A few things we've learned from hosting
Set the table in the afternoon. It's one less thing to do when the doorbell rings, and honestly it gets us excited for the night.
Don't worry about everything matching. A woven placemat with a crisp linen napkin, or a printed tablecloth with solid napkins, looks more interesting than a perfect set.
Be practical where it matters. When there are kids at the table, spill-proof placemats mean you can actually sit down and enjoy dinner.
And don't stress about getting every fork right. The best tables are the ones people don't want to leave.
Com carinho,
Ana & Ana
