Table setting tips for your Iftar and Eid table

The month of Ramadan followed by Eid ul-fitr is a special time in every Muslims’ life. It is a time of daily fasting followed by a special Iftar dinner where the table setting plays a very important role and therefore I would like to share some tips with you on how to make your table setting more special for your guests.  

It is during the times of Iftar en Eid that food served in your usual plates and dishes will simply not be good enough. Decorating the table and “dressing up” the food will give more of the Eid feeling to your meal.  

You will need the following for your Eid / Iftar table: 

Table linen.

Napkins.

Candles.

Fanoos.

Elegant stem- and glassware.

Dinner set.

Matching platters and dishes.

Good Utensils. 

The colour and the theme play a very important part when planning your table setting. You have to decide upon a colour and a theme for your table and according to that choose all the rest. From the table cloth to the platters and dishes you want to use should fit into the theme you have in mind. There are two things to always keep in mind. Colours and patterns should always be matching or you could use a contrast colour to the rest to create excitement on your table. Try and keep it plain and simple and do not try and overdo it with too many prints, patterns and colours.   

Here are some tips for setting your table:  

1. Get a Nice Table Cloth

It is amazing what a nice tablecloth can do to your normal dinner table. You can buy a nice table cloth or better yet, you can even ask a family member who can sew to make you one. You can even go a little bit further and have special placemats for each of your guests. The Key word however is “matching”! Ensure that your table cloth and placemats are matching and it will always be good to have either of them in a solid colour.  

For a very special table setting you can even buy a piece of traditional patterned fabric (Kheyameya) and use that for your table cloth.     

1. Use cloth not paper napkins

Why not use cloth instead of paper napkins. Paper napkins sometimes tend to look very cheap and cloth napkins give that formal look to the table. You can either match the same colour of your table cloth or even better yet try and contrast the colour which will look more appealing. There cloth napkins can easily be washed in your machine and used time after time.  

1. Use candles for soft lighting

Putting candles on your table as part of your table decoration and burning them will add ambience to your table and will give you that subtle soft lighting. It is always good to match the colour of your candles with the rest of your colour scheme. Make use of either big candles in the center of your table or use small candles at each of your settings. A grand candle stand with candles in the center of the table will also work well. Remember, it should all match the theme you have in mind for your table.  

1. Add a Fanoos

It will be a good idea to add a fanoos – Ramadan Lantern – to your table setting as a center piece. This is a lamp which is symbolic of the end of fast and women usually carry them to indicate it is time for dine together.   

1. Don’t use your regular kitchen glasses

You should use your best stem and glassware when setting up your Iftar / Eid table. Do not use your regular kitchen glasses as this is a special time for any Muslim.  It is always best to use non-painted glassware. Keep it plain and simple as there will be enough colours in your table cloth, napkins and table decorations. But, it all depends on the theme you have in mind. Sometimes a nice coloured glass will add to the look of the table 

1. Choose the perfect dinner set

The Dinner set used on your table is very important and will add to the look of the table or will have your table look horrendous if it is not matching.  It is always better to use plain coloured dinner sets if your table cloth is patterned. Then again, when using a solid colour table cloth then you can use a nice printed dinner set on your table.  For these festive occasions it is always good to use a nice dinner set made of Chinese porcelain with gold or silver embossing.  Remember to keep in mind your theme.  These silver and gold embossed dinner sets is better for a very formal table and colourful printed dinner sets better is you want to create a little bit of a casual look to your table.  

1. Matching platters and dishes

Another important thing to keep in mind when setting your table is the use of the perfect matching platters and dishes for your food.  The platters and dishes should also match your dinner set and the rest of your table decorations.  It is always wise to use plain white platters and dishes as white will match anything. Please never try and match printed serveware with printed dinner sets if they are not the same print.   

1. Utensils

Using utensils on your table is like using the right stem- and glassware.  Do not use your odd utensils which you use every single day of your life for you family. We tend to use odd kinds of utensils and add bits and piece here and there for our daily use. Make sure that you use your best utensils when setting up your table. You can even buy you a set of utensils which you keep for these special occasions.   

It is very important to leave enough space.  Never overcrowd your table with all the dishes that are to be served.  Bring them only to the table as your serve a meal. Therefore, when you serve the main meal then only bring the dishes of the main meal to the table with the accompanying side dishes. If you do not have enough space on the table then you can put these dishes on a smaller table. This smaller table should be ideally on the same level as your dinner table.  

I hope that you will enjoy planning and setting up your Iftar / Eid table and enjoy the special Eid times spent with your family and friend.