The Dining Room Table
It is the official gathering place for all family dinners, holiday events and social occasions. It the one of the first important pieces of furniture you purchase for your home. So after you have spent all that time, money and effort in choosing your dining room table, what is the first thing you do when you have guests for dinner? You cover it up! I see a beautiful cherry dining room table and the first thing I think of is “what kind of tablecloth will I use to cover that up so my guests don’t ruin it?” Do you cover your dining room table when you have guests over for dinner? You certainly don’t want it to be scratched by knives or marred by liquids and so the tablecloth becomes your table cover and protector. What amazes me is how little effort goes into that covering. In reality, the tablecloth is all that your guests are ever going to see of your dining room table. As far as they know, it could be two saw horses and a sheet of plywood under that tablecloth. So the tablecloth certainly shouldn’t be some old, stained, wrinkled piece of fabric that barely fits the table. The tablecloth should be something special. It should be your style statement, a canvas to show off your china, a fabric pattern that enhances your dining room decor. Choosing a tablecloth is easy. Color and Pattern. Have one tablecloth that is your standard. It should be a neutral that doesn't fight with the room or your china. It is your practical, good for any function tablecloth. The little dress of tablecloths and a clean canvas upon which you can create a beautiful table setting.To start out, choose a white or ivory cloth as it will work well for every occasion. You can add different patterns or colors as special occasions come up. Sizes I know tablecloth sizes are confusing! But here's an easy formula. First determine the shape of your table: round, rectangle, square or oval. Measure the width and length of your table. The tablecloth should hang approximately 8-12 inches down from each side (this is called the drop and it is your choice as to the amount). Just make sure that you add this number twice (you have two sides) to the width and twice (you have two ends) to the length for the correct size. Example: Table top size is 30”x 60” with a 10 inch drop. The tablecloth will be 50” x 80”. Cleaning, Stains and Ironing. Choose a polyester fabric, as they clean well and need little or no ironing. Pre-treat any stains with some laundry detergent (Wisk). For greasy stains such as butter or gravy just mix a de-greaser (Simple Green) with 50% water and spray before washing. Always wash your tablecloth at home, even if you send it out for pressing. Do not use bleach on anything but whites and even then use with caution - bleach is not your friend and should always be mixed with 50% water. The tablecloth is the largest flat surface in the room and it is the easiest and least expensive way to change the entire atmosphere in your dining room. Be fun, be bold and choose a cloth that is daring and inspiring. Perhaps a runner with a leopard print to go over the standard cloth or a hot pink color for spring. You don't have to match the room each time. Let your table be a creative statement in your own style. Remember the tablecloth is all your guests will ever see of your dining room table. Have fun. Set your table with imagination...let tablecloths inspire you! About Author Founder and owner of both The Total Table, a special event tablecloth rental business and Best Dressed Tables, a manufacturer of custom tablecloths for the retail and hospitality industry. Disclaimer: Article submitters are solely responsible for the content of their articles. ArtiLib can't be held liable for the contents of the articles. Report Abuse | Browse By Category |
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