How to Set a Buffet Table

Entertaining can be stressful if you’re trying to plan and execute a sit down dinner for your guests. Serving issues, special diets, and the timing of each course all come into play. The best way to address these entertaining headaches is to set a buffet table for your guests to enjoy at their leisure. Buffet tables can be as elegant, or as casual, as you wish. Hosting a formal occasion is not diminished by having a buffet table; it can be enhanced by the sparkling crystal and the finely polished silver. Buffet tables allow your guests to create their plates according to their tastes and diets. They can take as much, or as little, as they like, and if something doesn’t suit them, there are no embarrassing excuses to make to the host.

Setting your buffet table properly is a matter of design, both for your food and for the appearance of your table.

The Food

Whether you’re having a dinner party or a casual get together with hors d'oeuvres, your food is an important part of any gathering. Serving warm food on a buffet table requires chafing dishes of some kind, so plan accordingly. If you’re using electric chafing dishes, your buffet table will likely need to be against the wall so you have easy access to an outlet. Not using both sides of your buffet table may limit the amount of trays you are able to place and the variety of foods you serve. Measure your buffet table and allow around 3 inches between serving dishes. This is a good rule of thumb for both hot and cold items. It’s appropriate to have at least two hot appetizers or hors d’oeuvres for a small buffet, more if you are hosting a more formal party. Your cold items can be as simple as fruit or vegetables with dip. Depending on how long you plan to keep the buffet set up, you may need to arrange to keep the cool food items chilly. No one likes room temperature shrimp; so plan your food based on your available table space and with adequate serving dishes in mind.

Remember to leave room for your dishes, utensils, and napkins. Dress your buffet table formally with fine china and silver, or go for a more casual look with everyday pieces. Regardless of what type of plates and cutlery you use, make a place for them on your buffet table. Allow for at least one centerpiece, two or more if your buffet table is longer. Centerpieces should be placed every 4 or so feet, so if your table is more than eight feet long, you will likely need more than one centerpiece.

The Design

Setting a buffet table that is against the wall limits the direction that your guests should flow, so you need to design the table in a logical progression that is still pleasing to the eye. Begin by placing a tablecloth over the buffet table. White is a beautiful, clean background for silver, but use whatever color you enjoy and that goes with the occasion. You can layer your tablecloth for a more dramatic effect, or place a runner down the center for interest.

Next, place the centerpiece, or centerpieces, at the back of the table, against the wall. One centerpiece in the middle of your table design is sufficient for an eight to ten foot table, but any larger than that should really have more than one. Placing candles about one foot on either side of the centerpiece can stretch the visual appearance of your table design. Use tall, thin, candlesticks to avoid taking up too much space on your buffet. Your centerpiece can be a tall vase of flowers, or a lower bowl of fruit. The size should be comparable with the other serving dishes on your buffet. For example, you wouldn’t want a low bowl of apples or flowers to be dwarfed by tall chafing dishes. Centerpieces should stand out and make a statement about your table. Height is your friend more often than not; taller centerpieces create more interest so get creative with your centerpiece.

Place the plates at one end of the buffet and the cutlery and napkins at the other end of the buffet. This allows your guests to serve themselves without trying to balance their cutlery at the same time. Your chafing dishes can be placed next, in a row or spaced out along the serving area. Some people prefer to place all of the hot foods next to each other, and this works if your table is set with larger serving dishes. Bring a sense of balance and symmetry to your buffet table. Too many large pieces grouped together can cause one side of the table to be visually heavy. Try alternating smaller serving platters with taller chafing dishes for a more pleasing overall design. Fill in any spaces with small bowls of mints, nuts, or flowers.

Setting a buffet table in the center of the room so that both sides can be used allows for more choices regarding placement and design. Once you have your table cloth set, place your centerpiece or pieces in the middle of the table. Your plates, cutlery and napkins can go on the same end of the table as your guests will likely make a trip all the way around.

The Flow

Arranging your table for the best flow is a matter of designing the end of the buffet to coincide with an exit for the room. Your guests should be able to serve themselves and leave the area without making their way through the guests in line for the buffet.

It’s best to have a separate table for drinks, whether that space is a bar or a smaller buffet table set up in close proximity to the buffet table, but far enough away to allow for a smooth flow between the two.

Creating a beautiful buffet table for your friends and family allows you more free time to mix and mingle with your guests. Entertaining is a breeze when you plan ahead and set the tone for a relaxed evening.