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 Now to my mind tablecloths look outdated and cover up the very nice table underneath!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 love tablecloths when eating at our table - I have about six lovely ones. I don't like a permanent cloth - unless it's a tasteful wipe clean one for children's pens, playdoh etc. embrace them - they are ace!

I have a beautiful dining table and really hate the thought of covering it up so I use table mats and coasters

However, I will have to buy an oil cloth soon as it is starting to wear

Now I feel terrible. fathertedfan I already HAVE anti-Macassars, but only on the hallway chairs and sofa where no-one actually sits except the filthy animals, so it actually does help

Anthropologie sell tablecloths. I think that indicates they have a certain bohemian cool (if they look bohemian and cool enough - a style tautology there!).

We have glass sheet cut to fit our dining table. Its great .

There's Roald Dahl wipe clean tablecloths in my local fabric store. This means table cloths are currently the height of coolness.

My beautiful hand-me-down table has been ruined by the DC banging the ends of the cutlery on the top and gouging chunks out. Always use a table protector.

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at tablecloths being 'better for your digestion'

I love table cloths. We have several as our dd's are 3 and 5, so it needs protecting. It's a solid oak, butterfly leaf extending table. I'm not chancing my arm with my two. We use place mats also, to protect the wood. No doubt granny's table has lasted because of it being protected.

I have a lovely Day of the Dead stylee oilcloth on my kitchen table currently.

Shocked at the amount of tablecloth users out there !

YANBU, they are naff.

We have a toddler and ababy, the Argos table is not now in perfect condition due to little people but we use mats and coasters for meals and give a wipe over in between. Looks perfectly nice and respectable.

Tablecloths are not naff! tables from Argos certainly are though.

squoosh

i dunno argos have some quite nice tables.

i don't particularly like table cloths prefer the look of natural wood, though my mil called my pine table naff

some people like old fashioned furniture and consider anything modern naff

I have an oil cloth. It brightens up the kitchen.

We use old fashioned tinned furniture polish - that protects the table surface, and we use placemats to stop heat marks...

a tablecloth comes out here at Christmas and parties - and then it is a white paper one and the kids draw and colour it in....

Yes, very naff old fashioned.

We have a big oak table in our kitchen. We never use cloths, mats or coasters and it has this year suffered extreme abuse in the form of art gcse coursework - but it looks just fine.

I can't see the point of covering it to protect it as then you never see it and it might as well be made of chip board.

not in homes on an Argos budget they aren't

I have a spotty CK look a likey oil cloth from Dunelm to protect my B & M bargains big store table.

Naffin it up nicely in our gaffe.

I have a gorgeous dining table, topped with a table protector and an oil cloth tablecloth. I know my table is gorgeous and I want it to stay that way!

I spent aaaaages trying to find the exact perfect tablecloth, I didn't want a spotty one, or one that was too busy. Eventually got one from
www.joleetablecloths.co.uk/
and it is beautiful.

My mil's table is shrouded with a padded protector, blanket , tablecloth, mats and coasters at all times.

It is rumoured to be a nice Ercol table, but I have only ever seen the legs.

Coasters are unforgiveable.

Oops, I use coasters as well, on the coffee table, to protect it. (Tablecloth on main table).

If you have a nice coffee table then coasters are perfectly sensible. Why would you mark it with rings? I have a shitty coffee table so don't bother

I have a cheapness funky plastic table cloth on my very naice solid wood table. I have a 9 month old who likes to hurl her dinner everywhere and 2 dsc's who have the table manners of a pig so need one!