Boycott the tablecloth! Tablecloths mean spending time ironing and scrubbing on red wine stains, when I'd rather be cooking and celebrating with friends. Plus, if you spent as much time as I did picking out a dining table, why would you want to keep it under wraps?
Table runners bring some sparkle to the table while letting your table shine too. My problem is that our holiday decorations are purple and silver. I've Googled and Froogled and eBayed, but found nothing I liked in purple and silver.
With some help from Tinsel Trading, my vote for the most creative and colorful spot in Manhattan, I'm going DIY, but I just refuse to sew. Here's the plan:
I'll run the wide purple ribbon down the center of my table, sticking the ends under the table with strong, double sided tape. Next, I'll carefully lay the vintage silver ribbon on top and secure it under the table too. In two or three spots down the middle of my ribbon runner, I'll use double sided tape again to stick the silver ribbon to the purple. The extra tape will help keep the layers of ribbon lined up.
The sleek silver glass glitter sleigh ($28.00, from Wendy Addison, available in limited quantities at Tinsel Trading) will skate down the center of the table with some silver wrapped chocolates from Li-Lac. Tea lights will make the glass glitter gleam. If you have hopes for re-using your ribbon, don't let candle wax drip on it.
To do this project for your table, make sure to take exact measurements of your table, just as you would if you were tablecloth shopping, and allow for extra to tuck under the table.
As you select colors, think about contrast. If your table is light, like mine, use a wide dark ribbon that's sure to show up on the table. Do not use ribbon that was wire in it. The wire will crimp as guests and platters bump it.
If you're easily intimidated in these crafty shops (as I am), do ask for help. When I explained my vision, the Tinsel Trading employees were lively and quick with suggestions on how to build on my concept. When I said I didn't like how the silver ribbon I'd found looked, they ran to the other room and pulled out a beautiful piece of vintage silver ribbon -- the kind costumer desginers use to make military uniforms for movie stars. To finish the look, I'm planning on using the Ivy League looking ribbon to hang a wreath over a mirror.
If you fall for this boutique vintage ribbon like I did, expect to pay for it. The silver ribbon was $18 a yard, while the purple was $7 per yard. One yard is three feet.
Tell us: are tablecloths banned in your place too or do you love them as much as my mom does? If you have holiday table setting pictures or ideas, please send them in.
(Thanks to Lori of Tinsel Trading for her patient help with my vision in sugarplum!)
Great idea. The table will resemble a wrapped Christmas gift.
a wonderful non traditional idea.
Funny. I just ordered a table runner but I guess I've always been a "table cloth person". I work near Tinsel Trading and it rocks!
A few years ago while visiting the fabric stores in L.A.'s fashion district, my wife came back with a few yards of upholstery brocade fabric in a creamy, warm ivory. She didn't hem it or anything; just threw it in the washer and dryer, trimmed the threads along the edges and then draped it over the table. It hangs luxuriously long on all sides. The thickness and weight of the material, along with its sculptured pattern that is tactile as well as visual, gives the table a festive, bohemian elegance. A very inexpensive solution that feels very decadent.
i love runners! my husband made our table and i hate to cover it. i'm having friends over this weekend, and was thinking of creating something like this. take a picture when it's all laid out!
Another easy easy way to dress up a table is to purchase a length of felt in the shade you want from a fabric store, then dress it up with scarves, runners, centerpieces, etc. It's cheap enough that you can just use it a few times and then toss if it gets all messy.
I did a harvest gold one for Thanksgiving, with mini-squash, Indian corn and dried leaves down the middle.
I do adore the look of a runner, especially if you have a gorgeous table made in something like dark cherry or mahogany that you want to show-off... but a tablecloth (or even a simple white sheet) can look just as elegant.
I like the idea of using ribbon, especially in complementary colours and in nice textures such as satin or velvet.
The options are endless...
Entwine it around your centrepiece, tie into a pretty bow around your napkins on each plate setting, and have it just curl up and down the length of the table. Lovely! And so much fun! (I love holidays... any opportunity to play "dress-up" ... and I am not talking about me!)
I have to say that I used to be in this camp of displaying the table, and why cover a table with something that can't get anything spilled on it? We have a set of a white table and chairs, and after so many dinners it has never worked naked. It is too bright for the food, standing out on little islands of their own, and people felt far away.
I recently bought one of the tablecloths featured on Scavenger, it's a gorgeous vintage thick linen, grey. It's perfect for mediating the space when I have lots of food and dishes and people. All of a sudden there's this warmth. I don't need it everyday, and that's when I can worship our nice table. But it is really a savior.
I'm a tablecloth fan now! I think that there are all kinds of ways to decorate your table; just because you have a nice table doesn't mean it can't be versatile.
The funny thing about tablecloths and runners is that I have a 14-month-old boy. He is inquisitive to put it nicely and will pull on anything hanging from everyone. All the tablecloths and runners in our house have retired and will come out again when the children are past the "what does this do?" phase! Chris--I have a runner you got for me years ago--with beading, it's gorgeous and will get use again someday :)Your ribbon idea sounds great though!