Table dressing is an art. It requires some imagination, forethought and decoration.

To create an inviting Thanksgiving table, you’ll need about 15 minutes and some dishes. Don’t panic if you lack a special set of holiday china, for everyday plates and silverware will suffice. Fall-themed placemats and napkins can give the arrangement the formality you seek.

After you’ve determined the number of guests, get the appropriate number of chairs and place them around the table. Use namecards to assign seating; this can add a touch of elegance. The namecards don’t have to be ordered from a printshop; you can make your own with some white card paper and a computer.

The seating order is up to you; however, etiquette experts from Home Interior Decoration magazine say that “boy-girl-boy-girl” order is the most natural and allows for optimal conversation.

After the chairs are arranged, cover the table with a tablecloth. For Thanksgiving, you want colors of light brown, orange or off white. Plastic covers with pumpkins, pilgrims or Indians are good choices for the kids’ table.

If you don’t have a tablecloth, use a fall-themed placemat to frame each plate. Placemats can be used with tablecloths too, but make sure the two don’t clash. If the tablecloth is printed, use a solid color for the placemat, or vice versa.

Once the tablecloth and/or placemats are in place, get the plates and count out the silverware. The dinner fork sits to the left of the plate, and the knife and spoon go on the right. Make sure that the knife’s blade faces toward the plate’s center.

Additional flatware items are placed next to their companion pieces. The salad fork sits between the dinner fork and the plate, and the soup spoon goes between the regular spoon and the knife.

The flatware items should be lined 1 to 2 inches above the bottom of the placemat, or table edge if there’s no placemat.

Napkins should be placed to the left of the dinner fork. Use fall-colored linen ones to align with the theme.

Next comes the glassware. Formal dinners usually call for a water glass, wine glass and coffee cup.

Salt and pepper should be within reach of all guests. Use one set per four guests.

The finishing touch to your table setting is the decoration. A candle-framed centerpiece, like a wreath or cornucopia, is inexpensive but beautiful.

For more tips on setting the perfect holiday table pick up a copy of the Sunday, Nov. 9 Temple Daily Telegram.