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.

While there are certain protocols for basic, casual, and formal table settings, there is some flexibility. Get creative based on the items you already own and what you’ll be serving. For a formal ...

How to set a table used to be common knowledge, but in today’s fast and busy world, knowing how to set a table properly has become somewhat of a party trick. If you’ve been tasked with hosting a baby ...

Most people walk into a restaurant, glance at the menu, maybe check the lighting, and sit down without giving the table ...

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.

Martha Stewart and Sandra Lee understand the importance of a good tablescape. The queens of tasteful dining decor popularized the art of obsessive table settings in the late ‘90s and early 2000s on ...

Getting your home ready for the holiday party season can take a lot of planning and preparation to pull together the perfect look. Step up your home dinner parties this season with beautiful tabletops ...

Not sure how to set a table properly? Whether you're planning a casual gathering or a formal, intimate dinner, this is table-setting etiquette you need to know. Dining habits have changed drastically ...