Not just for messy kids, do you use place mats at your dinner table? What about a table cloth? If you have a separate kitchen table and dining room table, do you do something different for each?
We have been eating at an island breakfast bar for years, and really crappy beat up tables before that. When we move we will have both a kitchen table (eventually) and a traditional dining room set (bought with the house). I want to protect our furniture but also be realistic.
persimmon / 1310 posts
When we had a crappy old table, we used a tablecloth a lot. After getting a pretty one, we rarely do.
We used to use placemats all the time but have gotten out of the habit. I do always put a placemat on my toddler's little table though to catch her spills.
persimmon / 1310 posts
Just wanted to add how I deal with dirty or wet placemats. I keep a bucket in the kitchen for them (I also put used kitchen towels in it). Otherwise they tended to pile up on the counter since I didn't want to put wet things in the hamper with the clothes.
pear / 1642 posts
We use placemats in our little kitchen nook because the table we have in there gets white discoloration as soon as you set a plate down. It's so irritating, still on the lookout for the perfect placemat that protects the table but doesn't slide around too much.
We don't have a table in our formal dining room yet, so no idea what we will do in there.
bananas / 9118 posts
We ditched table cloths when we had kids, they pull just a little bit and everything comes down on the floor. I found a cute felt placemat in the center to put a centerpiece on. We have cloth placemats for us and plastic ones (Melissa & Doug coloring ones) for the kids. They miss the mat often, so we just wipe down the table after clearing the plates away.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@Iced Tea: smart. We have something similar now to deal with wet bibs and washcloths from wiping the kids hands and faces- a mini crate that has holes in the side, that sits on top of the stacked washer/ dryer, which is right next to the kitchen. But in the house it will be a bit further away so I'll want to make sure to have something.
pear / 1986 posts
If we sit at our kitchen table, we use placemats (fabric for adults, plastic for the kiddo) or a tablecloth if we have guests. But we usually eat at our breakfast bar and use nothing on that.
pomelo / 5129 posts
My mom and SIL get these table cloths from kohls that don't absorb water. So spills can be wiped up and don't make as much of a mess. Liquids bead on the surface but don't soak in
Since we don't have kids yet, we eat at the coffee table still. If we do eat at the table, we pull out cloth placemats. My tables are old and odd sizes so they're hard to cover with cloths
nectarine / 2173 posts
Most of the time we use placemats, but use a tablecloth for more formal events. We have a beautiful oak table and I prefer it to not be covered, but the placemats help protect it and look nice.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
I just got really frustrated with washing so much but our table needs something. Now I use these cork backed placemats with a hard top. They protect the table and are super easy to wipe clean. I think this is the brand.
http://www.pimpernelinternational.com/collections/placemats-and-coasters.html
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
I really dislike using anything, but had to with our wooden table that showed every mark. We finally got a new table with a marble top a week ago! I'll use a tablecloth to dress it up for special ocassions, but I love not having to use anything on a daily basis.
eggplant / 11824 posts
This is always a frustration for me. We have a BEAUTIFUL table, it's seriously gorgeous so I want to show it but I also want to protect it.
For more formal dinners I always use a tablecloth, otherwise cotton placemats
pomegranate / 3127 posts
We don't use anything - our table is covered with ceramic tile so it's really easy to wipe down. Our parents have wood tables though, so they either use two layers of tablecloths (a pretty one, and clear plastic on top), or one tablecloth that's machine-washable.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
Oh one more question- the dining room table has a glass top over the wood- to protect it I assume. Is the idea to put that on top of a table cloth? It feels very old fashioned (like @Mama Bird: your parents clear plastic tablecloth- my grandma definitely did that).
And people who use cloth placemats, how often do you wash them?
We aren't getting a super nice kitchen table or anything (we have two small kids, now is not the time for that investment!). Hopefully DH will make the Ana White farmhouse table someone on here turned me on to for cheap.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
We use placemats. I have a set for each table, but really want something more useful for both. The vinyl mats pool liquid and the wood bead mats has a lot of space for crumbs to fall through.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
The glass top over the wood is a good question, I agree it would feel old-fashioned and I wouldn't be a fan. I'd probably remove it if that's possible.
We also have a really lovely wood table that we like to display. I use bamboo place mats, coasters, and we have a pretty patterned table runner in addition to a few silver heirloom trivets. The runner and the trivets help keep serving dishes off the bare wood. I'm not into tablecloths - I have tried several and they just irritate me, and I never like the look as much as I do the wood.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@PawPrints: it's definitely possible to remove the glass top but I feel like with little kids, I'm just asking for the table to get banged up then. We won't be using the room much though and it would be easy enough to keep them out so maybe I'll move it. The room has just the heavy window treatments and wallpaper that you would expect with the glass top.
One day it will look more like this. Still sort of traditional, keeping with the style of the furniture, but not heavy old windows and wallpaper.
pomelo / 5220 posts
We use placemats for DH and I because our table is unfinished wood that I wax to keep sealed - not the most practical with LO but the wax has worked well so far. Our LO usually eats at the bar or in a high chair occasionally. For fancy occasions I use a table cloth to dress it up!
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
Yes, we use placemats at our dining table (which is where we usually eat).
nectarine / 2134 posts
We use an oil cloth table cloth, unless we have guests over for dinner then we usually use a nice tablecloth.
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