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.

No, where would I sort out the ironing?

Mats and a candle or flowers centre piece yes, plates etc no way, they'll get dusty

Ugh, no! I prefer the table clear apart from at actual mealtimes. I also don't like ”stuff” out in the kitchen. Use the room for its purpose then clear away.

So where do they actually eat? Or does she re-set it after every meal? Seems bonkers to me

No. I do have a vase of flower on the dining table and candlesticks though. Kitchen table has cruet and small candles, usually.

My table is laid with mats and coasters and a vase of flowers in the middle. No plates etc tho. I like how mine looks, so whatever makes u happy really!

It would help dusty and then look not so nice. I would put up fairy lights though.

*look not help!

I need the table for three meals a day so I can't. Where would we eat? I actually like it uncluttered.

Normally we have the place mats on it as they are glass and you can't easily put them away. Plus a candle and some coaster.

For Christmas I have the advent wreath on it since the first Advent Sunday.

Our dining table is where we work from now, previously it was just an empty space.

In my old job we had show homes the tables were always kept set but I never went back into one where people and moved in and the plates etc were still there!

@WinWinnieTheWay

Just put a vase of flowers on it.

This would be sufficient. I would think it was strange someone having a table set up that they didn't use.

No. Because we use the dining table 3 times per day: for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

No. I don't live on Instagram. I use my table for things other than eating at and looking at.

Get yourself an Epergne (I've always wanted to use that word).

We interviewed a childminder once in her house, and she had the table set really, really elaborately with a lot of breakable stuff. There's no way it was for that day's dinner, it was far too over the top. Thankfully we couldn't afford her, because I suspect she must have kept her mindees in the garden all the time so they wouldn't leave sticky fingerprints on her stuff.

You can decorate it beautifully with fruit, flowers, candles, fairy lights - whatever floats your boat. But just not dishes and cutlery.

Mine is set with a jigsaw that has stalled, it needs to be done by Christmas though or there won’t be room for the vegetables and more importantly sufficient wine glasses.

I'm not sure why some posters are being so sneery about it. I mean fine if it's not your thing but why be all nasty "it's an Instagram twat " type of thing ?

It affects absolutely noone outside your family.

For us we can't because DC gave to eat all food at the table so there is about 3 hours between meals at any given point (except at night where I am fairly sure ddog would attempt to investigate and destroy everything because she is insanely clumsy as I typed this she just tripped over her own feet and face planted in the hallway just running to check if DP had returned from his trip out 30 seconds ago incase the wolves got him )

I do theme the centrepiece though (that resides on the table in the rare 3 hour gap where it's not being used for eating , homework,blasted slime blasted science kits. Looking through into the room with he centrepiece makes me very happy. I don't like a bare table.

So your SIL is one of those weirdos who actually likes the 'Showhouse Chic' effect?

I wouldn't. Sounds annoying as it sit at the table to do other things. Up to her though obviously!

Do it. You could add mannequins around the table too. Two pulling crackers across the table with their Christmas hats on. A tipsy nan with her chin on her bosom having a snooze. The kids slipping the dog a bit of turkey, the possibilities are endless!

How about putting down a table runner and some sort of simple centerpiece the rest of the time? I think it would be odd to have plates and cutlery out but a few decorations could look nice.

Yes, maybe people will think it's odd, but you're the one that would be looking at it all the time, not them.

Fresh flowers!
Grenlei
Insta wankers😂.

@pickledplumjam

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

I agree. I currently have a table cloth, work IT at one end, plus some stuff at the other end that's being sorted out. I normally have table cloth and some flowers.

My kids would mess it up and break the plates

No! We use the dining room to eat at least twice a week and the table in the breakfast room at all other times, I'd be constantly faffing around with plates.

I have a candleabra on the dining room table and a candlestick on the breakfast room table and that's it.