Setting the Mood

I've found that if my guests walk into a nicely set room, it puts them in a good mood and makes them feel pampered - before they've even had a bite.

Table-Setting Savvy

When you're throwing a dinner party, think of your table as the gift-wrapping and your food as the gift.  You want to give your guests a knockout visual presentation so they get excited about tucking into the delicious spread you've prepared.  But all you really need to pull off the effects is a runner for a semiformal dinner (you and your guests are wearing jeans and a cute top) or a fabric tablecloth for a formal one (everyone's asked to wear cocktail attire).

If you don't have a runner (which is basically just a long strip of fabric laid down the center of your table), a quick makeshift idea is to use a long scarf.  I've even used a black brocade scarf of my grandmother's before.  Another option is to run a row of fabric place mats down your table.  With your flowers and olive oils and other small dishes on top of them, no one will notice they're not all one piece.

For a formal table, splurge on a tablecloth.  White is always a safe bet because it won't clash with your plates or food.  But don't worry about getting the finest quality.  What's more important is that it's ironed and crisp-looking.  If you'd sooner have your teeth drilled than iron, send out your napkins and tablecloth to be pressed.

A truly formal setting implies having all of your cutlery, dishes and glassware already on the table at the beginning of the meal.  What I like about this - whether I'm actually serving a formal meal or not - is that not only does it pass the Miss Manners test, but as the hostess you don't find yourself scrambling for more glasses during the meal.

More on the placement of each cutlery, dishes and glasses in next blog.

Rebecca Mannerly tip:  Forget which side to put the bread plate and which side to put your drinking glasses?  Make an "okay" sign with both hands - you'll see that your left hand makes a "b" for bread, and your right hand makes a "d" for drink.  Easy!