How to host a dinner party for six

4 min read

Six is the easiest number for a dinner party. Everyone can hear everyone, one conversation can hold the whole table, and it fits most dining tables without extra chairs. Our placemats come in sets of 6 for exactly this reason.

The table

A rectangular table of about six feet seats six comfortably: two on each long side and one at each end, or three on each side if the ends are tight. A 60-inch round seats six with room to spare. Allow roughly 24 inches of table edge for each guest.

The day before

Set the table the night before. Lay the six placemats first, an inch from the edge and centered on each chair, then plates, cutlery and glasses. On a long table, add a runner down the middle; the Gulnar Bloom runner with Gulnar Bloom placemats matches from end to end. Doing this a day early means the table is one job you no longer have to think about.

Seating

Put the host nearest the kitchen. Split couples so conversations cross the table, and seat the quietest guest next to the most talkative one. Place cards are not fussy for six; they save everyone the awkward pause at the door of the dining room.

Light and music

Low light flatters people and gold alike. Dim the overhead lights, put candles in holders along the runner and keep music quiet enough to talk over. Keep every flame off the placemats and runner.

Serving

For six, family-style serving works well: dishes down the center on trivets, passed hand to hand. Keep the centerpiece low so it doesn't compete with the food.

After dinner

Clearing is where vinyl earns its place. Stack the plates, then wipe each placemat with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap. Six placemats take about five minutes, and they're ready for the next dinner without a trip to the washing machine.