Tablecloths have been around for centuries as a way of protecting tables from drinks and food spills.
Also, if you are looking for a way to add color and style to your room settings and even the table itself, a beautiful tablecloth would be a perfect choice.
However, they are not a must-have accessory. They can easily be a hindrance to some occasions.
To Begin With, Are Tablecloths Tacky?
Yes, but it depends. If you are looking for a decorative accessory to unify all the components of your table settings, a tablecloth would be a great choice no matter what. Some homeowners find them to be a more practical accouterment that can be used to insulate the table and even lower the level of noise in the room. Also, tablecloths offer more elbow room compared to placemats and can conserve significant space at any crowded table.
Nine Reasons Why Tablecloths Are Tacky
Here is why tablecloths are tacky:
1. Gets soggy with spills
The worst-case scenario can be when you spill water, a drink, or soup on it – the fabric becomes soggy, making it hard to continue enjoying your dinner.
You’d have to remove everything and wipe the table or endure everything and embark on the cleaning later.
2. Can create an uneven surface
Perhaps the most depressing thing about this not-so-essential piece of cloth is its tendency to create a bumpy or uneven surface (especially if it is plastic or hard fabric) for your dishes since there’ll be edges of the raised fabric along the entire length of your table.
3. They’re jarring
Since some tablecloths don’t cover the entire surface of your table, some people in your home, and even guests, may find it to be jarring or just not-so-pleasing to look at.
4. Fire hazard
For those of us who prefer placing a few candles on the table for an important dinner, tablecloths can be a fire hazard.
Let’s say you aren’t very attentive and have left one or two of your candles on the table after the meal.
If they burn down or get knocked over, they are more likely to set the tablecloth ablaze.
If the table is made of wood, you’d be looking at a serious home fire that may end up razing your entire house.
5. Maintenance headache
Tablecloths require a great deal of maintenance.
Often when small children are present at home, you are more likely to have to clean the gooey soups and all kinds of mess several times a day depending on how often you sit around it to eat.
If your tablecloth is made of cotton instead of plastic, it will acquire stains that could prove difficult to remove on with sustained use.
In that sense, tablecloths are an unnecessary bother.
6. Limits the rate of repurposing your table
These pieces of cloth are never permanently installed on a table.
Once in a while or very often, you will need to remove it to repurpose the table for other uses.
Also, it may be a considerable hazard when accidentally pulled or tugged especially if you have some glassware on it.
7. Covers the beauty of your table
In some homes and for some occasions it is simply best to let the table show its beauty.
That way, you will enjoy the finish and stunning appearance of your table as long as you want, even longer!
8. A barrier to the visual interest of your room
Long tablecloths are a turnoff because, besides the fact that they tend to sway and make it hard to keep them in one position, they obscure table legs which can reduce the visual interest of your room.
9. Not even fun
It can be hard or straight uncomfortable for some diners to sit at any table with a long tablecloth that pools all the way onto the floor or their laps.
Seven Reasons Why Tablecloths AREN’T TACKY
Here is why tablecloths may not be tacky after all:
1. Turns your table into a ‘gem’
Tablecloths are perfect for turning an ugly table into a beautiful eating surface.
They hide most imperfections on the surface of the table and create a great place for studying, eating a meal, or simply improving the appearance of the room.
2. Yes, they can be tacky but will rid your table of dirt and spills
It is easier to take the tablecloth off, take it outside, and shake it to remove any crumbs and prevent them from spilling on the floor. Isn’t that better than wiping the table itself?
3. Freshens up the room
A bright decent tablecloth can be a perfect way to revamp or freshen up an outdoor or indoor space and even serve as a way of bringing extra colors into your room.
4. Can be easier to clean
When a tablecloth gets dirty, it can be easier to dip it in water and wash in no time rather than clean the bare table
5. Protects your table from damage
Tablecloths can actually protect the table from damage.
In case of harsh spills or tipped candles, it will act as a barrier between the spill and the table’s surface. This protection can help preserve the beauty of the table.
6. Can be matched with your décor
Another great thing is that they are normally available in many styles and colors to match even the most sophisticated décor you have in your room, especially if you are planning to decorate the room for a particular holiday.
7. Reduces noise
Because they add an extra layer of insulation on the table, they will help to cut the noise produced by people putting crockery and other items on the table.
You are less likely to hear less sound when the glassware is downed or silverware dropped. This can result in a quieter and nicer meal.
Summary
There is seldom just one answer for a question – whether or not you should use a tablecloth on your table is no exception.
Yes, it offers protection, beauty, design, and can easily dampen noise, but also demands a great deal of cleaning, washing, and need to be the correct size for your table.
However, for most occasions, a tablecloth is a lovely addition to your space and may go a long way to add a few years to the lifespan of your table. In some homes, a tablecloth may hinder the diverse uses of the table.
- Water, drink, or soup spills can turn your tablecloth into an irritating mess – the fabric becomes soggy, making it hard to continue enjoying your dinner.
- The biggest turnoff probably has something to do with tablecloths creates a bumpy or uneven surface (more so those made of plastic or hard fabric) for your dishes since there’ll be edges of the raised fabric along the entire length of your table
- Because some tablecloths don’t cover the entire surface of your table, some people in your home, and even guests, may find it to be jarring or just not-so-pleasing to look at.
- If candles on your tablecloth burn down or get knocked over, they are more likely to set the tablecloth ablaze in your absence. If the table is made of wood, you’d be looking at a serious home fire that may end up razing your entire house.
- If you have small children at home, you are more likely to have to clean the gooey soups and all kinds of mess several times a day depending on how often you sit around it to eat.
- If your tablecloth is made of cotton instead of plastic, it will acquire stains that could prove difficult to remove on with sustained use. In that sense, tablecloths are an unnecessary bother.
- It can be hazardous to accidentally pull or tug a tablecloth especially if you have some glassware on it.
- If you like to repurpose your table for a range of other uses, a tablecloth may stand in the way for easy and quick change
- Long tablecloths are a turnoff because, besides the fact that they tend to sway and make it hard to keep them in one position, they obscure table legs which can reduce the visual interest of your room
- It can be hard or straight uncomfortable for some diners to sit at any table with a long tablecloth that pools all the way onto the floor or their laps
- There’s a bright side to tablecloth use though:
- They are perfect for turning an ugly table into a beautiful eating surface.
- It is easier to take the tablecloth off, take it outside, and shake it to remove any crumbs and prevent them from spilling on the floor than clean the bare table
- A bright decent tablecloth can be a perfect way to revamp or freshen up an outdoor or indoor space and even serve as a way of bringing extra colors into your room
- When some tablecloths get dirty it can be easier to dip it in the water and wash it in no time than clean the bare table
- In case of harsh spills or candle tipping, a tablecloth will act as a barrier between the spill and the table’s surface.
- Tablecloths can actually protect the table from damage.