How to Set a Christmas Table: Plates, Layers and a Simple Checklist

A good Christmas table does not need to be crowded. Most of the effect comes from a few well chosen plates, a clear layering order and serving pieces that are the right size for the number of people you are feeding. This guide walks through how to layer a place setting, how many pieces to buy for 6 and 12 guests, and a checklist you can print and tick off before the day.

Layer the place setting from the bottom up

A layered setting looks generous and gives each course its own place on the table. From the bottom up:

1. Charger or base plate. Optional, but it frames the setting and keeps the table looking even while the first course is served.
2. Dinner plate. The main plate for the meal, sitting centred on the charger.
3. Salad or starter plate. Placed on top of the dinner plate, or set to the left if you are serving a soup or starter first.
4. Soup or side bowl. Sits on the starter plate for the first course and is cleared before the main.

At the end of the starter, clear the bowl and the starter plate, and remove the charger if you prefer a lighter table for the main course. Dessert plates and forks can be brought in with dessert or set above the dinner plate from the start.

Typical sizes

Sizes vary between collections, so always check the measurements on the product page. As a rough guide:

• Charger: around 33 cm
• Dinner plate: 26 to 28 cm
• Salad or starter plate: 19 to 21 cm
• Dessert or bread plate: 16 to 18 cm
• Soup or side bowl: around 18 to 20 cm across

Keeping the dinner plate the largest piece in the setting is what makes the layers look balanced. If your starter plate is almost as large, the table starts to feel cramped.

Piece count for 6 guests

For a six person table, this is a practical list:

• 6 chargers (optional)
• 6 dinner plates
• 6 salad or starter plates
• 6 dessert or bread plates
• 6 soup or side bowls, if you are serving a starter that needs them
• 6 cups and saucers for coffee after the meal
• 1 large serving platter for the main course
• 2 medium serving bowls for vegetables, potatoes or sauces
• 1 cake stand or dessert platter

It is worth buying one spare dinner plate. Breakage is more likely on busy days, and a single replacement is easier to find if you have a matching set.

Piece count for 12 guests

For twelve guests, double the place setting pieces. The serving side needs more thought, because one platter for twelve people usually feels crowded and slows down the meal. A workable list is:

• 12 chargers (optional)
• 12 dinner plates
• 12 salad or starter plates
• 12 dessert or bread plates
• 12 soup or side bowls, if needed
• 12 cups and saucers
• 2 large serving platters, or one platter and one carving board
• 3 or 4 medium serving bowls
• 1 gravy or sauce jug per side of the table
• 1 cake stand or two dessert platters

If the table is long, place serving dishes at intervals rather than all at one end. Guests reach them more easily and the table looks more even.

Choosing your pieces

If you are starting from scratch, a dinnerware set is usually the quickest route. A set gives you the core place setting pieces, such as dinner, salad and dessert plates and bowls, in one order. You can browse our dinnerware sets to compare sizes and collections.

For the serving side, look at our serving and cake sets. Platters and bowls that match your dinnerware make the table look planned, but a mix of two complementary collections also works if you prefer a more relaxed style.

For after-dinner coffee and tea, the coffee and tea sets include cups and saucers that suit the same table. If you already have a breakfast set in the same collection, those plates can also work as dessert or bread plates.

Our featured series, Dilek Ağacı and Verna, are good starting points if you want plates, bowls and serving pieces that sit together well on the table.

Materials, food safety and care

Every piece is made in our own factory in Istanbul, and our glaze is food safe. Our dinnerware is dishwasher safe and microwave safe, which makes reheating and clearing up easier during a busy holiday meal.

Some decorated pieces may have care notes that differ from plain ones, particularly if they have metallic detailing. Check the product page for the care instructions before you put a piece through the dishwasher or the microwave. A few minutes reading the notes now can save a favourite plate later.

Table ideas that do not need much time

• Mix one plain and one patterned piece. Use a plain dinner plate under a patterned starter plate. The pattern appears on the top layer only, so the table stays calm.
• Use a runner rather than a full cloth. It gives colour and texture while leaving room for the plates.
• Keep the centrepiece low. Candles in glass holders, a line of small greenery sprigs or a low bowl of fruit lets guests see across the table.
• Fold napkins simply. A single fold or a loose knot looks more relaxed than elaborate shapes and is quicker to finish.
• Set the table the day before. Chargers, plates and cups can be laid out in advance, leaving only the food and candles for the final hour.

A simple checklist for the day before

• Count the place settings and confirm the guest number.
• Lay out the charger, dinner plate, starter plate and bowl for each place.
• Place cups and saucers to the upper right of each setting.
• Set serving platters and bowls where they will be used.
• Check that the cake stand and dessert plates are ready.
• Set out candles, napkins and any table decorations, and move anything that blocks eye contact.

Gifting and ordering from abroad

A ceramic dinnerware set is a practical hostess gift, particularly for someone who entertains often. Because we sell directly from the manufacturer, you buy from the people who make the pieces without a middleman in between.

We ship worldwide. The courier cost is shown at checkout before you pay, and import duties or taxes are paid by the recipient according to the rules of the destination country. If you host regularly or run a café or small restaurant, our wholesale page explains how we work with trade buyers.

For the full range, visit the ERS Home products page. Planning your table a few weeks early gives you time to compare pieces, confirm sizes and make sure your set is complete before the first guests arrive.