When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Mary Hollis Huddleston Setting a perfectly laid table is an essential part of hosting.

While there are certain protocols for basic, casual, and formal table settings, there is some flexibility. Get creative based on the items you already own and what you’ll be serving. For a formal ...

Like many details we tend to brush off in our hurried daily lives, the art of proper table setting seems to be getting lost in the ether. While it's true that we've become a casual society, there are ...