Table Cloths - old fashioned?

We use table cloths or not. It depends.

We've a beautiful oak table in a bit of the kitchen, no cloth ever - no need to protect oak that has aged over 200 years - by my count. I wax that table often.

In fireplace end of kitchen is a 1950s "pub table" small square dark oak sort with pull out ends, allowing it to seat 6-8 instead of just 4 people. Sometimes we use cork backed mats.

Two islands, each with stools on a side. One has granite top and the other has repurposed old Austrian walnut top - no cloths.

The dining hall has 2 old walnut tables, I wax those tables, use damask cloths or not depending. I don't like to iron, china looks nice on wood.

I rarely eat on my lap. I hate it.

Our children both have dining tables and eat at a table, as do our DGC.

Apart from anything else a table has so many other uses, opening and wrapping parcels, craft and DIY activities, board games, piling things on. I just couldn't do without a dining table (or two)

I don’t know anybody who doesn’t have a dining table (or more), I suppose there must be some who don’t, but surely it’s a basic for the vast majority still - tables go back millennia, I can’t see them disappearing from use?

Casdon

I don’t know anybody who doesn’t have a dining table (or more), I suppose there must be some who don’t, but surely it’s a basic for the vast majority still - tables go back millennia, I can’t see them disappearing from use?

Nor do I know anyone without tableS, islands, places to eat.

Just done a count. We have two dining tables and four other tables, that could just possibly be sat round as dining tables.

We always sit at the table for our evening meal. Breakfast is at the breakfast bar in the kitchen and lunch is wherever, often outside or breakfast bar again. I don’t really like laptop meals but if it is a special news day, like the Queen’s funeral or something, we might so we can watch tv. Funny ,all my children are the same.

I use a table cloth on the kitchen table where we normally eat. Not on the good dining room table unless it's in use. Then I also use a table protector under it.

Our kitchen table can seat six and our dining table , at its full extent twelve. We always eat at the table and so do most people we know.

MrsKen33

Our kitchen table can seat six and our dining table , at its full extent twelve. We always eat at the table and so do most people we know.

We eat on trays, on the kitchen sofa near a fireplace, occasionally, or if we ever eat alone. I think it's fun and cosy.

Each to his or her own Norah

We're sitting at the kitchen table having a glass of Sauvignon Blanc while we wait for dinner 🙂 because I miscalculated the cooking time and forgot the hour change

MrsKen33

Each to his or her own Norah

I know. Life is good, each may do as they wish!

Callistemon21

We're sitting at the kitchen table having a glass of Sauvignon Blanc while we wait for dinner 🙂 --because I miscalculated the cooking time and forgot the hour change--

I so dislike time change, miscalculations for a month!

Well, DH has just given in and gone to sit in more comfort to watch David Attenborough! 😃

We (nearly) always eat at the table as well. Usually in the kitchen if there's just two of us - the dining table gets laid when we have visitors. If we're just having a snack in the evening while we're watching a film we might have trays on our laps. Our ACs and their families always had meals at the table when the GCs were younger and even now they all get together most days for a meal in the evening. I don't think it's at all unusual. Using a dining room is probably more unusual, as so many people have larger kitchens and tend to eat in there.

Many people, where they can, have knocked seperate kitchens and dining rooms into one big room. I noticed Kirsty suggesting that to someone on Locationx3 this week.

DH would like to make our kitchen and dining room into one.

Not while I have breath in my body! If I peg out, he can do as he likes.

I prefer separate rooms. On the rare occasions I have people for a meal, I don’t want them seeing me do the cooking. I like them out the way.

And yes, I realise this doesn’t make me sound ‘the hostess with the mostess’.

I’m not.

Can't they sit in the living room while you cook?

Yes, they can MOnica, but I find they tend to come in, then hover round chatting whilst I am lifting pots in and out of the oven.

I try to shoo them into the sitting room, telling DH to get them a drink, but it’s awkward.

I can see the attraction of cooking and chatting at the same time, but not for me.

Calendargirl

Yes, they can MOnica, but I find they tend to come in, then hover round chatting whilst I am lifting pots in and out of the oven.

I try to shoo them into the sitting room, telling DH to get them a drink, but it’s awkward.

I can see the attraction of cooking and chatting at the same time, but not for me.

I gave up shooing people away whist I cook after my second attempt. I agree, annoying, perhaps change the narrative to flattering?

People seem to find kitchens a cosy space - ours is with a fireplace and choice of seating. Thus it is nice for keeping GC in safe view.

I have an oilcloth one for everyday because the table has an ugly top to make it bigger but I probably would anyway. At Christmas I have a beautiful white linen one (eBay) and Christmas placemats and runner (made by me) and embroidered linen napkins. Call me old-fashioned, outdated, whatever, I like them!

Calendargirl

Yes, they can MOnica, but I find they tend to come in, then hover round chatting whilst I am lifting pots in and out of the oven.

I try to shoo them into the sitting room, telling DH to get them a drink, but it’s awkward.

I can see the attraction of cooking and chatting at the same time, but not for me.

I always shoo them out too - our kitchen just isn’t big enough - someone will always be in the way when I need to get to a cupboard/drawer/the oven.

If I had a lovely big kitchen/diner, like dd1, who has a sofa in hers too, it might be a different matter.

Since we extended our kitchen 3 years ago, we now have a big attached breakfast/family room.

It rarely means I get company unless I ask for it. If anyone is in the room they will probably be sitting at the table reading the paper or a book, or else they will be in the living room, out of sight and sound.

I should add that I don’t mind close family, i.e. DS, DIL and GC seeing me cook, it’s more the ‘dinner party’ guests, (not that we have ‘dinner parties’ as such) who come and hover that I don’t want in the kitchen.

But as previously stated, I don’t ‘host’ very often.

To question - we rarely use table cloths. Sometimes on dining room tables, but china looks lovely, maybe better, on dark waxed wood.

I've enough laundry with daily life. I dislike ironing. Bare wood suits us.

We'll have many GC GGC later (Halloween soup, bread, fruit, pudding), any tablecloths would end a mess, no thank you.