We have only one dining table available to us (as opposed to having a kitchen table in the kitchen for less formal eating and another formal table in a formal dining room). It is solid oak, and in what is our formal dining room (although a true Realtor or home design expert will tell you that our space is not actually qualifying as a formal dining room, the space is big enough and properly situated that I turned it into just that).
So I want to preserve the formality of the room, yet for 30 years and through raising a family (and now having grands) we have had to eat all our meals there. The table is covered with custom made to fit table pads, then a lacy Heritage lace table cloth is over that. When we eat, I put cloth placemats on that coordinate with whatever dinnerware I am using for that meal. We also always use cloth napkins. I tend to choose solid color placemats and napkins as my many dinnerware sets are prints.
The Heritage Lace tablecloth takes a ton of abuse. All stains wash out and it looks great for many years before I have to replace it with a new one.
This is not my dining room, but it is the cloth that we use. And they are made in USA!!!