Table linen

[Rayna37]

If you have a "formal" dining room do you have a tablecloth? Finally replacing our shabby old wooden table with a lovely old mahogany one and not sure what the norm or even the fashion is! We have oilcloth on the one in the kitchen but don't want that in the dining room. Do people just use placemats? Don't want to ruin the table but also seems pointless covering a lovely table with a cloth and maybe a bit old fashioned? Also we drink red wine and have a toddler so don't want to buy a tablecloth for it to be stained immediately!

I've got a voucher for John Lewis I kept to one side to put towards table linen/table wear, any other recommendations of places to look? Would love to see pictures for inspiration. I'm not on Instagram but imagine Pinterest may have soon ideas, that may be my next stop!

How much do you use it?

Placemats are a good alternative if you want to be able to see and enjoy the table as a feature in its own right. I can’t recommend mine as I got them in France years ago but they’re a nice large size so there’s no need for coasters. I switched to table mats when the dc were small to avoid tablecloth accidents.

Mine are rectangular woven fabric placemats in a sort of neutral taupe colour. I don’t really like plastic or printed ones. They’re washable (and btw salt or vinegar are great for red wine stains) though a bit of a pain to iron but worth it. I have two sets for daily use and that’s enough for entertaining once.

I use lovely linen napkins with them sometimes and I think it’s a nice combination of materials and definitely does not look old fashioned.

I only really use tablecloths at Christmas. I have several - a lovely formal one for Christmas Day that was my Great Granny’s, and some pretty printed ones for the days around Christmas.

When the dc were small and had birthday parties, I’d protect and theme the table decorations with a fitted single bedsheet instead of a cloth which won’t slide or get pulled off.

We use a cloth over a felted protector. Tried table mats but they don’t protect the table from people’s jewellery. It s a shame to have a nice table and have to hide it! My favourite table cloth is block printed blue/purple on white and came from India. Table cloths don’t have to look old fashioned.

Thanks both! Lots of ideas. Probably use it a couple of times a week, sometimes more. I had been thinking about a felted protector, will measure up and look into it.

Definitely looking forward to some nice napkins, linen sounds good.

We use a felted protector and then a nice oilcloth- it is cut perfectly to size and actually drapes like a linen. It's not shiny and from a distance looks just like a table cloth.

Can whollly recommend website Wipe Easy Tablecloths. They'll do the protector and cloth cut to size, measuring guides etc. Very helpful customer service if you need advice too.

I have table cloths or have it bare depending on how I feel but it's oak not mahogany

We use a cloth and a felt protector too. I have quite a few tablecloths. We normally use the kitchen table, but when we use the dining table, we usually use it for a few days in a row eg have friends for dinner at the dining table, they stay over, and then we have a big breakfast the next day at the dining table; or we have family staying for Christmas, so that’s lots of meals at the dining table. I am rarely able to use a tablecloth for more than one meal, as something always spills.

I’ve bought tablecloths everywhere - dunelm (ages ago), John Lewis, tk maxx. I have two sizes - one for when the table is extended and one for when it is the usual size.