Table Cloths - old fashioned?

I've just been looking at tablecloths.
I thought I might have a tasteful cream linen one.
Then I saw one with tassels.
Then I saw one with multicoloured cats all over it.

This is why I try not to have these things.

The one on my table at the moment is a 1950s brightly coloured check one that belonged to my parents. I have two of them. I also have embroidered ones from 1930s/40s and ones trimmed with hand made lace that I have collected over the years. The plan was that I would make a patchwork quilt from those but I can't bring myself to cut them up... I always use a tablecloth...I love a vintage look

That's the kind of pattern I was looking at.
Lace trim with flowers and cats all over in a sunburst of colour.

I dont care about them either way but my husband hates table mats and always uses table cloths. He is the one who buys them

I trawl the charity shops of Melbourne for vintage linen ones. For reasons I can't fathom, most are maps of Australia, with archetypal flora and fauna dotted about. I use them for "company" and when camping, to pretty up the table.

I’ve recently bought a round dining table which extends to an oval, and I’m looking for suitable tablecloths, but so far haven’t found anything to fit. Recommendations would be most welcome. I do volunteer in a charity shop, but tablecloths are not often donated.

Oil cloth or similar is still as popular as ever. They are available in a wide variety of designs eg , small children loved the world map and numbers one.

We usually have a wipeable cloth on the dining table, but use proper tablecloths when people are eating here. We bought our dining table because it had the most beautiful top. Thus far, the only time the top has been exposed to the outside world was when we were showing prospective buyers round our last house and I put a bowl of flowers on it. It’s a shame it doesn’t see the light of day, but I would hate for it to get damaged and it surely would with our lot! Should have gone for something more serviceable!

I have a dining room suite of vintage Ercol furniture in the family end of the kitchen and that always has a polyvinyl table cloth over a table protector underlay on it, although, it comes off when we have visitors round for a meal and is replaced by a cloth tablecloth.

I used to use cloth ones, but laundering them was a pain, my family must be messy eaters
Now I use a wipeable one, protects the table but a lot more practical.

I make my own. I have a large plain one that covers the whole table and then smaller squares put on cross ways. I just change these when they get mucky. I have Christmas ones as well. Mostly cotton so wash well.

I think that is the answer Wendy.

Each to their own , it's your home!! I've evolved my home to the midcentury style that our brand new home in1964 was! Weird or what? My mum had excellent eye for style and fortunately we had the means to get the latest and top quality , Minty suite Ercol dining and nests, hornsea crocks etc fabulous light fittings I'd use today too! It must have made Impression , I too sometimes use table cloths for effect, fab cotton habitat hobbies all big loud prints or jazz style plains with little accents .never polyesters stains impossible to remove specially red wine it Italian spills! Agree about pot tea, can't beat it for style and substance!

I have several embroidered table cloths bought while living in the Far East but these get used rarely. I also have a nice, wipeable one on the kitchen table, which gets used the most. The fabric isn't the usual rather stiff, plasticised type you see in so many shops but thinner and drapes like a proper fabric. It is washable and I have seen it in our local drapers so is available here.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

I have lots of tablecloths and they are used all the time.
I often used to buy cloth and napkin sets in France so have some in traditional Provencal patterns and one I particularly like which has sunflowers on a blue background.
I do have white damask cloths but tend not to use them for regular family dinners, gravy and tomato sauce stains are the devil to shift.

Mummer, that sounds lovely. that era was fantastic for design. My daughter also loves that 'vibe' . You can sometimes find fab barkcloth type fabric on ebay to make a stunning runner or place mats!

Another old thread dug up. But it is a timeless topic so let's stick with it. Many of the contributors on the first pages are no longer on the site though.

We have an expensive Scandinavian dining table which it would be a shame to cover with a tablecloth. If I have to improvise a huge table for a large party I use a sheet.

I tend only to use tablecloths on special occasions such as Christmas. I treasure one that was passed on from my Mum. In the 1930s my parents were nurses in a secure psychiatric hospital known then as the asylum. A long term patient embroidered a heavy duty bedsheet and presented it to my Mum as a tablecloth.

I still occasionally use it on the table for my grandchildren as they are fascinated by the history behind it and they enjoy tracing their fingers round the flowers. I’ve attached a photo of one section.

We have wipeable tablecloths. You buy the fabric by the metre. Currently we have llamas wearing red sombreros on a bright yellow background but we have had pale green with white dots, dachshunds, tartan etc. our kitchen table is used for lots of things as well as eating so it’s best choice for us.

In my summerhouse I use a beautiful hand embroidered tablecloth which a lady in her 90s gave me before she died. It is white linen with brightly coloured spring flowers on all the corners and edges. Daffodils, crocus, tulips etc it is stunning.

I’ve gone back to them after many years without. I have a large red and white check linen one which reminds me of Italy and just looks really homely. I also have a linen one with olives on a white background which I actually got at Aldi. I noticed they were snapped up , I got the last one! I use them outside, too, if we have a BBQ because all sorts of possums, birds and other beasties perch on our outdoor table and it is more hygienic to cover it even after a good scrub.

I have a long mahogany table in our dinning room - very old fashioned as "no one does brown furniture these days" but I love it

I like mine too, dolphindaisy and do use a table protector and tablecloth but goodness knows why because I expect the lovely table will get dumped in a skip one day, unless mahogany comes back into fashion. ☹

Oh dear - old thread
Alway check the date 😁

Old thread , but still interesting , I craft on my oak table and use a wipeable tablecloth .
I have a Christmas one , a spring one , the summer one is still on and I think I like it best as it is light coloured and brightens the room