topic Re: How do you protect your dining table? in Home

How do you protect your dining table?

cotton4me — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:44:29 GMT

How do you protect your everyday dining table when eating? Do you use placemats or a tablecloth? What kind?

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:49:19 GMT

I use a simple table cloth with complimentary place mats. Some are seasonal and some just match the color of the room.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

Foxxee — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:00:55 GMT

During holidays, I use a table pad on the dining room table, white tablecloth over the pad, placemats on top of the tablecloth at each chair.

We only use it for holidays, so it's left bare wood with a centerpiece on top at all other times.

For the table in the breakfast room we use every day, it has a protective finish, so only use place mats for meals.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

StylishLady — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:07:00 GMT

For the every day kitchenette table i useplace mats. THe main dining room table when used, pads and I put a table cloth on it.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

AuntG — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:20:36 GMT

Nothing most of the time but I do have holiday placemats.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

Eileen in Virginia — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:24:29 GMT

We usually eat at the table in our sunroom where I use a vinyl foam-backed liner (mainly as waterproofing), a tablecloth and placemats. I always have a half-inch felt-backed table pad and a tablecloth on our dining room table. Even though we rarely eat there now, better safe than sorry.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

tarsmom — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:00:28 GMT

I don't.

I have a beautiful oak table that we bought in the 1990s. My 10 year old son was doing his homework and shook a permanent marker and it splattered black dots all over it.

That was a fun day

It's there forever.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

FastDogWalker2 — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:01:38 GMT

We use placemats - I have a ton thanks to the good sales at Kohls's pre-Covid.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

Desertdi — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:57:38 GMT

My kitchen table is ceramic tile. I use it mostly as a desk.....

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

Sooner — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:09:21 GMT

Chilwich place mats are great! I have woven black ones on the bar and table in the kitchen.

Our dining table is usually bare. My philosophy, if your dining table is pristine you need to have more parties! It should look loved and used, with "memories" of happy times here and there to show off!

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

spiderw — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:32:19 GMT

I always have a table cloth on my table. In fact I change the design to fit the seasons. I think a table cloth brings a warm feeling to my room and I have always loved the look.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

AnikaBrodie — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:44:42 GMT

Tablecloth with coordinated placemats. Sometimes placemats only. I have a large assortment of tablecloths and use them according to the season. Christmas and Thanksgiving are my favorite.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

Still Raining — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:01:55 GMT

Just with a cloth and hot pads. Used to have a proper full sized pad which is a good thing once you settle on a table size. Use it regularly and always with matching cloth napkins. Makes a nice treat.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

LindaSal — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:10:18 GMT

I have a felt backed table cover also. When we downsized to our townhouse I only had room for one table and that was the one I was taking. It was expensive and it's beautiful!

On top of the cover I always use placemats which I change with the season

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

wilma — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:17:40 GMT

We remodeled our kitchen & dining and knocked out part of the wall separating the 2 rooms. Now we eat at the dining table for every meal. The protective felt pads stay on the table al year. I swap out different tablecloths and coordinating placements for the different seasons & holidays.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

RedTop — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:26:08 GMT

My dining room table is the catch-all for everyones stuff, and is always loaded down. It needs protected from thrown keys, sweaty drinks, bags of heavy items, far more than spilled food. I cover the table with a quilted pad, tablecloth, and a plastic cover; otherwise, my table would be beaten to death or damaged by a corrosive substance by now!

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

cotton4me — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:41:09 GMT

I enjoyed reading everyone’s reply. Part of me wants to leave the table exposed and part of me wants to cover it. I was wondering what others did.

Thanks everyone.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

faeriemoon — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:58:04 GMT

On our dining room table I use one of those cut-to-fit white vinyl, flannel backed covers, with a table cloth over it. We only use the dining room on holidays or special events. When not in use, I don't cover the table.

Our kitchen table is reclaimed wood which IMO only gets better with use. Most of the time I place the dishes right on the table. Sometimes if I'm creating a theme, I'll use placemats or runners. Most of the time the wood is naked.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

bluetail fly — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 20:03:10 GMT

I use tablecloths every meal. I wipe up spills when they happen and put a dry cloth under the wet spot if we're still at the table. I use trivets under hot dishes.

My trivet collection is extensive.

We laugh and celebrate stains on the tablecloths, i.e. "I'll bet David spilled that red wine."

Family dinners are fun and I am sure sad about this year's holiday prospects. I'd LOVE to have a 2020 gravy stain.

Re: How do you protect your dining table?

haddon9 — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 20:06:29 GMT

I have an oak table in the dining room that stays uncovered except for a center piece. When we entertain I add table pads & a cloth. I add a runner over the cloth.

For everyday, I have a wooden farmhouse style table that my DH managed to "distress" which wasn't intentional. I plan on having the top refinished at some point. For now I just use placements on top and if people are over I'll add a tablecloth.