The spare place kept nearby
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A spare setting kept in a cupboard nearby can make a small change in numbers easier to handle. It does not need to occupy the table before you know it is needed.
Gather a suitable clean plate, glass, utensils and napkin in a practical location. Make sure an additional person could actually sit comfortably; spare dishes do not create room for another chair. Check the table in its occupied arrangement rather than judging only the empty spaces.
A plain plum napkin can join a mixed group without demanding another matching set. If numbers change, move the decorative object away first and adapt the meal sensibly. The preparation is useful when it gives you a little flexibility without making a larger gathering seem possible where it is not.