Cloth/mat on top of sideboard

[PersephoneParlormaid]

I’ve recently bought a wooden sideboard. As it arrived I realised that anything I put on it might scratch it, and I remembered that years ago people used to have lace edged cotton runners on their sideboards. So what would be the modern equivalent? What can I protect it with as place mats don’t look great.

I've got a wooden sideboard. And wooden worktops. And wooden shelves. None of them are scratched with normal careful use. Unless you're intending to use it as a tool bench, or scrape a cheese grater along it?

Runner in an interesting or plain fabric to suit your room/taste. Or a glass top. I have the latter on a dressing table