Whether you're planning a casual gathering or a more formal, intimate dinner, here's how to set a table properly.

A formal place setting has a standard way to arrange silverware, plates, and glasses. The fork goes on the left, and the glasses on the right.

The food is sure to shine, but the table itself sets the bar for what is sure to be a fun and special evening. Scroll down for the key elements of setting a formal dinner table the Southern way.

Here's how to set the table for formal, informal, and basic or casual occasions. You'll never again have to guess about table décor—or which fork goes where!

Add a few gracious extras. At formal events with eight or more people at a table, consider adding place cards —set above the dining plate—to create a more social atmosphere.

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 ...

How to Set a Formal Thanksgiving Table Like a Sophisticated Adult Because that gloriously spatchcocked bird deserves a regal setting. Sarah Showfety November 23, 2021 ...

FORMAL OR CASUAL?: A tablecloth will create a more formal look, and is a great way to dress up a rustic table. However, for a less formal feel, a table runner alone in a fall color can be enough.

Plopping down on the couch to watch "Seinfeld" reruns may be your usual dinner routine, but the holidays call for a little extra pizzazz -- including a beautifully set formal table. "For a festive ...

If you need guidance on how to set your table, here's how to do it sustainably, according to the founder of Heather Taylor Home.

See 14 standout table designs from Dering Hall designers, and read their advice on setting a chic table this season.