Are tablecloths a thing of the past?

[Morning Glory]

Are tablecloths a thing of the past? Have they fallen out of fashion along with fitted carpets and Tiffany lamps?

I don't own one and can't remember if I ever did. In the UK, even Michelin starred restaurants rarely use them these days. And UK Indian restaurants, that last bastion of the white starched tablecloth and red flock wallpaper (reminiscent of the Raj), have been increasingly updating their decor with something sleeker and more contemporary.

Do you own a tablecloth or two? Maybe you bring one out for special occasions. Or perhaps you like to go vintage and indulge in a nostalgic table setting once in a while.

 

[badjak]

I have table clothes, but they are left over from running a small lodge.
I hardly ever eat at the table and if I do, I may use a place math, but not a table cloth

 

[karadekoolaid]

Knowing my wife's ability to squirrel things away, we've probably got about 3,478 tablecloths, formerly belonging to my MIL, my wife's aunts, grandmothers, cousins and hairdressers, and probably a few of our own.
They only make an appearance, however, at Xmas, New Year, Easter or any time we have a dinner party.
I generally eat a small table in front of the telly, or we use place mats.

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

I love them.
I don't use them often (but probably more often than most) because they add something.

They change the colour of the table, add some care n softness and demonstrate you're making an effort to match the food mood.

If you pick pans or cutlery or plates to suit the food then why not a cloth?

I don't frown at tiffany lamps, fitted carpets or any of the old school attempts by the aspirational bourgeoisie.
Despise some of it yes but dismiss it no.
If it feels good count me in!

 

[Morning Glory]

Problably one reason they are not so popular is that they need washing and ironing, often after only one use. Maybe some can be tumble dried? Not that I have a tumble dryer...

Another reason may be because a lot of people no longer eat at a table.

 

[karadekoolaid]

They change the colour of the table, add some care n softness and demonstrate you're making an effort to match the food mood.

Very good point. Here´s a couple of pics from a few years ago at home:

 

[msmofet]

I use cloth tablecloths and cloth napkins on the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter). I have holiday plates for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[TastyReuben]

Do you own a tablecloth or two?

Yes, we have about a dozen. I change them out seasonally and for holidays. I just a few days ago swapped out the Autumn one for a Christmas one.

Have they fallen out of fashion along with fitted carpets

I wasn’t aware fitted carpets (called wall-to-wall carpeting here) ever fell out of fashion. While going to wood or wood laminate flooring is a common upgrade these days, new construction on moderately-priced housing nearly always includes wall-to-wall carpeting, as it’s fast and cheap. Our house (built in 2004) came with it and when we replace it when we put the house on the market in the next few years, it’s what we’ll go with, as much because that’s what I prefer as to anything else.

Maybe some can be tumble dried?

Yes, there are a lot of “easy-care” cotton-poly blends for tablecloths for everyday use that can be tumble-dried, and even vinyl ones for quick cleaning with a damp cloth.

Another reason may be because a lot of people no longer eat at a table.

We rarely eat at the table, only for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and afternoon teas, but I still have the table laid with a cloth and plates and a centerpiece (that duly get swallowed by deliveries and shopping bags and medications), just as a point of decoration, I suppose.

 

[Gone Hiking]

We use them, but we mostly eat at the counter bar in the kitchen, or sometimes at the breakfast nook table, which has one. We seldom eat in the dining room, except for get-togethers with friends and family. I, too, like the ability to change colors for different seasons, but that's dictated by Mrs. GH.

On flooring, our first floor is solid hickory, except for the laundry room, which is LVP. The 2nd floor has wall-to-wall carpeting, except for the bathrooms, but we've decided that when it comes time to replace the carpet, we're going with solid hardwood or LVP, and will use area rugs in each bedroom.

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Problably one reason they are not so popular is that they need washing and ironing, often after only one use. Maybe some can be tumble dried? Not that I have a tumble dryer...

Cotton seersucker. That can be washed, tumbled and shaken out with no need to iron. You have to buy bigger than you need though because not being ironed and only tumble dried makes it smaller.

Another reason may be because a lot of people no longer eat at a table.

We eat at the table at least 90% of the time. The 10% we don’t feels like a little treat

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Some in order of latest first.

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

No iron cotton seersucker

Theres more but turns out if I search my photos for table I have ‘1000+ results’

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

We only have the one table cloth, but we don't have the protective padded layer that would normally go over the table.

When we were up in the lake district (UK) in June, the table there was very old, and came with the protective mat cut to size and several tablecloths, so we did use them.

Here, my table is an IKEA heavy oak table (not cheap, 9 years ago). It needs sanding down and revarnishing. Maybe I'll get it a protective mat after that and perhaps a tablecloth. It will save it being damaged again.