Unless you live like a hermit and eat take-out every day, you are going to want to have people over to your house and entertain once in a while. One of the most important aspects of having people over is food, and having a good meal means not only having a nice dinner set, but the proper dinner setting in which to dine. In this article we will be exploring the world of the “table setting”, and how to set a table for almost every occasion.The BasicsThese are the basics that will get you started to setting a fine dinner table. Depending on the type of gathering you are planning to have, you can either go with just the basic setting, or add to it.a) Determine how many people you are going to be having over. You will need one place setting for each person, so make sure that they have their own space around the dinner table.b) Place the dinner plate in the center of the place setting. Everything else will go around the focal point of this dinner plate.c) The fork, knife, and spoon (i.e.: the flatware) will be positioned around the dinner plate in the order in which each item will be used. The fork goes to the left of the dinner plate. The knife and spoon go to the right. The knife is placed close to the dinner plate with the cutting edge pointed towards it. Next to the knife goes the spoon.d) The water glass now needs a home. It goes directly above the knife.e) If you have napkins available, place them under the forks.Informal Dinner SettingFor an informal dinner party you merely need to start with the basics, and add to them. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:a) If you are going to serve a salad, the salad fork is placed to the left of the dinner fork that you laid down during the basics.b) If you happen to be serving soup, set the bowl directly on top of the dinner plate, and place the soup spoon to the right of the spoon you laid down during the basics.c) Bread and butter and salad knifes are the next items to go down. They should be positioned directly to the left of the forks. Butter plates, if you have them, go directly above the dinner plate. Butter knives go on top of the butter plate.d) The cup and saucer come next. Put them directly above the spoons. The handle of the cup should point towards the right. Wine or water glasses go to the left of the coffee cup.Formal DinnerYou have now graduated to the most elaborate setting of all…the formal dinner setting. Don’t worry, we have you covered. Just build on the informal dinner setting which in turn builds on the basics. Here’s what you need to know:a) If you are planning on serving both red and white wine, you will need two wine glasses…one for each type. They go next to the water glasses that you have already positioned.b) Additional spoons (i.e.: for soup, beverage, or dessert) should be placed immediately to the right of the knife. Alternately, they can be brought to the table when either the soup or dessert is being served.c) A centerpiece is always nice. Look around for an appropriate one, or if you are artistic you could craft your own. It goes directly in the center of the table.That’s it! You are done. Sit back and look at your dinner set, accessories, and fine handiwork. It all looks so nice don’t you think? Cook up some great food, and place it on the table, and let the partying begin!