Get your flatware sets with gift! - Free shipping on orders over $75.

Best flatware sets for everyday use

Presenting a beautiful table is very important, whether it is a special occasion, a family meal or a simple dinner with friends. Flatware plays a key role: it should all have the same style and be coordinated with the rest of the tableware, to create a welcoming and functional table.

A flatware set for every occasion

From a simple flatware set for one person to complete sets for 8 people, including sets of 5, 20 and 40 pieces. You can also add fish flatware, dessert sets including cake servers and forks, serving items or rests to your sets. We've also thought of the little ones with kid's sets. All perfect for everyday and special occasions.
Discover all

Table setting fundamentals

Setting a table properly is a sign of refinement and bon ton, a testimony to the attention to detail hosts are willing to pay when they receive guests. Harmony is the peculiarity that etiquette requires for proper table setting, yet every item, including flatware, dishes, glasses, tablecloths and napkins, as well as centrepieces, placeholders and bread bins, contributes to this ritual.

TABLE SETTING TIPS

Flatware

A LAYOUT WORTH LEARNING BY HEART

Forks are placed to the left of the plate, in the order of use from the outside to the inside. There should be no more than three forks, with tines pointing up. Standard, fish or meat knives are always placed to the right with blades turned toward the plate. The soup spoon, if any, is placed to the right, in the outermost position next to knives. Fruit and dessert flatware is placed horizontally above the plate: knife with blade towards the plate and handle to the right, fork with tines pointing up and handle to the left. The dessert spoon is placed in the outermost position with the handle to the right, like the knife.



Table Setting Fundamentals Flatware Scheme


Plates

ONE FOR EACH NEED

Flat plates, placed on show plates or directly on the tablecloth, are equally spaced one from another. If they are decorated, they are arranged toward the table edge and the guest to be seen properly. Soup plates or consommé bowls or hors d’oeuvre plates come next. The bread plate is arranged to the left of the flat plate, above it. Table setting includes the simultaneous presence of up to three plates, while other plates, like the salad bowl, accompany courses as they are served on a small table or a trolley. Hot food is always served on warm plates.



Table Setting Fundamentals Plates Scheme


Glasses

2,3 OR 4 FOR TOASTING

Glasses are at least two and no more than four, including water and champagne glasses. They are placed slightly to the right of the plate above the knife. The biggest glass for water stands out, while red wine and white wine glasses are placed to the right. If other glasses are added as more wine types are served, they should be placed to the right. If champagne is the only drink, lay out water glasses as well as champagne glasses.



Table Setting Fundamentals Glasses Scheme


Tablecloth

A TAILORED PIECE OF CLOTHING

Whether it is a patterned or solid colour model made of linen or cotton, the secret is that it should perfectly fit both the tones of the occasion and the other protagonists of your table. If you already have a beautiful table and are seeking a trendy look, just replace the tablecloth with placemats, runners or refined show plates for every guest. Even if they look very pretty, these solutions are recommended for informal situations and for breakfast only and never for lunch. Every napkin is placed to the left of the plate.

TABLE SETTING EXAMPLES

It may happened every day.

It may happen that mom says: ”Could you please set the table? Lay out spoons too, there’s soup for dinner”. It may happen that you receive a text: “Paul and Kate are coming for dinner tonight. Set the table with our Gio Ponti flatware. Yes, the new, odd one…” It happens. It is the case when we treat ourselves with a beautiful table setting to have dinner alone after buying some Japanese take-away food. Or when in a spring morning we want to have breakfast on the terrace and we set a lovely table outdoor. It is the case also when you invite friends to play poker and the game becomes an excuse for staying together. The day for a family party or for a special buffet to listen to Ernest’s piano concert together. When it is raining outside and you rustle up a BBQ in the living room with your friends. Daily acts, our acts. A dish, flatware to the left, flatware to the right, flatware above. A custom, a tradition: our tradition. Rituals that we repeat every day in many situations. The table embodies the traditions of the objects that populate it and is enliven by the stories of the people who use them. Whether it is an iPad, Charlie’s dinosaur or a ceramic anchovy placeholder, every day we set the table for one, ten, hundred people. Out of love, tradition or memory, our table experience is intended to be remembered over time. “I will never forget that, on the birthday of us grandchildren, my grandparents set the table for breakfast with cups depicting ancient Roman warriors on a biga. Hot chocolate, biscuits and a small golden spoon for the birthday boy or girl”. - Sergio Colantuoni


Breakfast setting

Table Setting Fundamentals Examles Breakfast

THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY

1. butter plate 2. butter knife 3. water glass 4. wine glass 5. dessert knife 6. dessert fork 7. fork for first dish 8. fork for second dish 9. napkin 10. flat plate 11. knife



Lunch setting

Table Setting Fundamentals Examles Lunch


1. bread plate 2. water glass 3. red wine glass 4. white wine glass 5. dessert wine glass 6. dessert spoon 7. dessert fork 8. napkin 9. fork for first dish 10. fork for second dish 11. plate 12. knife 13. spoon


Dinner setting

Table Setting Fundamentals Examles Dinner


1. bread plate 2. water glass 3. red wine glass 4. white wine glass 5. dessert wine glass 6. dessert spoon 7. dessert knife 8. dessert fork 9. napkin 10. fork for first dish 11. fork for second dish 12. plate 13. knife 14. soup spoon 15. soup plate

OOPS! The browser you are using is no longer supported.

Browse Sambonet.com using the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari and prepare to dive into an extraordinary beauty experience.