A dinner party at home for six: the table, the glasses, and the lighting
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Six people for dinner and four wine glasses in the cupboard. Here’s how you calculate what you need in terms of glasses, ice, and lighting, and what small things make a difference.
You've invited six people. In the cupboard are four wine glasses, two of which have a chip, and the rest of the company drinks from a water glass. The food is fine, but the table feels cluttered, and that's rarely due to the crockery: it's because there are just a few too few of everything.
A dinner at home revolves around numbers and light. If these two things are right, you can set a table that looks neat with the cheapest plate in the world. Below is the calculation and the little things that make all the difference.
Count first, then buy
Calculate two glasses per guest: one for water, one for everything else. On top of that, allow about a quarter extra for spills, swapping, and the guest who switches to something else halfway through. For six people, that comes out to fifteen glasses in total, not six.
Item
For 6 guests
Why
Glasses
12 to 15
2 per person plus extra for swapping and spills
Ice cubes
At least 1 liter
A tray of 33 cubes fills in a few hours; make two rounds in advance
Candles
4 to 6 light sources
Small, scattered lights work better than one large lamp above the table
Cutlery and plates
1 extra set per 4 guests
Something always falls on the floor or goes into the dishwasher too early
The fastest way to make a table look good is to turn off the main light and place four or five small light sources. Candles at different heights work better than a row of identical tea lights, as your eyes then have something to follow.
If you're celebrating something, a name candle for €1.00 on a dessert is a small detail that people remember.
Drinks: open, chill, pour
Most delays at the table occur when opening and pouring. Make sure you have two openers instead of one, and place them in different spots. A Muscle Man corkscrew costs €14.95; a bottle opener with magnet, 12.5 cm is €9.95 and stays on the fridge instead of disappearing into a drawer.
Two things elevate a table without having to buy new crockery. The first is a base layer: placemats, 32 x 42 cm cost €8.95 and ensure that different plates still belong together. The second is name cards for more than six people, so no one has to hesitate when sitting down. With decorative wooden clips, 10 pieces (€9.95), you can stand a card upright; a handful of decorative stones, 400 grams per tube (€2.95) fills a glass bowl or holds candles in place.
If you serve appetizers, a metal plate for €19.95 is a sturdy dish that you can also use outdoors. And for sauces: the Space Gun ketchup and mustard dispenser (€17.95) is mainly for a laugh, but it does keep the bottles off the table.
Afterwards: leftovers and tidying up
The part no one thinks about until it's half past eleven. Make sure you have two or three sealable containers or jars ready beforehand, so leftovers disappear into the fridge in two minutes instead of a row of dishes with foil. A storage jar with lid costs €9.95 and a milk mug with lid, 750ml also €9.95. For pouring oil, dressing, or leftover syrup into a smaller bottle, mini funnels, set of 10 pieces (€9.95) are more convenient than you'd expect, and a 300ml oil spray bottle (€9.95) prevents spills during cooking itself.
Count your glasses and ice before you buy anything else, set out more small light sources than you think you need, and have two openers ready. The rest is decoration. For glassware and cups, see the Glasses collection; for ambiance, check Candles; for openers and bar supplies, go to Drinks & Bar Accessories; and for the table, see Kitchen Utensils. If you're organizing something for a larger group and want to know what fits in a box or how to ship it to a different address, feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl.
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