How to set the table by the book

1. Here's what you'll need for 6 people:
6 cutting boards
6 dinner, salad and bread plates
6 sets of dinner and dessert cutlery
6 water glasses
6 wine glasses
A tablecloth, fabric to create a large tablecloth and a runner
Vintage books, flowers and candles

2. The first step is to pick a theme and a color scheme. We decided to throw a book club gathering, but no matter what direction you choose, consider your personality and style, the season, and the event itself. For the book club, get creative by gathering some vintage books and opt for light colors, such neutral white accented with shades of sky blue.

3. To set the foundation for your table, select your textiles. The tablecloths will protect it, while the runners define each guest’s dining space. For the first layer, use fabric hemmed just above the floor. Next, add a standard-size table cloth on top. Last, add custom-sewn runners in your contrasting accent color.

4. Flatware is everything when you’re setting the table. Begin with the charger (we chose a wooden chopping board for a cool contrast), building up to include the dinner plate, salad plate, soup bowl, bread plate, and cutlery for both dinner and dessert. For a sweet personal touch, wrap a book page around the cloth napkin to serve as a place card.

5. Don’t let the wine glass situation stress you. We totally believe in enjoying what you love, so forget those stale rules of pairing white with fish and red with meat. You make the rules! Give each guest one glass each for water, white and red wines. If they don’t want one, just remove the glass.

6. It’s the finishing touch that adds the most character. You can use decorative items you already have in your home or flowers you’ve gathered from outdoors, but just remember not to make your centerpieces too high. You want to see your guests from across the table, right? To create a balanced composition, arrange items in groups of odd numbers. And for the best possible culinary experience, just say no to scented candles or highly fragrant flowers.