I have more dining tables than usual because I bought one from the PO (it was perfect for the room), and I also needed a certain size for our breakfast room. On top of those two I still have two from our first house that were just too valuable to give away or sell at a discount. Of the four tables, the two we normally eat on are naked. The third one is naked except for an urn and books (it is in my entry hall). The fourth one (round) had a glass on it to protect it and under the glass I recently added an off white twill tablecloth with off white bullion fringe.

Even when I entertain, since my home is really country casual, I don't use tablecloths much. Love paper runners and placemats Hester & Cook. https://hesterandcook.com/

I think maybe the "no window treatment" crowd is also the "naked table" crowd? YMMV

I always have something on my tables, they definitely look too bare otherwise. I often set the dining table a week in advance of a planned meal. If theres no event in the immediate future I at least have a sideways runner, candlesticks and flowers on that table.

Our “kitchen” table that is in an open plan room has a runner of brown kraft paper taped to it and a Quimper bowl of crayons as a centerpiece:

And in the dining room:

mtn, not to sound daft, but when you set the table for an everyday dinner; plates and glasses go directly on the table, flatware on a folded napkin? And the breakfast room and formal dining table are naked unless a meal is in progress?

My dining room table is glass. That would really feel sparse...

kswl, I missed you!

LOVE the Welsh cupboard! Your rooms are gorgeous.

The runners look perfect to me. I love GW. Keeps the ideas fresh! Love the crayons and paper!

ETA Disposable paper tabletops make a lot of hygienic sense, especially right now...

To your first question, yes. Unless one of my kids tries to get away with "setting the table" by piling everything at one end and calling it a buffet.

To your second question, no. The breakfast room table (which is a Swedish trestle table painted a soft white, bought distressed and now 10yo and legitimately distressed). has a basket with napkins in it, and more often than not a small vase of flowers (even in quarantine, thank goodness my grocer has a great floral dept). Lately my DR table (rectangular) has 2 orchids on it in pots and tea lights. Sometime it has seasonal decor; for most of the fall it has a large mercuury glass pumpkin and votives

KSWL, it's so nice to have you back and see your lovely rooms. Big fan of crayons and Kraft. ( also have these: https://nestinteriordesign.net/products/floral-coloring-placemats)

Gardener, these aren't exactly the same, but might work - and rattan would be easy to spray paint any color you want.

https://www.serenaandlily.com/round-rattan-placemat/98447.html

Thanks, guys. I’ve missed being able to talk about the pros and cons of placemats, runners and tablecloths. GW is unique in that respect!

Kraft paper has been a revelation to me, as it captures and highlights every crumb and droplet of food. I did not realize how messy certain persons are when they eat and appreciate the protection for the table. Disposable everything should be the order of the day, Gardener, except that I have trained myself not to use disposables for so long it feels wrong, but we are def using paper napkins though.

For a search try openwork rattan placemats and also rattan chargers. I found this similar style in a couple of colors

And I really liked this bamboo one that popped up in the search:

Mthird I still have some of the oversized knife and fork paper placemats I bought from Hester and Cook years ago from a link you posted, and recently bought some beautiful blue and white chinoiserie die cut cardboard placemats from them for a fancier look on the casual table. But after seeing the wrinkled and stained kraft paper I realize those may end up as single use items so I am being stingy with them!

I bought a large round plastic tray decoupaged with fabric (West Elm) and it is sitting on the table right now with a zinc-ish rabbit holding blue and white terra cotta eggs For Easter. The white birds are S&P, and the “grass” is shredded bank statements :)

Just added to my list: decorate dining table. That looks so cute, kswl!

I have a lot of Chilewich placemats — oval for our oval dining table and round for our round kitchen table. I don’t leave them on the dining table all the time — just when we eat there, which isn’t too often especially now that we have a 1000 piece puzzle set up on one end. I like them bc they’re easy to clean and aren’t too fussy.

I also have Chilewich placemats because they are so easy. Sometimes they stay out, sometimes they get put away. Often there is nothing on our table, except a sleeping cat, or a bowl of rising dough, or both.

This thread sent me down a rabbit hole; I do think I want to up my table game. I found some beautiful placemats that I am now lusting after, but $100 for four and spot clean only is a bit of a dilemma for me.

Down here we have a casual farmhouse/cottage style table, and since I prefer to have my surfaces as spare as possible ;) it stays bare except for a round wicker tray that has a miniature lighthouse wooden figure in the center.

I use these woven placemats from IKEA that go on for eating and then get put away. Never have used runners other than for Thanksgiving with lots of hot dishes on the table.

If I’m being honest right now, my dining room table is full of laundry baskets. But in the middle of all that, somewhere there is a glass vase of dried lavender stacked in an oval silver pedestal bowl on an old silver tray and a stack of rattan chargers that occasionally have room to be set in front of the chairs but often are stacked on the end of the table opposite the laundry. Small homes. No visitors. Cleaning lady cancelled. 😂

I just took these pictures. Today I am camped out in the dining room for a change in scenery. On the table is a tablecloth from our last dinner with friends almost three weeks ago.

Kitchen table:

Living room table:

Three-season room table. Baby it’s cold out there. This is our “drop zone” in these times:

I like that check runner Bonnie, and the plaid tablecloth. is the tablecloth madras? I cant tell from the picture.

It got so every horizontal surface was becoming a drop zone in the new house so we pulled out a closet and built an actual drop zone :) It was the only way I knew with certainty that I would ever find my keys again.

I keep this vase on it, but that’s all. I have an assortment of round plastic IKEA placemats in a drawer and pull them out when needed.

Thank you Kswl. The plaid runner has been on the kitchen table since Christmas. I added that along with a black/white plaid runner in front of the sink area, with some red/white plaid dish towels. I had to have some plaid after seeing it at DD's house! I'm not sure what material the tablecloth is made of, but I'm guessing it's a poly blend I've had it for several years, in two lengths depending on the number of leaves in the table.

Ours is mostly bare but for the chinoiserie bowl with DIY moss arrangement. It's okay but I couldn't bring myself to spring for the lovely but $$$ arrangements in the shops.

We only eat at the dining room table when entertaining, but it is open and central to our floorplan. I always keep a runner on it. I got this batik one from Etsy. I've collected the glass fruit and veggies from our local flea market. Most are from the 60's.

Loving all these ”dressed” tables!

Naked except for a Nambe bowl we picked up in Santa Fe a few years ago. I'll occasionally dress it with a runner, but for the most part enjoy seeing the soft gleam of the wood.

Centerpiece and candlesticks when not in use. I add placemats or tablecloth when dining.

Often piles of laundry lol

Oh, bimblebeez, your dining room is my idea of heaven, those walls are perfection.

Our breakfast room always has placemats. I often stick a plant on the end to get some sunlight because the light is so good in there. In the center is a wicker lazy Susan with S&P and an Easter decoration.

We were to host our Supper Club on Mar 22, 8 people. I was preparing our big dining room table in advance of that and had it pretty well set. When it was obvious the dinner needed to be postponed, I left it for several days. I had spent time adding the leaf, ironing the tablecloth and napkins. I finally removed the plates, silverware and napkins, but left the glass vessel I had planned to take to the florist. Normally I just have a runner and something seasonal in the center or a bowl.

Love seeing all the tables. And Kswl, do you mind sharing the source of your DR chandelier? Unless it was there when you bought your new home. I have been thinking of a light fixture refresh. These idle days have me doing too much online shopping.

Outside, I bought that light as a replacement for a very spanish-y looking chandelier that was undersized for the size of the room and my table. I wanted something more modern looking that would coordinate with the other new lighting in that area of the house that I was installing. It was very reasonable, made by Capitol Lighting and sold at a lot of retailers—including Amazon, with free shipping.

http://www.capitallightingfixture.com/product/6-light-chandelier-132-4/

The shades are from shades of light:

https://www.shadesoflight.com/products/5-contrast-trim-chandelier-shade?color=Cream+With+Black+Trim&via=57e1331c69702d78ae0000a8%2C57e1364a69702d78ae0003a8

It’s funny you should ask about it because now that we have moved in and seem to be keeping all the table leaves in all the time, the 30” light seems a bit too small for my dining room. What do you think?

This is the light I would prob replace it with, the diameter is 36”.

This one also has only six lights so it wouldn’t get any brighter, which is ok. But I cannot find a place for that other light and feel silly replacing a brand new chandelier! But.....

Any other GWers want to weigh in?

Everyone’s dining rooms look so pretty!!

Just being real...here’s mine. We’ve been dealing with a million details from my dad’s hospitalization and move to assisted living and this table has become our headquarters. Sigh. And, of course, there’s the CoronaPuzzle.

@User, just sent DD a picture of your breakfast room table with the paper runner and bowl of crayons. I think it is a fantastic idea and I suggested she do the same. Can’t wait to hear her response. I’m not sure the twins are responsible enough to allow free access to crayons.

Kswl, have you thought of putting brighter LED bulb in the fixture you like? I had to do that with my DR chandelier. You, of course, know to buy dimmable bulbs. Earlier in the week, I called 1000bulbs.com with some questions about particular bulbs needed for a fixture. There could not be better customer service for light bulbs! The person I talked to was actually at the company in a suburb of Dallas!

How old are they, BBstx? I don’t think I would have let my kids at crayons as toddlers, lol. The person who enjoys it most is DS2’s GF. She is a very gifted artist and has fun drawing us. DH also loves it because he can write down phone numbers and Other stuff while he is on the phone. It’s like a note taking aid for him. I buy the rolls of paper from Amazon but they are probably cheaper at Walmart and wider at a restaurant supply online.

Sue, I always thought that was the spectacular utility of a large dining table... that it can double as a conference table. That’s a great use for It, a temporary project headquarters. I am sorry to hear about your Dad’s move to AL and hope he adjusts well.

Mine is covered in our tax return right now!

@User, they are 3 1/2. I think this may be an idea for several years down the road. But whenever, I think it is fantastic!

Regarding our tables, I keep them pretty bare. I have an empty Waterford wedding bowl on the DR table now. When I am comfortable going back out shopping, it will have a large chinoiserie bowl with white phalenopses (is that the plural of phalenopsis?) in it. The breakfast room table gets good light. It has a philodendron in a chinoiserie planter on it.

Mine is never naked -- usually fresh flowers or seasonal things. Here's an old pic of a mat that I wove.... I love seeing the other examples being posted because it gives me ideas. lol!

Mine is naked of linens, but I always have a centerpiece. Usually a large tray with 3 items, which is what I have now. I also love having a large container of flowering branches, depending on what is available outside.

Bbstx, I already do have LED bulbs in the existing llight fixture and it gives enough light. The ceiling is only 9 ft. So I don’t need a lot of wattage for a chandelier. It’s the footprint of the light that is small, just 30” across at the widest point. I had thought we would keep the table in a smaller configuration but we haven’t, and the long table makes the light look skimpy. The alternate I posted is 36” across at the widest point, and of course it is a completely different vibe. It’s still in the antique brass family to coordinate with a front hall light and a flush mount fixture in the sitting room.

Gotcha. They both look great!

The wallpaper is the star of our dining room. The former owners took their crystal chandelier and we hastily replaced it with one that fit our farmhouse table better. I hate ours but don’t want to throw away money on a poor decision. ( to be honest, I’d do it in a heartbeat but dh wouldn’t understand )

Here. Is my current arrangement. I had my eye on some cute ceramic bunnies and daffodils ay Home Goods for the Easter season before the virus cancelled my plans 😬.

Same tray and floral changed for the fall.

Kswl, sorry to just get back to you. I think the rule of thumb for fixture width is between 1/2 and 2/3 the width of your table. I finally measured mine. The table is 45” wide and our current fixture is almost 29” so it is almost 2/3 the width. So if your table is 50” wide, I think a 36” fixture would be ok. It looks wide in the photo, but on the other hand, the current fixture looks ok too. Maybe it’s just the angle of the photo and it’s hard to tell.

This is the best thread! I have been happily oogling all your tables because I love dining tables. I am not wild about ours (I hear you Jojoco!), but since it came with DH, I will put up with it-it is a good size and will seat 12 with all the leaves in it and it is oval which is also nice. My heart, however, longs for an old narrow (no wider than about 32-35 inches) rectangular table which I could put in the kitchen keeping room (fancy term for a room attached to our kitchen that we use as a sitting room now).

So anyway, you all have wonderful tables and dining rooms. Thanks for the best "shelter-in-place" day thus far!

This thread made me clean my dining room table. This is how I would like it to look all the time (if we had a laundry room and extra storage!). We'd love for the wine fridge and water to have somewhere else to go, but it doesn't.

This room sits between the living room and kitchen with the "library" next to it. The library has doors on all walls, so it's essentially a large hallway.

We have to do some structural work in here at some point and have toyed with reworking this back wall to have built-ins below and smaller windows across the entire wall to bring more light into the house. All projects like these are pipe-dreams at this point.

I keep a white linen hemstitch table runner on our farm style table. In the Fall I place a slightly wider burlap runner under the white runner (Christmas runner for the holidays) and change out table scapes seasonally.

I love to decorate mine