Hosting At Home? This Is The Ultimate Guide To Building The Perfect Dinner Party Set Up
set that table
By Victoria Lewis | 30th October 2026So, you need some dinner party inspiration. You’ve come to the right place; take a seat. Maybe you’ve bought a new place, or maybe you’re simply longing for a refresh; rejigging your dining set-up is a mighty fine place to start. Give your new dining table the five-star makeover it deserves, be known as the one with the best dinner party set-up, and find elevated pieces that will live with you for years. Not only will you be the host with the most, but you’ll have a set-up that can make even the most mundane nights feel like a special occasion. Consider this your step-by-step guide to building a dining setup straight from your Pinterest board.
Step 1: Tablecloth
Something you’ve probably become accustomed to when growing up, a tablecloth is synonymous with special occasions. Vital for creating an instantly sophisticated look, the tablecloth is the necessary start to any elegant dinner party set-up (and a forever addition to the linen cupboard).
After some inspiration? A linen-like white tablecloth adds a fresh touch to evening looks and acts as a clean backdrop to layer your fun, colourful pieces on top of. Think of it like a canvas, ready for you to paint your perfect dining look on. Then, as a little bonus, we layer a table runner on top for a bit of design flair. It’s a shortcut to adding some oomph to an easy dining setup and is easy to pair with even your simplest white dinnerware.
Step 2: Place mats
With the tablecloth acting as a backdrop, start your desired tablescape easily and affordably with playful place mats. And just like your OOTD, you can match your placemat to your dinner party mood.
Placemats are easy to interchange, completely switching up the look when paired with dinnerware for a refreshed look every time. Add texture to the look with woven rattan, add interest with curved forms and European-inspired coastal motifs, or you can never go wrong with a solid stripe. And if you want to go the extra mile, match your placemat to your napery for a cohesive look.
Step 3: Plates
If the goal of your placemats and tablecloth was to set the scene, your plates should be the statement makers in the tablescape. Though they should be in keeping with your colour scheme, plates don’t have to be plain. Sturdy, versatile, but interesting dinnerware makes a great base to build your signature dining look upon. Something that speaks to you will never go out of style. Keep it cool and classy by adding subtle interest with a colourful-rimmed plate, perfect to style any way you please, or go all out by dining on plates with personality-filled motifs.
Nowadays, plates are getting a subtle organic edge, a textured finish, or an unusual shape, finished with an interesting pattern or glaze. If you’re a work smarter, not harder kind of homeowner, a dinnerware set, with everything from your serving plates to bowls, is a sure-fire way to keep things looking cohesive without lifting a finger.
Are you clean and minimal? Are you cool and coastal? Are you eclectic and whimsical? No matter! With such an extensive range, Target has plates for every design taste.
And while you’re here, please do us all a favour and treat yourself to some matching knives and forks. There is no better way to ruin the vibe of your dining room setup than with mismatched cutlery. Keep it nice, sleek, and simple with a Target cutlery set that includes the lot, so you’re set from teaspoons to knives and forks, and ready to cater for plenty of guests around the dinner table.
Step 4: Signature drinkware
Now that the foundation is set, don’t let the place settings down with ordinary drinkware. Guests don’t want to drink their spritz out of any old glass. Your glassware says a lot about you, so play around with it. You want to go for something elevated, with a point of difference that helps the look stand out. For instance, if you’ve gone for a simple colour palette, combine textured plates with tinted glassware for some added oomph.
Don’t sleep on buying different types of drinkware to cater for every occasion either. We say starting with an interesting set of water glasses and some well-crafted wine glasses is the way to go.
The standard rules of the dinner party glassware setup are as follows: for a casual sort of set-up, a water glass and a general-use wine glass will suffice, but if you’re upping the ante for a more formal dinner, you’ll want to add a Champagne flute and separate red or white wine glasses depending on the guests’ drink of choice. And, most importantly, glasses are always to be placed on the right-hand side of the place setting.
And of course, if you are worried about breakage, opt for a sturdy set of plastic drinkware for those dinner parties that call for just one more pour.
Step 5: Mood lighting
You’ve got your chic dinnerware, you’ve got your glassware; now it’s time to set the mood. And the safest way to do so? LED candles. Be it a tall taper or a statement pillar, candles dotted around the table add ambience to the most low-key of nights. Target has got you covered with faux candles that keep things fire-safe but still warm the mood. In a world where overhead lighting is interior design’s favourite faux pas, when it comes to creating dinner party ambience, fire-safe candles will do the heavy lifting.
Step 6: Servingware
It’s not just the individual place settings you need to worry about. Statement servingware is a necessity for all good hosts. Besides, every dinner party needs to be christened with a hearty charcuterie board, so give it the base it deserves. Though it might not be the first thing you think of, you’ll find you pull out a serving platter at every opportunity. Perfect for serving share plates on everyday evenings or plating up platters piled high with goodies for guests.
We are opting for warm timber or a more modern edge with a curved chrome silhouette. No matter your style, Target’s dining range has you covered.
Step 7: The finishing touches
You’ve come a long way, but you’re not done yet. Sometimes, it’s the simplest pieces that can add a touch of design flair. So, for the finishing touches, add some extra elegance to the dinner table with elevated salt and pepper shakers, a striking centrepiece, and some statement napkin rings.
A big part of creating an inviting space is ensuring it aligns with your own personal aesthetic. Nothing says “I have my home together” quite like a matching set of salt and pepper shakers that don’t disrupt the look with loud branding, or a fresh bouquet in a vase acting as a classy table centrepiece. It’s the little things that add a touch of luxury to the evening.
There you have it, folks. You are ready to up your dinner party game one piece at a time. Ready to get shopping? Have a perusal of Target’s full dining collection to transform your tablescape today or just simply get some inspiration for your next dinner party.
This article is sponsored by Target and proudly endorsed by Style. We only promote brands and companies that we love and think our readers will love too!
