Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you use placemats? Table cloths?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you use placemats? Table cloths? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 11:28:04 +0000 NorCalWayfarer on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612796 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 14:11:30 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 2612796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We use an oil cloth table cloth, unless we have guests over for dinner then we usually use a nice tablecloth. daniellemybelle on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612794 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 14:08:48 +0000 daniellemybelle 2612794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, we use placemats at our dining table (which is where we usually eat). psw27 on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612721 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:52:53 +0000 psw27 2612721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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! Foodnerd81 on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612714 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:44:16 +0000 Foodnerd81 2612714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @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. [attach=2307/16/ocomls.338x600.image.png] PawPrints on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612622 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 11:17:50 +0000 PawPrints 2612622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612621 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 11:14:03 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2612621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. snowjewelz on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612572 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 10:28:36 +0000 snowjewelz 2612572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes! I use cheap (but cute) plastic ones from Target! Foodnerd81 on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612080 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 19:50:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2612080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Mama Bird on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612076 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 19:40:19 +0000 Mama Bird 2612076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. yoursilverlining on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612063 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:35:39 +0000 yoursilverlining 2612063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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 yin on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612060 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:31:22 +0000 yin 2612060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We use both a tablecloth and placemats. looch on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612056 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:21:48 +0000 looch 2612056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Maysprout: I use the same kind as you posted. Andrea on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612053 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:06:11 +0000 Andrea 2612053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Maysprout on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612049 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:03:02 +0000 Maysprout 2612049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. <a href="http://www.pimpernelinternational.com/collections/placemats-and-coasters.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pimpernelinternational.com/collections/placemats-and-coasters.html</a> sapphire on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612032 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 17:17:24 +0000 sapphire 2612032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. MaryM on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612028 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 17:07:24 +0000 MaryM 2612028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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 GreenThumb on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612022 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:50:33 +0000 GreenThumb 2612022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Foodnerd81 on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612019 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:40:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2612019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @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. lemondrop on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612018 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:19:02 +0000 lemondrop 2612018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. MrsRoo on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612015 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:08:57 +0000 MrsRoo 2612015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Iced Tea on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612009 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 15:36:54 +0000 Iced Tea 2612009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Iced Tea on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612008 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 15:34:22 +0000 Iced Tea 2612008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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. Foodnerd81 on "Do you use placemats? Table cloths?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-placemats-table-cloths#post-2612005 Sat, 27 Aug 2016 15:29:13 +0000 Foodnerd81 2612005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 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.