Whether you’re looking for a tablecloth to add a bit of elegance to a dinner party, a gingham design to evoke memories of a Mediterranean holiday, or just an affordable option for everyday use, you'll have plenty to choose from in the vast world of tablecloths.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a nifty buying guide to help you identify exactly what you want. We’ll look at all the classic shapes and sizes, alongside the best materials for the job and how easy they are to clean. From there we’ll go on to show you our favourite designs available to buy online right now, all from trusted sites like Amazon, eBay and John Lewis.
Let’s get to it. In this section, we’ll be looking at the functionality, practicality, and style of each tablecloth to help you choose the best option depending on both your table and taste.
It may sound obvious, but it’s worth mentioning – your tablecloth should always be larger than the table you're covering. However, how much ‘drop’ you have either side is down to personal taste, and what occasion the fabric is for.
The drop is the amount of overhead on each side of the table, and generally speaking, the longer the drop, the more formal the occasion. The average 'casual' overhead is usually around 15 cm, so if you’re looking to make more of a statement, 15 cm should be the minimum.
Remember, when it comes to adding the drop into your size calculations, you will want to add the desired amount (the recommended 15 cm, for example) to both sides of both the length and width.
So, you could calculate this as the length of your table plus two lengths of drop (which would be an extra 30 cm) and then the two widths plus the drop (also 30 cm).
Have you ever heard the saying ‘like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole’? If you pick up the wrong shape tablecloth, essentially this is what you’ll be doing. The wrong shape can leave your elegant design lopsided, with different drops on different ends of the table.
However, if push comes to shove and you’re in a bit of a pinch, or you like a particular design but it doesn’t come in the shape of your table, don't worry too much. It is possible to use an oval design on a rectangular table, or a circular on a square table, just never the other way around.
The next thing to consider is the material the tablecloth is crafted from, as each will require different care whether when washing or when being set out. Here, we’ll each take a quick look at some of the most common fabrics used.
PVC is a classic kid-friendly tablecloth material. Usually available in many patterned designs, it has a casual look and can be used either indoors or outdoors. This material won't stain and is very easy to clean as you only need a damp cloth to wipe it down.
While this is a practical choice, it may not give the best impression if you’re looking to host a fancy dinner party. Nevertheless, if there is going to be a kids table, it would work perfectly for that!
Classy, timeless, and durable, natural cotton or a cotton blend is surely the way to go if you want a cloth that feels and looks good. Cotton tablecloths are usually machine washable, however, they may require some spot cleaning to prevent stains when in use.
When it comes to preparing the table, you may want to check and see if it requires ironing, or how easy it is to iron, as cotton is known to crease.
Often the most economical of fabrics, polyester is a great choice if you’re on a budget. As with cotton, you’ll be required to spot clean to prevent stains from sticking. On a positive note, it does not crease as easily so can usually be thrown over the table straight from the washing line.
Polyester tablecloths are also capable of being machine washed and tumble dried, making them another practical family choice. Just check the care instructions before you buy.
The biggest advantage of a linen tablecloth? Without a doubt, its durability – it's regarded as the world’s most enduring natural fibre.
Again, a linen cloth will require spot cleaning to keep any pesky stains away. However, if one does seep in you can take it to a dry cleaner as the stain will usually lift no matter what type or how old it is.
The other downside is that it may set you back a little more than tablecloths of other materials, though with its elegant look, it could always be saved for special occasions.
Choosing a colour or pattern will, of course, largely depend on the décor of the room. Off-whites, eggshells and ivories can look dull in a brightly coloured room but fit in perfectly among natural woods and neutral tones. As long as you’re coordinating with the rest of the space, the tablecloth will blend seamlessly.
If you’re looking to make more of a statement and create a bit of visual interest, then you could opt for a patterned tablecloth. Be careful that it doesn’t clash with any other patterns in the room – we find ones with simple colour schemes often work best. Patterned cloths are also great because they often make stains less visible!
Now you've had a chance to think about all of the different aspects of choosing a tablecloth, we can move on to showing you some of our favourites. We're sure there is something for every family and every dining room!
£25.00
Size | 130 cm width x metre increments |
---|---|
Shape | Rectangle |
Material | PVC |
Washing Care | Wipe clean |
Colour/Pattern | Patterned |
£12.89
Size | 304 cm diameter |
---|---|
Shape | Round, rectangle |
Material | 100% polyester |
Washing Care | Machine, hand wash, or dry clean |
Colour/Pattern | White |
£12.95
Size | 130 cm width x metre increments |
---|---|
Shape | Rectangular |
Material | PVC |
Washing Care | Wipe clean |
Colour/Pattern | Spots in duck egg, yellow, grey, or blue |
£18.95
Size | 150 x 300 cm (others available) |
---|---|
Shape | Rectangular |
Material | Polyester |
Washing Care | - |
Colour/Pattern | 13 colours to choose from |
£13.99
Size | 150 cm diameter |
---|---|
Shape | Round |
Material | Polyester blend |
Washing Care | Machine wash |
Colour/Pattern | Peach or grey with Nordic pattern |
£8.22
Size | 127 x 95.2 cm |
---|---|
Shape | Rectangular |
Material | Paper |
Washing Care | - |
Colour/Pattern | 9 different patterns to colour |
£33.99
Size | 140 x 300 cm |
---|---|
Shape | Oval |
Material | 100% cotton |
Washing Care | Machine wash |
Colour/Pattern | Terracotta |
£18.82
Size | 90 x 90 cm (others available) |
---|---|
Shape | Square and rectangle |
Material | Cotton and linen blend |
Washing Care | Machine wash |
Colour/Pattern | Black and white plaid |
£16.49
Size | 80 x 80 cm (others available) |
---|---|
Shape | Square and rectangle |
Material | 100% linen |
Washing Care | Machine wash |
Colour/Pattern | Red & white gingham, four other colours available |
£17.99
Size | 130 x 180 cm (others available) |
---|---|
Shape | Rectangle, square and round |
Material | Cotton and linen blend |
Washing Care | Machine wash |
Colour/Pattern | White with geometric pattern |
Image | 1 ![]() SASTYBALE | 2 ![]() Linen & Cotton | 3 ![]() DAKEUR | 4 ![]() The Tablecloth Company | 5 ![]() EggNogg | 6 ![]() Qucover | 7 ![]() Home Direct | 8 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 9 ![]() Kapwall | 10 ![]() Orla Kiely |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Geometric Tablecloth | Gingham Tablecloth Estella | Rural Square Tablecloth | Terracotta Oval Tablecloth | Colour In Teatime Tablecloth | Round Tablecloth | Extra Large Rectangular Fabric Tablecloth | Spots PVC Tablecloth Fabric | Round Polyester Tablecloth | Multi Stem PVC Tablecloth Fabric |
Features | A Simple Attractive Design That Works for Everyday Dining or Special Events | Give Your Dining Experience a Mediterranean Vibe | Sleek, Stylish and Sophisticated | For Those Who Frequently Host Many Guests | Made to Engage Children Around Tea Time | A Chic Design That Can Handle Itself Outdoors Too | Perfect for the Monthly Family Banquet | Subtle Spot Design That Will Bring a Touch of Character | A Wedding-White Cloth for Special Occasions | An Extremely Popular Kid-Proof Design |
Price | £17.99 | £16.49 | £18.82 | £33.99 | £8.22 | £13.99 | £18.95 | £12.95 | £12.89 | £25.00 |
Size | 130 x 180 cm (others available) | 80 x 80 cm (others available) | 90 x 90 cm (others available) | 140 x 300 cm | 127 x 95.2 cm | 150 cm diameter | 150 x 300 cm (others available) | 130 cm width x metre increments | 304 cm diameter | 130 cm width x metre increments |
Shape | Rectangle, square and round | Square and rectangle | Square and rectangle | Oval | Rectangular | Round | Rectangular | Rectangular | Round, rectangle | Rectangle |
Material | Cotton and linen blend | 100% linen | Cotton and linen blend | 100% cotton | Paper | Polyester blend | Polyester | PVC | 100% polyester | PVC |
Washing Care | Machine wash | Machine wash | Machine wash | Machine wash | - | Machine wash | - | Wipe clean | Machine, hand wash, or dry clean | Wipe clean |
Colour/Pattern | White with geometric pattern | Red & white gingham, four other colours available | Black and white plaid | Terracotta | 9 different patterns to colour | Peach or grey with Nordic pattern | 13 colours to choose from | Spots in duck egg, yellow, grey, or blue | White | Patterned |
Link |
They say there's an art to setting a table, which is probably why it's not something that comes naturally to all of us! For a few ideas of fail-safe table additions that will add an instant touch of class, check out some of our related articles below.
After all this talk of tablecloths, we hope you've got something special to serve over it! No matter what your table size, budget, or taste, we hope you've managed to take on board some of the things you should think about when picking up a new tablecloth. Good luck!
Author: Lewis Clark
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