Dumb adulting question

[MiddleClassProblem]

Soooo we have a new dining table 🎉🎊

What do you put on your dining table protection wise when dining? DM has a table protector (with extra leaves for when extended - ours is extendable too), tablecloth (cotton) and fabric placemats.

I’m not drawn to table cloths, but would I be silly to just use solid placemats and heat mats? I have no idea where a table protector would go when not in use and it seems like a lot of faff, especially if I need extra leaves too.

Whilst I love my new dining table, I have promised myself not to fall for it too hard as it will have inevitable permanent stains and scratches from living with DD...

Place mats!

And to add, I’d feel like a full on protector would mean you never get to actually enjoy the table. A bit like leaving plastic covers on sofas. Our table is solid oak though, so I’m hoping any dents and so on will just make it look rustic. It might be different if we had a glossier sort of life.

I have a big trivet in the middle for hot pans, but plates go straight on the table , except at Xmas or special occasions when I use a cloth. I do have solid place mats but use them for extra hot dishes in the middle as I don’t have enough for all the place settings.

My table is wipe clean melamine one from Ikea, but is still unmarked after 10 years of use without protection! If the kids use pens and get any on the table it just wipes off. Ditto curry etc. I imagine if I had a nice wooden table I would use some extra protection for messy use. We did have a big wipe clean cloth for when they did painting etc

I think in 6 years (when my user name will be TwentiesTimesTwo) we will be able to go back to having an uncovered table again.

And to add, I’d feel like a full on protector would mean you never get to actually enjoy the table.

We only out in the protector and cloth if we are actually using the table.

Otherwise it sits in all its polished glory with a seasonal table decoration in the middle.

We have a nice table that I'm determined to keep nice. We use wooden placemats and when DCs were smaller they had those large plastic wipe clean mats each, the style with their names on. Now if they are colouring they have to have a wipe clean mat, any messy stuff and we have a big plastic sheet that came with some craft supplies.

Had the table nearly 4 years, still looks good. Not a mark on it. I did buy a table cloth with the intention of buying that padding to put underneath it, never bought the padding and table cloth is still in the wrapper.

TeenTimesTwo not long before the fantasy is real!

We had a dining table previously but it was varnished it such so you could just wipe off and I only use heat mats for the dishes.

This table is rectangular, extendable. It has some coating but it’s nothing like the old table, it still feels woody if you know what I mean... I’m not sure it will escape turmeric damage

Oak farmhouse style dining table here, which we've had since pre-kids. When dc were little we had an oilcloth table cloth on it but now we just use wipeable placemats and heat mats - even on curry nights! We polish it up occasionally and it still looks nice, just comfy and well loved, which I like!

Ive got one of those oil cloth wipe clean “cloths” and when it’s extended its because its an Occasion so proper table cloth in the appropriate size

A cautionary tale: my GPs recently died and their beautiful wooden table never saw the light of day in 60 odd years. It was always covered by one of those heatproof mats and a cloth. Saving it for best, I suppose

Is an oil cloth the same as the PVC type ones or a different material? Sorry, I’m so out the table linen loop!

Yes its a PVC type, couldnt think of the name

Coolio. I wasn’t sure if it was a different type I hadn’t seen. You never know these days!

We have placemats and a runner down the middle. We've tried glass mats before but they were a bit heavy so now use a woven, wipeable type.

We put extra placemats out of its a messy meal ie Indian takeaway.

Table mats. Various ones over the years.

Used to have the colourful plastic backed tablecloth when the DDs were youngsters. Saved the table from many a felt tip pen!

We only out in the protector and cloth if we are actually using the table.
Oh Nona we use our table 3+ times a day. I’m not up for doing that each time.

My DM has a beautiful, high shine wood table and she uses fabric placemats or a table cloth. I completely understand why she does this, and her table is visible ask day so when is not in use we can see how beautiful it is. However, I think all of that is a faff. I have a trendy melamine topped table that's so easy to clean so I use nothing and like very much not having the extra laundry and ironing.

I hadn’t thought about having to iron a table cloth but you do, don’t you?

I very rarely iron!

I use placemats, a runner and coasters

I’m having fun browsing options. I never thought of a runner either