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.

Setting a gorgeous dinner table is an art—and a science, according to the pros—which actually makes it a lot easier to ...

A comfortable table setting, especially a formal one with a variety of glassware and flatware, should allow about 2 feet of space between the center of one plate and the center of the next. The formal ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

With Thanksgiving around the corner, you better know how to set the table if you're hosting. Whether you want formal or not, these infographics have got you covered. Style and decor blog Brunch at ...

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.