Do you keep your table set at all times.

[Paranoidmarvin]

Many years ago my sil showed me around their new house. In their dining room she had the table set up. Looked gorgeous. With mats and flowers and plates etc even though they didn’t use it. She said she liked to just see it set up and looking pretty.

I never had a room to do this with before. But over the summer we did up the conservatory and now as it’s colder we don’t use it as much. But seeing it through the French doors looking all empty seems a bit sad.
So I was thinking of setting it up as a Christmas table setting. Then when Christmas is over just keep it set up so it can look nice when I look through.

Does anyone do this? Do you change it around or am I being ridiculous. Just wondered how many of you did this.

Nope, wouldn't things get dusty?

I set the table for Christmas about 2 days before and that's plenty IMO.

Er that's nuts. Thats a whole stunt table rayher than a stunt pineapple or fruit bowl isn't it?!

My mum often used to lay dinner early, or breakfast the night before. But to basicalky leave a set up long term and not use the table is actually crackers.

No. Yes, it would look pretty, but it would be hell to dust. Also a little bit creepy to have it all set up for the invisible family who never show up.

There must be something more practical that would look nice. Candelabra, fruit bowls, poinsettas in pots?

No - we need the cutlery! I suspect your SIL saw the house staged and liked it and that's why she did it. Pretty odd though.

See. I wasn’t sure. Thanks for the answers

Maybe put a Christmas tree up and some fairy lights around the conservatory windows? You can take the tree down after Christmas, but leave the fairy lights until the clocks go forwards.

No. We don’t have the space but I would not do this if we did. It sounds really odd to me.

Put a pretty centrepiece on it seems normal to me in an unused space. Ready for guests not so much.

Weird. No I would never do that.

Well we have a fold down space saver table, so...no. it seems a bit pointless. If you were to use it weeks or months after setting up wouldn't you have to wash everything and reset it?

It’s your house you can do what you can have it looking how ever you want, and if seeing your table would make you smile when you look at it then why not.

No because the table is used for more than just for eating meals.

Mine is covered in junk! Such a shame because it’s a beautiful table!

It's your house so do whatever you feel!

I can see it would be nice to make the room look lovely, and a set table does look lovely.

For me, i think it getting dusty would put me off. I think I'd go for plants and fairy lights. And maybe a nice centre piece on the table, a beautiful fruit perhaps or some flowers...

At the moment, my table is set with two laptops, same number of docking stations, and four extra laptops. Plus a number of jotting pads and pen holders.

It WILL be down for Christmas. (She tells herself grimly).

It's a bit Miss Haversham

I think it would be lovely OP especially set for Christmas. Why not? Then if you like it you can do Winterval, spring, easter, and so on. I mean we need to make our homes nice as the four walls are getting a bit boring!

Mrs Hinch on Instagram does this.

Just put a vase of flowers on it.

A set table outside of dinner hours doesn't look lovely to me at all! Really creepy! I find it a bit horror film-ish. Just me?

Sounds weird. Like living in Ikea.

it's all a bit Miss Haversham
^^ This

I think a vase with flowers and maybe a nice table cloth? But fully set would be weird.

No, the cats would walk all over it and I’d have to wash it before it could be used anyway 🤢

My table currently has a laptop, some school books and a half finished painting decorating it and the rest of the junk that's accumulated since I last cleared it

I can't imagine having space to not need to use the table pretty much every day. Maybe I need a bigger house so I can have a pretty looking dining table.