EU
UK
USA
As your kids head off to summer camp, create a camp care package full of fun and meaningful things, from a heartfel...
How to Set the Summer Table
Whether thinking about informal family get-togethers or formal dinners, here’s how to set the summer table the Meri Meri way.
When it comes to entertaining at home, few things impress guest as much as a beautifully set table. Whatever the occasion, mastering the art of table presentation helps create a warm atmosphere, delight your guests and keep the conversation flowing. Here’s how...
Start with a theme or colour scheme
A theme gives your table purpose – and from there, everything else, from decorations and tableware to gifts and flowers, falls into place. ‘A colour scheme is helpful and a good starting point,’ says Sania Pell, Interior Stylist and Creative Director, who works her magic on Meri Meri’s shoots. ‘This could be bright and clashing or calmer and tonal. Use tablecloths as your base. A kids’ birthday might be much brighter than a baby shower or teen party.’ For seasonal inspiration, check out our Top 10 Party Trends for 2025.
What are the traditional rules for cutlery and glassware?
At a formal table, knives go on the right with blades facing in – the dinner knife sits nearest the plate, followed by the fish knife and then the soup spoon on the outside. Forks go on the left – dinner fork closest to the plate, then the salad fork. Dessert cutlery sits above the plate – spoon handle to the right, fork handle to the left.
Glasses go in the top right corner – water slightly above the knives, red wine closer to the plate, and white wine above or beside that.
The bread plate lives in the top left corner with a butter knife resting across it.
That said, there’s no need to stick strictly to formalities. ‘Rules are made to be broken! I rarely follow a formal place setting,’ says Pell. ‘To make a table feel more modern, you could keep the cutlery together to the right of the plate.’
As for napkins, ‘Fabric napkins can be opened out and used as placemats or rolled with the cutlery sitting on top, tied with a bow,’ she suggests. For kids’ parties, our wooden cutlery is a fun and practical choice.
Can you mix paper plates with crockery?
Absolutely. It’s a great way to save on washing up and makes the table look more playful. ‘Layering paper plates and cups with glassware works well. Real glasses can sit next to paper cups, and you could even pop a few flowers in either, using them like mini vases,’ says Pell. ‘Mixing silver, china, crystal and special serving dishes is back in style. Placemats, water glasses, wine glasses – it’s so much fun,’ adds Meredithe Stuart-Smith, Meri Meri Founder & President.
What about decorations like flowers and candles?
One of the easiest ways to wow guests? A row of candles down the centre of the table. ‘I love ordering fresh flowers and greenery from a local florist and mixing them with candles,’ says Stuart-Smith. Pell agrees: ‘Small vases of flowers add a pop of colour and make everything feel more alive.’
Her pro tip? Try Japanese flower frogs (aka kensan), often used in ikebana. They help create more modern arrangements and let you experiment with shallow bowls or low dishes – perfect for keeping things interesting.
And for the kids’ table?
‘Kids’ tables need to be fun and entertaining. Meri Meri colouring-in tablecloths are a brilliant way to keep them busy, especially with a few surprise balls thrown in,’ says Pell. She also suggests hiding little messages or fun challenges under plates or within the table layout to keep them occupied.
Any finishing touches?
A cake stand works beautifully for displaying fruit, treats or cheeses. ‘Place cards add a personal touch and ensure everyone knows where to sit,’ says Stuart-Smith. ‘I also love putting a bag of chocolates at each setting.’
Want extra wow-factor?
‘Stripes are always a winner – they can be both sophisticated and fun,’ says Pell. ‘Use them on your tablecloth or napkins, or mix and match across cups, party hats and decorations for real impact.’ And for stress-free planning, print out our party planning checklist at our party planning checklist.
More Stories
