When it comes to entertaining a large group at a sit-down dinner, it can be challenging to make everything look right. Chances are you don’t have service for 14. You may have enough for eight or 10, ...

Mackenzie Schmidt is the Home and Travel Editor for PEOPLE. She's worked at PEOPLE for over five years as a writer and editor on the Lifestyle team. Real talk: You eat all your meals on the couch.

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 ...