Table setting for soldiers' canteens. On which side of the plate is the fork supposed to be placed? Beautiful festive table setting: rules

The main rule of upbringing, etiquette is a properly and beautifully laid table. Most people have questions about how the appliances should be laid out. Our article will help you understand everything.

The main principles of arranging dishes and appliances

In modern society, there are several general table setting rules. These include the following recommendations:

Arrangement of devices should be convenient and expedient. This is necessary so that everything you need is nearby and the hostess does not have to go for things.
Each device has its location and purpose. Similarly, it is customary to put spoons and knives with a sharp edge towards the dish and on the right side, and the spoon and fork should be on the table with the concave side.
It is customary to place a plate of snacks opposite the chair. Behind a plate of snacks, glasses are placed near the device. The wine on the table should be opened. Fruit is not served prior to arrival.
Crockery and tableware should be uniform. You also need to know that napkins, both paper and fabric, must be present.
It is necessary that the dishes and all utensils for the festive celebration be clean and tidy. There should not be any chips or stains on it.
It is necessary to treat the table setting with cutlery responsibly. Usually housewives use sets, that is, sets of dishes. Mandatory utensils include a fish spatula, a cake shovel, a lemon fork, a butter knife, and lemon or sugar tongs. On the table should be a tablecloth, napkins and a towel.

What tablecloth should be on the table when receiving guests?

For a celebration, a white look of fabric is especially suitable. It can accommodate dishes of any color and all kinds of flowers. On such a table there may be roses, porcelain dishes and crystal glasses. This atmosphere is very suitable for celebrating a wedding celebration.

To give a fresh look to your table, you can use a pink or greenish tablecloth with white patterns. For a delicate aroma, you can put vases with spring flowers, such as lilies of the valley or daffodils.

To create a summer mood, a yellow tablecloth with patterns of yellow or white undertones will look good on the table.

For the autumn season, an ocher or olive fabric is well suited, on which deep plates of fruit and bouquets with yellow leaves can be placed.

The choice of napkins when setting the table with cutlery

Handkerchief and lips are an integral part of the arrangement of devices. It helps keep it clean. A beautiful linen napkin will also be a decor item.

Serving professionals offer a considerable amount. But you should choose a method in which, after unwrapping, it will not be mint.

At breakfast or a dinner feast, as a rule, napkins appear folded in four, just in half or in the form of a triangle. For the sake of a gala dinner or lunch, they can be served in a more complex form, such as a cap or a candle.

Ready napkins should lie on plates for snacks. It is considered possible to exchange linen shawls for ordinary paper ones. There is nothing reprehensible in this.

The process of using a napkin

At the sight of a scarf for hands and lips on a snack plate, some of the guests are embarrassed and remove it to the edge of the table. This should not be done, because her calling is to help the guest during the meal.

A beautifully folded, clean, ironed napkin is a decorative item on the table. But its main purpose is not to stain a suit or evening dress. With the help of a napkin, they also wipe their lips and hands in the process of eating and after it.

Before you start eating, unfold the napkin and put it on your knees. Putting a napkin behind the collar or using it as a "bib" as with younger children is considered extremely indecent.

If your hands get dirty while eating, then they should be gently wiped with the near half of the handkerchief, while not lifting it from your knees.

To wipe your lips, you need to take a napkin with both hands, fold it in half, press it to your lips with point movements. Wiping your lips with a sweeping motion is the height of bad manners.

What should not be done at the table?

It is strictly forbidden to use a napkin as a handkerchief or a towel for very dirty hands. It is considered ugly behavior when a guest closely examines the tableware and, seeing a speck, tries to wipe it off with a handkerchief. Thus, the hosts will consider this act offensive, and the guest - doubting their cleanliness and tidiness.

After all the food is eaten, you do not need to fold the napkin in the same way as before, but you just need to put it on the right side of your dishes. The handkerchief should not be placed on the seat of a chair or hung on its back.

What should a snack table look like?

Plates for snacks are placed in advance. Salad bowls and gravy boats should be placed on snack dishes so that their handles are turned to the left. There should be a teaspoon in front of the salad bowl. The salad should have a tablespoon to serve. Bread is served on a special plate.

For a cold dish, it is necessary to provide a butter knife and fork. In this case, utensils such as plates and a knife for snacks, gravy boats, teaspoons, large round plates, forks are used.

Tables where there will be only cold appetizers are usually served with chinaware. Near each plate there should be a fork, a tablespoon, a knife. They should be positioned in such a way that the guest can take the device in his right hand, and the fish fork in his left. The knife is located on the patty plate on the right side, looking at the blade to the left side. At this point, the utensils used will be as follows: large plates, a salad bowl, forks and knives for snacks, a fork for fish, knives for fish.

Table setting for hot snacks

Hot snacks when setting the table with cutlery are displayed in the utensils in which they are made. Food utensils are located in a snack dish, which is covered with paper napkins.

Snacks that are served in small pots are eaten with special utensils, and snacks in a frying pan are eaten with forks or teaspoons. Dishes with food are positioned so that its handle is on the left side of the guest, and the handle of the dessert spoon should look to the right. In this table setting, the utensils are appetizer knives and dessert spoons; the main utensils are small pots and pans.

What should be the location of the soup table?

The broth or the first in the form of a puree soup is placed in special cups that stand on small plates. The soup spoon is located on a small plate or on the right side of it. The table knife and fork serve as serving broth serving devices. Sour cream is given in a gravy boat, located on a plate, on which there is also a dessert spoon. It is located on the left side. In this case, the following utensils are used: bouillon cups, deep plates, table knives, soup spoons, dessert spoons.

What should be on the table for cold drinks?

On a plate, as a rule, there is a container with a cold drink or juice. On the right side there is a straw for guests. Ice is served in a salad bowl located on a plate. In this situation, the used utensils and tableware are glasses, cups, ice tongs, a jug.

What should be the table for hot drinks?

Coffee or cocoa is offered in special cups, sugar in a sugar bowl, milk in a milk jug. Jam is served in a bowl, located on a plate, on which lies a dessert spoon.

In a cezve with an elongated handle, it is located on the right side of the plate along with a dessert spoon. On the left side can be a glass of cool water.

On the right side of the guest, as a rule, there is cream in a bowl. Glasses are usually served in a glass. Here it should be on a plate, on which lie a small spoon and straws. The cutlery and utensils used for this table are bowls, milk jug, glasses, teaspoons.

How should the tea table be set?

In the case when tea is served in cups or glasses with saucers, there should be a teapot with tea leaves and a larger teapot with hot boiled water on the table, sugar in pieces in a bowl with tweezers. The handle of the glass should be on the left side, and on the saucer the teaspoon should be handled on the right side. Jam from berries or fruits, linden or flower honey, jam are usually on the left side of the guest.

The lemon is served in a bowl or in a tray with a two-pronged dessert fork designed to lay it out. A vase with lemon is placed on the right side of the guest. A jug of milk is placed on a plate, usually on the right side.

As a result of all that has been said, when serving this, there are such devices and utensils as tea cups with saucers, glasses, a small teapot for tea leaves, a large kettle for boiling water, a jug, a bowl, a dessert spoon.

Almost anyone can set the table correctly. It all depends on the money and the taste of the person. Therefore, table setting can be safely called art. It is very important to choose the right composition so that the color scheme of the interior style is in harmony with the room. In addition, there are rules for serving cutlery, which, depending on the type of feast and menu, will teach anyone how to set the table beautifully and correctly.

Rules for serving cutlery

Tablecloth

First, the table is covered with an ironed and clean tablecloth. The ends of the tablecloth should hang evenly from all sides of the table, it is desirable that its corners cover all the legs of the table.

Plates

Then the plates are arranged. They must be wiped to a shine with a napkin or towel.

The snack plate should be placed strictly opposite each chair, about two centimeters from the edge of the table.

A pie plate is placed to the left of the diner at a distance of no more than ten centimeters. The center of the plates should be in line. But you can put a few plates, depending on the feast.

Basic Rules:

The deep plate is intended for the main dish.
Dessert plate can be served as needed.
Cutlery should be positioned so as not to get confused when using them: the fork and knife are next to the main dish, the dessert spoon lies to the right behind the plate.
When serving wine, the corresponding glass should be placed to the right behind the knife, in case of serving several drinks (water, juices), the rest of the glasses are placed there.
A plate of bread must be served with Italian dishes.
Spaghetti, pasta is consumed with a fork and spoon, and a butter knife is in a bread plate.
With Italian dishes, water is always provided. Accordingly, the glass should be located closer to the dish. A wine glass is placed on the top left behind a glass of water.

Cutlery

Forks are placed with the tip up on the left side, and knives on the right, the blade should be directed towards the plate. A soup spoon is placed next to the knife.

In the case when the menu provides for the serving of several dishes, they proceed as follows: a table knife lies at the plate, a fish knife is on the right, and a snack bar is placed last.

When serving butter with bread, put a small butter knife on the patty plate.

If soup is served on the menu, then the soup spoon is placed between the fish and snack knife.

If there is no fish dish, a spoon can be put instead of a fish knife.

Snack, fish and table forks should be placed to the left of the plates, when laying out, the forks should match the knives. The distance between devices should not exceed one centimeter.

For ease of use of cutlery, the ends of their handles, together with plates, should be located two centimeters from the end of the table.

Tableware

Next comes the turn of crystal (glass) dishes. If only water is supplied, then a glass or a glass is placed in the center behind each plate. If fruit drink or kvass is served, they put not a glass, but a mug with a handle towards the right.

When serving alcoholic beverages, the corresponding dishes are placed on the right, next to the glass. If several items are provided for drinks, then the glass must be shifted to the left side, relative to the center of the plate, on the right side, the rest of the items are lined up in one line.

It is not customary to put more than three items in one row. Items for drinks when fully served are placed in two rows. A distance of at least one centimeter should be observed between objects.

A soup cup and a deep plate are placed on a dish-stand. On the right is a soup spoon, a fork and a knife for snacks. The fork and knife for the main course are located near the plate.

The dessert spoon is placed behind the plate. The white wine glass is on the top right behind the soup spoon. If a water supply is provided, the glass must be placed to the left behind the wine glass.

Next to the dish-stand, just above the forks on the left is a plate for bread. Cutlery should be placed in the following order: a soup spoon - a fish knife next to the right, a fish fork lies on the left edge, a knife and fork should lie near the plate with the main course.

Napkins

Napkins are an indispensable attribute of proper table setting. They are laid out immediately when placing dishes, but most often napkins are placed under the appliances on the table.

Today, there are a huge number of ways to roll napkins.

Decorations

Upon completion of the table setting, they put vases with flowers, devices with various spices or other elements for decoration.

Remember! Salt and pepper should be placed in the middle of the table on special stands. You can also put bottles of vinegar, sauces and vegetable oil.

Flowers on the table can be placed in any dish. Small vases are an excellent solution, as bouquets should not obscure the dishes and people sitting at the table.

Videos serving cutlery

Every day there are more and more restaurants in Tashkent, and offers to spend an unforgettable evening are more and more tempting. We offer you to immerse yourself in restaurant etiquette and learn some simple rules for competent restaurant service consumers. By stacking cutlery one way or another on your plate, you give various signs to the waiter, which can be caught and taken into account by competent staff.

Suppose during the feast you need to “powder your nose” or “breathe fresh air”, and you move away from the waiter’s line of sight. The duties of a waiter include maintaining order, cleanliness, and so on. In this case, to show that the plate and cutlery “do not need to be taken away!” - use a categorical gesture.

"You don't have to take it away!"

The work of a professional waiter is invisible to guests. Being under professional courtship, you do not even have time to notice how snack plates are changed, appliances are updated, snacks are laid out, drinks are topped up. Sometimes you just want to stop and take a break.

As for the "pause", there are several options:

"Pause"

1. Provided there is an abundance of goodies in your plate, you can use only free space on the rim. Based on this, we put the cutlery, touching the edge of the plate with the blade, touching the surface of the table with the handles. Knife on the right, fork on the left.

"Pause"

2. In the case of free space, put the knife and fork on the plate, the letter "L". The tip of the knife looks to the left, and the tines of the fork look to the right, while the handles of the devices hang over the table. The distance between the tines of the fork and the knife can be a sign that the dish was rather small in size, in other establishments the same dish is served in a larger output.

"Pause"

3. Classic regular pause. If you are only using a snack or dinner fork, then the fork will be on the right.

We make it clear that the meal is over and you need to move on to the next dish. There are several gestures to indicate this:

Finished the meal

Devices can be arranged, as on a clock, the time is half past six. This option is convenient for collecting used dishes: the waiter does not cross the guest's personal space.

Finished the meal

Lay the fork and knife parallel to each other, handles down. The tip of the knife and the tines of the fork should be pointing up. A large distance between the tines of the fork and the blade of the knife may indicate that the dish was large enough or satisfying enough to satisfy your taste buds for the evening.

Finished the meal

The following neutral option does not indicate the size in any way
of the dish served, may indicate that everything was quite harmonious. It is also convenient for waiters when collecting dishes.

“Looking forward to the next dish!”

If you are in a hurry, there is an option to show the staff that today the service will be fast, the serving of dishes and the collection of dishes will be prompt. Fold the fork with the knife cross over, with the knife edge to the left, the fork tines should look up.

“The dish is simply excellent!”

If you were unexpectedly pleased with the served dish, and you don’t want to leave the workers of the invisible front unattended, put together another tricky combination. The waiter will definitely pay attention to the friendly gesture and will definitely bring good news to the cook.

"Did not like"

It also happens that the dish does not correspond to visual and taste representations. There can be many reasons, but the fact remains in your plate. Such symbolism will not be particularly pleasant for the staff, but there is reason to ask about the underlying reasons for such an assessment. The waiter can clarify the shortcomings and, after agreeing with the manager, there is a chance to leave a good impression about the establishment with a small decorated dessert from the establishment itself.

"Service was not good"

If you come across a waiter with a bad mood, moreover, he spoiled it for you, there is an option that can make it clear that “the service was not to your liking!”. This gesture can be used if, when serving, they first brought the steaks, when the steaks were already half eaten, they brought bread, and when the steaks were over, they brought the sauce to the steaks. It doesn't happen very often, does it? Based on the fact that the serving and attendants were the other way around, we put the devices of the “no need to take away” option and turn the plate 180 °. Devices can be directly put up by handles. After such an attitude of the service personnel to the guests, the location of the devices on the left or right is not taken into account. The very fact that the service is wrong is shown by inverted instruments.

"Lack of a friendly smile"

In the case of quite tolerable service, but lack of hospitality, in the process of eating food, you can make a demonstrative short-term pause to the attendants with the gesture “Not enough friendly smile!”. So you remind the waiters of hospitality, courtesy, goodwill and smiling.

"Bring the Complaint Book"

The most “terrible” gesture of the language of cutlery is “bring a mournful book!”. As a basis, we take the combination “finished the meal” with a parallel arrangement of devices and figuratively turn it over 180 °. Devices can be placed directly on the surface of the dish with the handles up. Which device is on the left, which is on the right, in this situation it does not matter.

“I liked everything very much!”

If you were satisfied with the dishes, service and plan to become a regular guest, use the combination "I liked everything very much!". The only caveat of this position is that it is undesirable to insert the knife into the middle tines of the fork, as this will be interpreted as “I didn’t like the dish!”. To contact the blade of the knife with the teeth of the fork, you must use the extreme teeth.

“Everything is just wonderful!”

Finally, I would like to present a slightly flirtatious gesture, similar to a sitting girl in a “leg to foot” position. The most important thing is that this capricious person was 100% satisfied. They raised the tone and mood, and this is all thanks to the well-coordinated work of the whole team of the hospitable establishment. The guest can address this gesture as a token of gratitude to his companion.

Knowing such simple combinations of instrument locations, you can show your attitude to everything that happens, but also give signs to competent staff. The latter, in turn, will be able to quickly correct the situation, if it is still possible.

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What hostess does not dream of surprising guests with her culinary skills at the festive table? But to produce the maximum effect, you need to know how to properly set the table at home. The correct arrangement of dishes and appliances creates a special atmosphere. What do you need to know about serving? How to arrange a table for a birthday, new year, family breakfast, lunch, dinner?

Important Rules of Etiquette

Table setting is not only the correct arrangement of cutlery, but also its design. The choice of decoration elements and a set of dishes, first of all, depend on the format of the meal (birthday, family dinner, business dinner, wedding, etc.).

But some rules remain unchanged.

The banquet room should be bright, well ventilated and, of course, large enough to accommodate all the invited guests.
Crockery and cutlery must be clean and polished. Make sure there are no water stains on them.
The table can be of any shape, but its size should be selected taking into account the number of guests. It is optimal if one person has 80 cm of table length.
The tablecloth should be well-ironed, clean and fit the size of the table. That's right, if its edges hang down by 30 cm, and the corners cover the legs.
Near each plate, knives, spoons, forks, glasses should be placed in the correct order.
In addition to devices for individual use, auxiliary devices should be present on the table. They are necessary for imposing food from common dishes.
The type of instruments and location must be the same.
Unsuitable sets, chipped corners, bent instruments, dull knives are not allowed.

To properly cover the table with a tablecloth at home, first place the folded product on the surface, and then, lifting the edges, sharply lower your hands down. Then it will fit perfectly.

Serving Order

Whether it's a birthday or a meal at home with the family, according to the rules of etiquette, you need to set the table in a certain order.

The table is covered with a tablecloth.
Plates are placed opposite the chairs.
Then cutlery is laid out.
Now it's the turn of glasses, glasses, glasses.
At the next stage, dishes are placed on the table.
Napkin holders are taken out.
Sets of spices, salt are laid out.
The table is beautifully decorated with flowers, candles or original compositions.

Placement of cutlery

At first glance, it seems that remembering the rules for placing appliances on the table is very difficult. But in fact, they are quite simple and designed for convenience. All cutlery is arranged in the order of use, the extreme ones are intended for first courses.

So, the basic rules.

Plates are located in the center of the seat 2 cm from the edge of the table. If several dishes are served for a birthday or other holiday, then deep dishes can be put on shallow ones. Bread (pie) plates are placed on the left hand, at a distance of about 10 cm.
As for spoons, knives and forks, they are laid out around the plate with the tip up (the blade of the knife looks at the plate). Forks are on the left and knives are on the right. If dessert is expected, then the soup spoon is placed above the plate, otherwise, on the right hand, to the knife. For a big holiday, such as a birthday, a set of cutlery should include a small snack fork, knife, cutlery for fish or other specific dishes (depending on the menu). There should be a distance of 1 cm between the plate and the cutlery.
Dishes for drinks should be on the right hand. If you plan to serve wine and water at the same time, then the drink that is more in harmony with the dish served first is placed closer. The nearest glass, wine glass or glass should be on the line of intersection of the first knife and plate. If there is a handle on the dishes, then it turns to the right. More than three items per guest is considered unacceptable.

Many people get confused about the rules for placing cutlery on the table, so we suggest studying them visually.

Important details: napkins and sets for spices and seasonings

Napkins are an indispensable part of table setting. There are linen and paper products. The former are placed under deep dishes (if there is no snack plate) or on their feet. Paper napkins are placed in a napkin holder at arm's length. Additionally, you can roll them into fancy shapes, such as roses, envelopes, various geometric shapes or boats, animals (for a children's birthday). If napkins are intended not only to decorate the table, then it is important that they unfold easily.

When setting the table, it is important not to forget about the set of spices and seasonings. It must have salt and pepper on it. No need to fill the containers to the very brim, it will be enough to pour seasonings in half. If meat dishes are present on the menu, then it is advisable to put mustard and horseradish on the table.

We serve the home table

On weekends, the family, as a rule, gathers at home in full force, the hostess prepares her favorite delicious dishes, and sincere conversations are held over the meal. This is the best time to give breakfast, lunch and dinner a special charm and comfort with the help of proper table setting. Even at home, you can create a holiday atmosphere. And if there are children in the family, then this will serve as an excellent lesson on how to behave in society, why various cutlery is needed and how to use them.

Breakfast.

An aesthetic meal in the morning sets the mood for the rest of the day. To serve dishes beautifully, you need to take into account some nuances. First of all, you need to arrange snack plates, and then cups along with saucers and a spoon. The latter are placed in the middle of the table so that everyone can easily get them. If eggs are planned for breakfast, then they are served in a special stand on a high leg. She should stand on a small saucer, and a spoon for eggs is placed on it. Porridge is poured into a deep bowl, which is placed on top of a snack plate. Pastries are served on a wide dish, butter, honey, jam or jam should also be present. For butter, each participant in the meal is given a small knife. Be sure to have a napkin holder with napkins on the table. It will be beautiful if they are made in the same style as the heater for the kettle. Don't forget salt and sugar.

Dinner.

During the day, it is usually customary to serve first, second courses, as well as dessert. Therefore, for proper table setting at home, you will need a few more cutlery for dinner than for breakfast. For common dishes, you will need auxiliary spoons, spatulas and forks. Bouillon cups or deep plates are placed at snack bars, and dessert ones are brought at the end, when the first and second courses have already been eaten, and the used dishes have been tidied up. Do not forget about knives for meat and fish. But for scrambled eggs, meatballs, zrazy and cutlets, it will be enough to serve forks.

Dinner.

Evening serving for dinner is practically no different from morning. Usually pancakes, pancakes or a pie are beautifully served on a common dish. Dessert plates are placed immediately, and dessert forks or spoons are placed on the right side of them. If you want to give the dinner a romantic atmosphere, then candles in candlesticks are placed on the table and next to it.

Festive table setting

For a festive lunch or dinner, you need to take care of the decor elements. Here, not only the traditional rules of table setting are important, but also the combination of colors and the sense of style of the hostess.

So, what should be considered when preparing for the holiday?

Tablecloth and napkins. The color scheme can be any, but it is important that the tablecloth is in harmony with the napkins. You can use universal white, delicate shades of lilac, blue, green. Rich pink, red and burgundy colors will come in handy for a romantic dinner. It is desirable to give napkins an unusual shape or simply roll them into tubes and beautifully tie them with a contrasting satin ribbon.
Crockery, cutlery. The banquet table will be decorated with dishes in the form of non-standard geometric shapes, appliances with curved, designer handles. A snow-white porcelain set will look the most advantageous. However, if the tablecloth and napkins are also white, you can choose a set of dishes with a border.
Candles. This element of decor is more appropriate for a wedding or a romantic dinner, but for a birthday it is better to limit yourself to candles on a cake. It should be remembered that the main role is played by the candlestick. It can be tall and thin, or candles can float in flat bowls filled with water and flower petals.
Flowers. When decorating a table with flowers, it is important to choose the right vases. It is better to leave high ones for bouquets presented for a birthday to a birthday man. For serving, low vases are more suitable, which will not block the view for guests. You should also take care of the moderate aroma of flowers, it should not mix with the smell of dishes or interrupt it.
original compositions. Various fruit towers will look beautiful on the festive table. Depending on the season, you can create decorations from spruce branches, cones, mountain ash, sea stones, sand, etc. Such compositions can then be arranged at home. DIY decor items are at the height of fashion.
Children's table setting. For a birthday party for younger guests, it is better to choose plastic dishes and limit yourself to safe appliances without sharp ends. The tablecloth is more suitable multi-colored, with cartoon characters and fairy tales. To napkins, folded in a fancy shape, you can put small gifts. If the little princess has a birthday, then the table can be decorated with flowers. However, there should not be too many of them, it is better to limit yourself to balloons and paper garlands. Do not forget to prepare signs with the names of the little guests at each seat, this will help to avoid confusion at the holiday.

A properly and beautifully served festive table will make an unforgettable impression on guests. And it’s not even about etiquette at all - it’s always nice when order reigns at home, and a special atmosphere of comfort hovers in the air. Therefore, it is very important that a woman knows how to set the table correctly, knows all the rules for decorating and strictly follows them.

A holiday is a good mood, meeting with friends and family, fun and, of course, a festive table with mouth-watering and delicious dishes. Housewives try to cook exquisite and varied delicacies to please their household and guests. For the festive table, along with the taste of cooked dishes, the correct and beautiful table setting and table decoration are of great importance. Beautifully presented dishes and the use of various decorative attributes can make even an ordinary dinner unforgettable. And for a celebration, table setting is of great importance and can turn a feast into an aesthetic pleasure and create a special feeling of a holiday.

Table setting is the correct competent arrangement of appliances and dishes and decorative design, thanks to which you can create a homely cozy atmosphere or a pompous and elegant atmosphere corresponding to the celebration. The general decoration of the table should be decorated in a common unified style, not overloaded with unnecessary dining and decorative elements, and should correspond to the theme of the holiday.

For various celebrations, special decor elements are used, indicating compliance with a particular holiday. All these elements are additional decoration that decorates the table and creates a general mood. But there are basic components without which serving a festive table is impossible: cutlery, porcelain and glassware, textiles and paper products. These components should be correctly and conveniently placed on the table, creating a single harmonious style.