The correct cutlery layout is one of those pieces of knowledge that everyone should have, and everyone wonders about, but often causes confusion. It is fairly simple to correctly set a table for a formal dinner if you just remember simple rules.

First of all, you always work from the outside to the inside with cutlery when you dine. This means you will use the fork on the outside first, then the next one in, and then the last. This is because there are usually three forks: one for each course. If you think about it then the layout is easy enough to remember: salad fork, dinner fork, and then dessert fork. Just think of what each course consists of.

On the other hand, there is generally only one knife for the meal. The dinner knife should be on the inner right hand side of the plate, whereas the forks were laid out, as stated above, on the left. On the right of the knife is a teaspoon, then a soup spoon. The teaspoon may be left out unless it is needed to assist with eating the main course.

If you want to establish a better balance on the table when you do not use a teaspoon, then place the dessert fork and a dessert spoon above the plate horizontally, with the fork closer to the plate. The only remaining piece of cutlery that may be necessary for your meal is a butter knife for bread rolls. If you need this, then you will place it on the bread plate. This will be located on the top left of the layout, basically above the forks.

If you will be serving different drinks throughout the course of the meal then put the water goblet above right of the plate, then a red wine glass (the larger wine glass) to the right of that, followed by a slightly smaller white wine glass. The variety of glasses is only usually part of a very formal setting though, and it is just as easy when hosting to provide the guest with a fresh glass every course if you have enough. Napkins should be placed to the left of the forks and everything should be lined up to look balanced: these are the two finishing touches to any place setting.

To make sure you get the cutlery layout right every single time then make sure that you plan ahead. Work out the entire selection of cutlery that guests will need over the course of the meal, and maybe hold a trial run to test this out. Then get each piece out and just place them as above, with the cutlery you will be using first on the outermost sides from the plates, and each subsequent piece one place in.