to think tablecloths are naff

[mrshansolo]

First time poster but long time lurker! A debate between me and my dh has resulted in needing the advice of the mumsnet jury (admittedly not the most earth shattering of topics!)

We are gaining a nice table from dh's grandma for our new house. He wants it to have a tablecloth "to protect it". Now to my mind tablecloths look outdated and cover up the very nice table underneath!

Aibu?

I agree, for entertaining etc you should use mats and let the beauty of the wood show. However, if you have dc you definitely need something on the table at other times to protect it.

The thing is, good furniture needs to be protected from sunlight, plates and silverware scratching the finish, all sorts. If you consider a tablecloth to be naff balance that against the cost of a decent french-polisher when the time comes (and it will) and you might reconsider. Granny's good table is only still good because it's been cherished and looked after properly.

I had a dream about straightening a tablecloth last night - it was doing my head in til I got it right.

I have oilcloth on my table - to save it from crayon, felt tip, split water, food stains, cat footprints etc etc etc

We have place mats for every day use and I will use a table cloth for special meals. I like a table cloth as long as it's freshly ironed and looks crisp and neat - no crumples on my table, thank you! :)

I also use napkin rings [and linen napkins] at Christmas - and I know they're meant to be naff too but I likes 'em (and as no other bugger will lay the table, it's MY choice what goes on the table)

I managed to find some modern fabric that is exactly the same as my blinds and had it made into a tablecloth for my modern kitchen/diner and (I think) it looks nice.(worried now )

I have dozens of tablecloths. I have plain white linen ones...antiques which are beautifully soft and white....also vintage embroidered ones and oilcloth ones.

The children can't be trusted with the nicest but they don't look "naff" unless you're find of twigs and pebbly shit.

I have a Laura Ashely oil cloth on the playroom table to protect from paint and glue; the kitchen table never has anything on it and the dining room table is uncovered unless used and then I rather like a heavy linen mix cloth as a backdrop to the silverware and china.

Yabu, we have an oilcloth table cover so it's wipe clean, we just got a new one actually, it's the world map and it's great as the kids are learning loads about geography whilst they are using the table!

We have one bug table used for all meals and homework and craft activities etc, it needs protecting and wipe clean is nice and easy.

We always use tablecloths - oil cloth on the kitchen-diner table and I have loads of heavy, white antique sheets which I use on our dining table. I fully dress our dining table for Sunday lunch -- (including napkin rings revenge). My dc always say how nice it looks, and I can insist on perfect restaurant manners, once a week at least!

I have some lovely tablecloths -retro print ones, lacey ones, heavily embroidered ones....

I don't normally use them but the dd's love to put a cloth on and make the table look posh if we have guests.

And we always have a Christmas tablecloth.

BloodyWoman me too. My print ones are my FAVES. I have one with poodles! Another with chairs, tables and vases all over it!

My goodness!

Another thread about what is considered naff in the home!

Yuck!

As long as it is clean anything goes. Personal taste is not up for mocking.

Oh and while I'm at it Hail the net curtain

Gosh feminine the title kinda says what the thread is about. Im surprised you read this far!

Thanks for the suggestions- I think a heavy duty cloth might be an excellent idea for when our ds gets older!

Why don't you get one of those big sheets of glass/Perspex made to fit. That way it's protected and you can still see it

(Domestic bliss restored? you're welcome )

creampie brilliant idea. Solves the dh's practical fears and my tablecloth tizz!

I hate tablecloths to protect the table - totally naff !
I like tablecloths for dressing the table .
I have a scrub top table; the idea being it is bare wood with no top layer ( polish, wax ,varnish etc) .
You just use it an enjoy it and then every so often put a dash of bleach on it and scrub . Works perfectly well for us and means no marks are a problem .

I don't use a tablecloth to protect the table.

It's more to cover the drawings and globs of glitter glue, for those less rugged than us.

No tablecloth at home, but a restaurant is not a good restaurant unless it has a tablecloth...

I like a decent white tablecloth, and coasters on tavles. I'm going to campaign for the resurgent of antimacassars.

Lol at Antimacassars!

We use a tablecloth. I have a lovely mahogany dining table that was a wedding present to my grandmother in the 1920s and it is important to me to protect it from the sun and from spillages.

I have an oil cloth on my dining table because otherwise it would be ruined within weeks.

Tablecloths here too. Wipe-clean on the kitchen table. I don't care if it's naff, I do not want to have to sand and oil the bloody table every month, and the DC are 4 and 2, so it's used for playdoh and painting as well as eating. 'Proper' tablecloths on the dining table. Essential in our case, the table was inherited from my family, the chairs from DH's and they're completely different colours of wood.

I love my tablecloth! It will protect the table and it is better for your digestion, because you will slow down eating to not drop things.