Dining table accesories

You’ve invited a group of friends or family to a dinner party and now it’s time to set the table. But how do you create a unified table setting for the perfect dinner party? A well-arranged table with tableware and decorations adds to the dining experience and atmosphere around the table. Whether you’re looking for a minimalist look with clean lines or you prefer bright colours, you can find inspiration for your table setting at Rosendahl.com. Here, you can get everything you need to set the table for special occasions.

Setting the table for a dinner party – what are you celebrating?

A beautiful and well-arranged table usually has an element that ties everything together. It doesn't have to be one specific colour or theme that dominates. Instead, the most important thing is that there is a common thread running throughout the table setting. Here, you should start by considering the occasion. What are you celebrating? Is it a christening or confirmation, where the child is in focus? Or are you celebrating a milestone birthday or a wedding, where an adult is in the spotlight? The occasion for the party should be reflected in one way or another in the table setting. For a christening for example, you often have napkins, tablecloths or decorations in a colour that represents the child’s gender. Light blue for little boys and pink or lilac for little girls. But you can also keep it gender-neutral and choose anonymous colours such as white, beige or green.

A well-considered table setting for a party can mirror the occasion, but it can also reflect your interests, for example if you have a passion for handball, football, beauty products or something else entirely. And of course, you can also focus on your personal taste. For example, do you have a favorite colour? Or what else would you like to have on the table?

Party decorations and table settings

Beautiful porcelain tableware goes a long way, but the crowning glory is the decoration. Table decorations can be anything from tablecloths and table runners to placemats, candle holders, napkins and decorations that help to elevate the table setting so that it looks more cosy, considered and inviting. Many people also choose to decorate the table with small decorations in the form of baubles or objects from nature. Here, it's worth considering the season. In summer, for example, you can decorate with a bouquet of fresh flowers, which can help create life and harmony. If it’s an autumn wedding, you can decorate with branches and leaves in beautiful colours, while at Christmas you can decorate with pine cones and spruce branches from nature to create an atmospheric and Nordic, contemporary look. If you’re setting the table with a tablecloth, you can add a touch of Christmas cheer and cosiness to the table. On this page, you can find inspiration for your party setting. Click around our universe, which contains everything you need for a beautiful dinner party table setting.

How to set the right table

Table settings aren't always straightforward, and you might be wondering where the fork should be placed? Follow our guide to set the table with the proper dining etiquette. The tablecloth is the first thing you need to know about. Find a tablecloth that matches your theme, and if you’re completely out of ideas, you can always choose a plain white tablecloth. This goes with everything. Once the tablecloth has been placed on the table, it's time to add the plates. Place the dinner plate at the bottom, followed by the lunch plate and then the deep plate. Next comes the cutlery, which must be placed in the order in which the dishes are eaten. Forks on the left and knives on the right. This means that the outermost knife and fork are for the starter and the next for the main course. Remember to place the knife with the sharp side inwards so that guests do not cut themselves on it. Place the dessert spoon over the dinner plate. Place the glasses to the right of the plate according to the same principle as the cutlery. Therefore, the white wine glass should be placed to the far right, followed by the red wine glass. The dessert glass should be placed furthest to the left of the plate, but it is also customary to place it on the table only when the dessert is served. Simply add some napkins and flower decorations, for example, and voila – you have a beautiful and correct table setting.

1. Tablecloth

No party is complete without a beautiful tablecloth. So the first thing to do is to find a tablecloth. A white tablecloth can be used for all festive occasions, but if you’ve invited guests over for an Easter dinner or a Christmas lunch, you might want to play around with the look. For example, you could consider a beautiful Christmas tablecloth in red, dark blue or green for Christmas Eve and a yellow or green tablecloth for an Easter lunch. This will help create a beautiful foundation for your tablescape. To find the right tablecloth, take a look around this page. We have many beautiful tablecloths to choose from, from the finely woven tablecloths to piqué designs and organic cotton tablecloths in a wealth of colours. Many people also choose to decorate the tablecloth with placemats to create a beautiful layered look. Choosing a tablecloth and placemats in the same colour palette, such as a white tablecloth and an earth-toned placemat, can add a striking look. There are many ways to do this, and only your imagination sets the limits.

2. Table runner

You'll often see a table runner on a well-laid party table. It's not a must, but it is good for creating an exclusive and harmonious expression on the table. The table runner can also serve as a gathering point for your table decorations. Many people choose to place the table runner in the middle along the table and then arrange decorations in the middle or in small groups. You can decorate with baubles, flowers and branches from nature. If you’re setting up for a small party, you can also choose to skip the tablecloth altogether and use the table runner instead, either together with placemats, or you can place it across the table so that the two people sitting opposite each other share a table runner. This allows it to function as a placemat.

3. Candle holders

Candle holders create a cosy atmosphere at the table and are almost indispensable when setting the table for a party. Whether you prefer a taper candle holder, a pillar candle holder or a couple of tealight holders, the flickering candle or LED candles can help create a calm and pleasant atmosphere around the table. A candlestick with candles is taller and therefore a little more fragile. If you have children at the table, you should place your candlesticks out of their reach. Whether it’s candles or LEDs, you won't want the candle holder to fall over your food or your fine china. You can easily create small arrangements with tealight holders on the table, either together with the remaining decorations or separately. A couple of candle holders are guaranteed to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere among your guests.

4. Napkins

Napkins are a must when setting the table for a party. Whether you prefer paper or cloth napkins, they're essential to have on the table and help to create a consistent style. Napkins not only serve as a practical element, they can also be decorative in themselves. For example, if you choose to fold them beautifully into a swan or a seashell, it will give the impression that you have made a real effort and it will automatically seem inviting. At Rosendahl.com you’ll find napkins in a wide range of colours, from blue to red and various earthy tones. We have damask woven linen napkins, where a beautiful pattern is woven directly into the fabric, and we also offer different patterned cotton napkins. All of our cloth napkins are designed to match the tablecloths and placemats in our assortment, so we recommend you browse a little and find what you need right here.

5. Salt and pepper shakers

A set of salt and pepper shakers also belong on the table, and if you have invited more than six people, it's a good idea to place more than one set on the table. Most people prefer to season their own food once it's been served onto their plate, and with a salt and pepper set at each end of the table, you don't have to wait for them to make their way around to the other side. You get the best flavour from a grinder, but you can also just place a salt container or small salt and pepper pots on the table.