Do you cover your dining room table?

[EllenFrasier]

I'm talking about do you cover your dining room table with a tablecloth, not with stuff! That doesn't count.
We bought an expensive dining room set about 8 years ago and I haven't seen the table since. It's been covered with a tablecloth so it won't get scratched up - I sometimes ask myself if I am saving it for resale or what? I don't get to enjoy the beautiful table because I never see it.
Ours is covered by a plastic tablecloth that has a felt lining (sold to protect tables, not one for picnics) and then a cloth tablecloth on top of that for decorative purposes.
What do you all do with your dining room tables?

 

[Pakey]

Both my dining room table and my breakfast nook table are uncovered. I pull out placemats and/or tablecloths when we are eating but otherwise the wood is showing.

 

[luvdumbo]

I bought a beautiful cherry wood table for my formal dining room and do not cover it up, although I use wood cleaners and polishers on it every other week to keep it looking nice. I would never cover it up because the reason why I bought it was because it looked like a royal table, one Kings and Queens would eat off. I do use placements when I eat at the table but that isnt very often because I mostly use my informal dining room, which doesnt get a table cloth either.

 

[pkondz]

The second I saw our dining room table in the store I loved it and knew we were going to get it. I wouldn't've bought it if I couldnt' see it, so why would I cover it up? IMHO it's beautiful and any covering would detract not enhance. We do have a vase with flowers on it, but you can definitely see the table.

 

[diznygirl]

We bought table pads and use those when using the table for crafts, etc. But when it's just sitting there looking pretty, it's uncovered with just a small runner and flower arrangement (dust catcher!) in the middle. When we have guests for dinner I use placemats.

 

[mombrontrent]

I cover my exactly like the OP. Table protecter and then decrative tablecloth. It is a very beautiful expensive mahogany set then was handed down to me by my mother. If I didn't have kids I would leave it uncovered and sometimes I do for a few days after changing or washing the tablecloth but I'm too scared it will get scratched and dinged-up by the kids. It's the first table or place to "drop" things when you enter the house and often they will drop stuff there and I want to keep it in good shape.

 

[luvsJack]

Well, I couldn't answer the poll. Mine is covered but not with a tablecloth or placemats

Right now it has several 2 liter drinks, cake in a container, paper plates and cups and whatever one of us has brought into the house and "deposited" on the table.

Our table sits in the area sort of between the entry and the family room. EVERYTHING gets left on the table. I decided it wasn't worth fighting that fight and just let it be.

 

[Meriweather]

Dining room table is covered at all times. During holidays it has holiday table clothes on (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Kitchen table has placemats......and the table desperately needs to be refinished.
When it will get done who knows.

 

[ilovemk76]

I'm talking about do you cover your dining room table with a tablecloth, not with stuff! That doesn't count.
We bought an expensive dining room set about 8 years ago and I haven't seen the table since. It's been covered with a tablecloth so it won't get scratched up - I sometimes ask myself if I am saving it for resale or what? I don't get to enjoy the beautiful table because I never see it.
Ours is covered by a plastic tablecloth that has a felt lining (sold to protect tables, not one for picnics) and then a cloth tablecloth on top of that for decorative purposes.
What do you all do with your dining room tables?

Other: We sometimes cover it but it is for decoration. We always eat on our table top. A high end table with an excellent finish will not be hurt by somebody eating on it. That is what it is designed for.

If the table is made of laminate then I would cover it when we used it.

 

[jackskellington01]

Well, I couldn't answer the poll. Mine is covered but not with a tablecloth or placemats

Right now it has several 2 liter drinks, cake in a container, paper plates and cups and whatever one of us has brought into the house and "deposited" on the table.

Our table sits in the area sort of between the entry and the family room. EVERYTHING gets left on the table. I decided it wasn't worth fighting that fight and just let it be.

Sounds just like my house

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I keep mine covered all the time but only because I use my big dining room table and dining room as my sewing room. We never used the formal dining room and I needed somewhere to sew so I took it over. Now it is covered with a sewing machine and fabric.

But even before I took over the dining room I kept it covered. Mine is real shiny and beautiful too. I don't know why I kept it covered so much.

 

[Disney Doll]

Mine actually has protective table pads and a cover.

It's not a really nice table though. We bought it second hand, so it actually looks better coeverd.

 

[minkydog]

My table is only covered at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter when I drag out my special lace tablecloth for a few days. It's kinda hard for us to use a tablecloth because Christian often pulls on the end. A coupla times we've had dishes and food on the floor after he gave the tablecloth a quick tug. Usually, IF i even use the tablecloth, I fold back his end so he can't easily get to it. It looks stupid that way, which is even more reason to not use the tablecloth.

 

[portocall]

I couldn't answer the poll. We eat at our dining room table everyday but I only put a tablecloth on it seasonally. Mainly Thanksgiving and Christmas and occasionally Mardi Gras but other than that it is just the table. I don't use place mats because they were winding up on the floor for some reason.

 

[Lanshark]

My dining room table was one of the first pieces of furniture DH and I purchased. It is 25 years old. I do not cover it unless we're eating on it. Then I have a table pad and cloth. We only use the table a couple of times a year and typically eat at the kitchen table. I use placemats on that table.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Both my dining room table and my breakfast nook table are uncovered. I pull out placemats and/or tablecloths when we are eating but otherwise the wood is showing.

^ this.

 

[mhsjax]

I only cover my dining room table when we use it on Thanksgiving and Christmas. OUr dining room is on the left as soon as you walk in my front door. I don't want a table cloth on it, I don't like the old grandmother look of a table cloth. My kids know that the death penalty comes if you put something on my cherry table, so no worries about getting it scratched.

 

[Swimnoid]

As always, the poll should have an "other" category.

Our dining table is really old, handed down from DH's grandparents, and kind of beat up although it is a nice table. So most of the time is is covered because it looks nicer and throwing the tablecloth in the washer is easier than cleaning up DHs spills. But sometimes it is not and I use place mats.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

We only cover our table for holidays or when we are having a large group of people over.

 

[HunnyPots]

I only use tablecloths on occasion, like holiday meals, and then just to add to the decor. We've used the table uncovered for about 15 years now and never worried about protecting it. Yes, it has a few scratches and dings but I figure it just adds character. After all, you can buy new "distressed" furniture, so someone out there must find it desirable!