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.

This is the preserve of Insta-wankers.

Don't do it, OP!

What @mbosnz said.

Also although it’s your house, your choice etc etc I think it is a bit weird if I’m honest. I think a nice festive table cloth, a plant and some fairy lights etc would look lovely. Plates and stuff, not so much

I know someone who does this with a whole dinner set laid out and I think it looks really weird. A nice centre piece would be nice though.

If I went to someone’s house and they had this, I would be distracted by wondering how long it had all been sitting out and whether anyone had sneezed or coughed over it during that time, or sprayed room spray that settled on it in droplets, or whatever.

No, never done this at all. I prefer uncluttered for easy of cleaning and 'something' in the middle - flowers/a plant/fruit bowl etc...
What I get is my DC's craft projects and DH's seed collections and random letters from school.

No way it would be incredibly dusty in a couple of days and I use the dining room table for all my hobbies.

Have you seen Arrested Development where they live in a showhouse complete with a plastic cooked chicken/turkey on the table at all times? A set table is unnecessary (and odd).

Super weird. It just shows up that you have a table but dont ever use it.
I leave a tablecloth, mats and salt and pepper on the table because I'm lazy and it seems a waste of time to put them away and get them out again every evening.

Your sil would faint with horror if she saw what my dining table usually looks like.

Tonight, it is beautifully laid out with a potting tray, half a bag of compost, two Aldi scented candles (still in their boxes), a tool box with contents half in and half out, a pencil case containing some plant labels and a Christmas cake made on Sunday, which is currently languishing in a cake tin awaiting its first feed of brandy.

If I went to someone’s house and saw this I would think that they were hinting at me to go so that they could eat.

Surely you only set in advance of a dinner party or holiday. Then yes. Hell you can even break out the "tablescapes" if that's your thing. But otherwise no.

No because the cats would push all my crockery over the edge and break it in revenge if I was late feeding them.

I keep my table mats and salt and pepper in the middle unless I clear it for board games. This is because I am too lazy to put them somewhere else after every mealtime.

No, I wouldn't. But if I had a space like what you describe, I'd be filling it with lovely plants and ornaments. Maybe a mirror somewhere to reflect back? I'd have it so that there were gorgeous climbing plants catching the light. If I had people over, maybe I'd put up some fairy lights.

No. If I had a dining room that got used so rarely that this was feasible, I’d get rid of it and use the room for something else.

No. Unless being covered in craft stuff set up as my sewing area counts.

No - we need the cutlery!

This

I keep mine set with books and pens and piles of paper and a vase with dead flowers

It’s a bit odd, but your choice - if it makes you happy do it.
I like flowers or fruit in the centre of the table, but often junk like recently opened post congregates on ours.
If I leave the mats, salt and pepper on the table after a meal it feels a bit messy to me, like to tidy them away - But I’m often too lazy and don’t!

Furniture shops
Show homes
When the estate agent comes to take photos

...are the only acceptable times for this.

No, but maybe I should, because at the moment the dining table is covered in junk and we end up eating at a folding table instead.

Put a Christmas tree in the conservatory, strings of fairy lights up and a lovely flower arrangement & or candles. That's it, don't dress the table your neighbours will think you're weird.

My cat would knock it all to the floor piece by piece between 3 and 4 am.

The table gets used for homework and eating and playing with toys, so no, real life has to happen in our house, no room for stunt pineapples unfortunately 🤭

Another house here where the cats would render the exercise pointless due to hygiene issues or things being knocked on the floor. Or I'd probably come down to find at least one cat curled up asleep on a plate.

But honestly, if this is something you want to do, that will bring you joy, do it. It doesn't affect anyone else, so doesn't matter what they think.