A checked tablecloth is perfect for an informal meal.
Tablecloths brighten a table, add elegance to a formal occasion and can be used to pull an interior scheme together. They can be purely ornamental or can serve to prevent the table underneath from being damaged. Although white is traditional for tablecloths, they can be found in all colors and fabrics. Does this Spark an idea?
History
Previously limited to upper-class households, where women were free from household chores, patterned and decorated tablecloths gained in popularity around 1865, as women had more time to indulge their creativity and spend time embroidering and working with lace.
Fashions
Like anything, tablecloths have followed trends of the time, from decorative flora and fauna of the Art Nouveau style at the beginning of the 1900's to the polka dots of the 1950's. Tablecloths follow the fashions of the catwalk, as well as the home. Good ideas for patterned tablecloths today would be butterfly patterns, citrus fruits or animal print---all seen recently on fashion runways.
Practicality
Sometimes a tablecloth is necessary, not just for decoration, but to protect the table underneath. Oilcloth is a waterproof fabric with a shiny surface that protects from water spills, or felt can be used to protect from heat damage. Chenille or flannel can be used to back the tablecloth to further protect the table. For outdoor dining, use a tablecloth with a beaded fringe to prevent breezes from lifting the fabrics.
Style
Different patterns suit different occasions, so while a summery check might be perfect for a relaxed brunch in the kitchen, only a heavy white linen cloth will do for fine dining. A floral tablecloth will add color to a room, or a single-color tablecloth can be used to highlight a tone used elsewhere within the room.
Tags: protect table, table underneath