How to Decorate With Table Cloths

If your dining room or kitchen lacks color, texture or style, a tablecloth can quickly transform the space. Use a tablecloth to camouflage a dark or out of style table, or switch tablecloths and other table linens to suit the season or your current preferences. Embellishing or layering tablecloths can make the table the focal point of the room.

Things You'll Need

• Tablecloth
• Table linens

Instructions

1. Choose table linens that suit your lifestyle. If you have young children or host frequent gatherings, you want washable tablecloths. For most people 100 percent cotton table linens provide the best option in terms of appearance, texture and maintenance. Some cotton blends and linen demand more ironing while silk and lace require hand-cleaning or dry-cleaning. For a kitschy look, vinyl tablecloths with bold designs and colors give a table a retro cool appearance.

2. Ensure your tablecloth suits your table's shape and size. Typically, a well-fitted tablecloth drops about 10 inches over the edge of the table on all four sides. You will need different sizes of tablecloths if you have tables that have additional leaves for more seating.

3. Consider the priority of your tablecloth decor in context with the surrounding room's decor. If you have an open floor plan or a neutral space, your tablecloth can provide a burst of color and style. Try a bold shade such as poppy orange or lime green, or go with patterns such as tropical fruits and flowers, French toile, paisley or stripes. In rooms with prominent wall art or elaborate table settings, the table linens should provide a more subdued backdrop. You can still experiment with texture. Try a simple white or cream cloth trimmed with lace, beads or embroidered designs.

4. Layer tablecloths for added pop. Use a smaller cloth set at an angle to give the table decor dimension. Try a large square napkin in a pattern set on top of a neutral tablecloth or a round doily design as a centerpiece on a round table. A table runner provides another layer of textiles to diversify your look. For an eco-design look, try a bamboo or rattan runner on a tablecloth made of organic cotton.

5. Coordinate, but do not necessarily match, your table linens to your tablecloth. Decorating with table linens may mean picking up a background color in the tablecloth's pattern. For a shabby chic or bohemian look, try mixing colors or patterns. Paisley and florals can coexist peacefully at a casual table as can mismatched brights or pastels.

Tips & Warnings

• When laundering tablecloths, wash linen sets together, including unused ones, so that they fade evenly.

References

• HGTV: Buying Table Linens
• Apartment Therapy Chicago