What do you have on your daily used dining table?

[SwigofBaileys]

20 years ago I have moved in with now DH and yesterday we have bought out first dining table together - his old one is to be disposed of to charity, still Ipin good condition. Now we have a much bigger table but only two us empty nesters, so we can have it dressed up nicely maybe with something in the middle, like a tray with a vase and a candle. Lots of inspiration on SM but would love to hear if anyone makes an effort with a real life dining table?

You put me to shame. Mine is piled up with 'stuff'.

I will clear it tomorrow (I say that every night).

lol I thought you were going to ask for a list of the junk people have piled up on it.

i do actually have a vase a fresh flowers amongst the junk

Same

Tablecloth and salt and pepper and a pile of DCs artwork drying!

I bought ours a couple of xmases ago coz I wanted family Xmas dinners and I thought we would sit at it and I would enjoy having a table …

we used it one Xmas and I’ve sat at it perhaps once maybe twice . Right now it’s got clothes on it from the airer and some candles …

The idea of a table and chairs is better than the reality lol

Errr there’s 3 seats at one end for use (may have a pile of letters or junk mail where dsd used to sit, moved out a year ago) rest of table has a vase in the middle, pile of spare mats and coasters and “stuff” currently getting ready for a road trip abroad so bits we need, my spare handbag, by motorcycle protective pad inserts, a belt, my water bottle … and more

a nice flower arrangement in a vase together with remote control and placemats

Right now? There's three empty cans of Pepsi, a half drunk glass of wine, a diary, a laptop and some blank printer paper.

Usually there's a vase, often with flowers

A vase of faux flowers and a candle. We don't often eat at the dining table as we use the breakfast bar in the kitchen mostly.

When I lived alone I used to have a jug of fresh flowers (whatever bunches were cheap at the time like daffodils or tulips) and some nice placemats and a runner. Now though it’s too much of a pain to move everything to clean it after every meal. There’s also a bloody dint in it because the cat showed too much interest in my potted plant on the window sill.

I eat most of my dinners at the table so need to be able to sit and enjoy my meal. However its a table for 8 and theres only me just now so Ive a lot of leeway.
Ive got a lovely handmade runner on mine with a nice vase of (fake) flowers in the middle with salt and pepper standing guard.
At the moment there is also a laptop, a cross stitch I just started, a big box of goodies from Amazon that Im slowing checking and putting in their new homes and 3 books I got from Asdas bring-a-book-buy-a-book table.
So quite clear really for me.

Mine has a runner, a vase of flowers and a candle. At mealtimes I add placemats and salt and pepper. I keep it tidy as I like it to look beautiful. My kitchen table on the other hand is a constant battle, it's just a dumping ground.

Ours is in the conservatory. It's more of a drying room in bad weather, covered in clean laundry, damp laundry draped over the chairs. When we start using the dryer again the grandchildren sit around it, colouring, building Lego, playing games. There's only two of us now but when son stays we eat in there.

I do have a candle holder, and various things I could use but then the grandchildren would break them.

We eat at ours every night. It has a pot of cutlery, a napkin holder, a wooden candle holder from Habitat in the middle and placemats which hardly ever get tidied away.

Pretty much nothing! We are good at keeping it pretty clear other than placemats and coasters. If a few things do pile up they’re usually moved for meals.

The worktop on the other hand …

The kitchen/family room table has a wipe able cloth and table mats. At the end is a pen and usually a couple of chargers. There is likely to be a pair of dh's specs on it too.

Also just DH and myself, no children. I WFH so during the week, I use 1 part of the table as my 'office'. We do have an actual office upstairs, but we have bifolds so I love being able to look into the garden whilst I work. If we have guests, its cleared, placemats put on, salt/pepper etc.

In summer, I have a low, crystal dish with roses from the garden floating in it. They smell devine! Sometimes I have a vase of flowers from aldi/lidl on the table. Otherwise there are tools and 'things' DH is tinkering with often left on the table.

Before the kids we had a table run with a nice decorative bowl/plate or vase with flowers in the centre. Now it has a colourful plastic protective cover…

Either nothing or just placemats.

Table is usually clear. Kitchen island on the other hand has flowers, a pile of magazines, some random food items and a packet of Hello Kitty fairy lights on it (which have been there for months).

(I need to up my domestic game).

My Mac, white box full of post, receipts and things I might otherwise loose plus a recently finished jigsaw. We have a breakfast bar for family meals but we do clear it and use as a dining table if there are more than 5 of us for a meal.

Our dining table usually has at least one of, if not both of, the cats there. They like sleeping on it...
We do clean it before eating dinner though!

An African Violet plant.

I have a large, shallow studio pottery bowl on mine. It's very beautiful, but usually full of DIY stuff, or a cat. We eat on the sofa in front of the telly, as it's just us two. We only use the dining table when we have guests.

Pre-kids I would have a nice tablecloth, fresh flowers and a nice cake or biscuits for visitors (me snacking on).
Now I have a tablecloth, a pile of placemats and a salt & pepper set.