Tablecloths

In years gone by tablecloths were de rigueur – no grandmother’s dining table was complete without one. And today, you’ll find they’re coming back into fashion. Not that we’re objecting.

They are an excellent way of brightening up a room and, at the same time, protecting your precious table (your glass and wood tables will be particularly grateful for the added layer between themselves and knives, hot cups and food spills). They are also great for adding levity to special occasions and are a lovely festive touch – especially at Christmas or Easter (if you can find a novelty version).

But of course a tablecloth could be an everyday item as well such as a chic gingham fabric for a small kitchen table to give a country feel, or an elaborate embroidered linen cloth for disguising a worn out old sideboard. They are particularly good for picnics of course, since picnic tables tend to be fold-up oddities which spend most of the year in the garage and are a bit depressing to look at on such a happy occasion.

A tablecloth over a wooden side table with ornaments and flowers can save it from getting wet and becoming warped as a result. At Curtains Made Simple we have a large selection of fabrics which could be used to produce tablecloths or table runners. One of our favourite tablecloth fabric designers is Cabbages & Roses:




Susie Watson Designs goes for a striped, fresh look with this picnic stripe:

Best Material for Tablecloths

You’ll obviously want a fabric that’s easy to wipe and keep clean. As a result you’re looking for material derived from cotton, a poly-cotton blend or even something that is PVC coated and therefore very easily wiped on a regular basis. It’s best too to find a fabric that can be washed at a low temperature (30 degrees) to ensure the colour doesn’t fade due to regular immersion.

Having a custom made tablecloth produced means you can also get co-ordinated napkins and table mats produced at the same time to increase the overall effect of your table linen. That doesn’t mean having all accessories in the same fabric though as contrasting colours and patterns can look good too.

The Correct Length For Your Tablecloth

Tablecloths come in four distinct shapes – square, round, rectangular and oval. It’s important to measure your table before deciding on a fabric (guessing the length by sight is sure to lead to disappointment).

Interior designers advise an eight to 12 inch drop for a table cloth, which should allow you to have corner skirtings and therefore a more elegant look to your table. The material should also be long enough to let the pattern flow.

At Curtains Made Simple we produce tablecloths to your exact specifications. We’ll also make napkins, seat covers and other co-ordinated textile accessories. Take a look at our fabrics from Cath Kidston and Andrew Martin - as well as the above featured designers.