Quick Guide: List of Supplies for Tablescapes

Table setting was a practice amongst the aristocracy in the 1700s as a way to express elegance and wealth.

Over the centuries, table setting has become common in households and venues where events like dinner parties, weddings, galas and corporate events take place.

In today’s world, you may hear the term tablescaping. This activity combines table setting, styling, and colour-coordinating dinnerware, glassware and other decorative elements on a table’s surface.

This allows a stylist to communicate a specific theme or aesthetic in order to impress diners.

WHAT SUPPLIES MIGHT YOU NEED FOR A TABLESCAPE?

Before deciding on how to decorate your table, you must decide on what table setting is to be used.

There are 5 standard table-setting types:

BASIC

INFORMAL

FORMAL

FIVE-COURSE

BUFFET

Each table setting requires different dinnerware and glassware, and depending on the size of your table(s), this might impact the space you have for centrepieces, candles, or other decorative pieces.

So, here is a list of supplies for each seated table-setting type:

BASIC TABLE SETTING

• • Table Linen Cloth
  • Place Mat (optional)
  • Napkin
  • Dinner Plate
  • Dinner Fork
  • Dinner Knife
  • Spoon
  • Water Glass

INFORMAL TABLE SETTING 

• • Table Linen Cloth
  • Place Mat (optional)
  • Napkin
  • Dinner Plate
  • Salad Plate
  • Soup Bowl
  • Dinner Fork
  • Dinner Knife
  • Soup Spoon
  • Water Glass
  • Wine Glass

FORMAL TABLE SETTING

• • Table Linen Cloth
  • Place Mats (optional)
  • Charger Plate
  • Soup Bowl
  • Napkin
  • Bread Plate
  • Butter Knife
  • Salad Fork
  • Dinner Fork
  • Dinner Knife
  • Soup Spoon
  • Dessert Spoon
  • Salt Shaker
  • Pepper Shaker
  • Water Glass
  • Red Wine Glass
  • White Wine Glass
  • Place Card

FIVE COURSE TABLE SETTING

• Table Linen Cloth
• Charger Plate
• Soup Bowl
• Napkin
• Bread Plate
• Butter Knife
• Salad Fork
• Fish Fork
• Dinner Fork
• Dinner Knife
• Fish Knife
• Soup Spoon
• Dessert Spoon
• Salt Shaker
• Pepper Shaker
• Water Glass
• Sherry Glass
• Red Wine Glass
• Champagne Flute
• White Wine Glass
• Cup and Saucer
• Place Card

After the essentials for each table setting have been placed, you can then look to include some of the following items if the theme or aesthetic requires:

Decorative Elements and Stationary

• Centrepieces
• Table Runner
• Candles
• Candle Holders
• Napkin Rings
• Themed Decorative Items
• Place Cards
• Menus

Tablescaping is not a pro-only job. You can start with a basic table setting and then progress to a more extravagant set-up when you feel confident.

Decorating a table can be a satisfying and creative project, and because many fond memories are made around tables, why not make them look good?

HAVE YOU CREATED ANY TABLESCAPES?

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