What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

Do you keep your dining room table bare? Just the pads on it? Or always a table cloth? If always a table cloth - please post pics. I like the look of just the table but, with two little kids the table would be destroyed. I usually just keep the pads on but, I am wondering if it would look nicer with a nuetral table cloth. But, haven't found a look I like.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

a runner and a vase of dried flowers (from Finland that my aunt & uncle brought over when we got married)....oh and the mail that my husband insists on leaving there!! (I prefer the kitchen counter as the "mailroom"

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

We have a runner and I am looking for some sort of "decorative" piece for it. We usually only have a table cloth on it if we have people over for dinner. We use the kitchen table for everyday use.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

A runner and fake flowers in vase from homegoods. And the occasional junk that ends up on the table.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

Thanks everyone. What do you do with the protective pads? Just store them and use them when you have company?

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

We had glass made to cover the table and have a runner and candlesticks.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

Pretty candle sticks with candles. Sometimes flowers, sometimes a runner depending on season/holiday. The table is a milky glass color so it looks cool bare also.

Message edited 4/2/2011 11:00:32 PM.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

We use our eat-in kitchen for every day meals.

I usually keep my dining room table with the pad on it (same color of the table) and either flowers, candles, vases, a crystal bowl... some type of centerpiece. I try to keep it seasonal. The pad doesn't look bad and while I would love to leave just the wood exposed, I don't want it to get scratched!

When I am entertaining or for a holiday, I always use a tablecloth, and I love how the table looks when it is set with my china, cloth napkins, etc. But I don't leave it like that every day.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

we keep the pads on it at all times with a table cloth..I change it for the seasons! I have a vase with fake flowers and two candles on either side! It also becomes the place where stuff piles up every week...and I try to clear it off weekly (or if I know company s coming over! ) We have owned it for almost 4 yrs and I think we have eaten at it 4 times! wish it was more!

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

A runner and a fruit bowl

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

dust & my husband's work papers & other random crap

we never use it unless we have company, which is pretty much never except for a special occasion

I need to work on this

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

bare w/ just an orchid plant.. for now

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

we have glass on top of the wood table.

i've been using a table cloth lately, because I had it on for Xmas and got used to leaving it on. Its red & gold so I really have to buy something else. I inherited my moms dining room set and its huge, so this is the only table topper i have thats long enough. I prefer the look of just a runner with a simple centerpiece for the formal dining room.

Message edited 4/3/2011 10:03:25 PM.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

I have 4 place mats, along with 2 crystal candle sticks and a candle centerpiece.

no table runner or table cloth. I like the look of the actual table.

ETA:
pics of dining room table...

there are a few pics in my album... I posted the link. I have since changed the candle in the middle to a different candle holder CP. But you get the idea. And the table off to the corner tends to collect the mail as you can see.. but it's much cleaner now.

Message edited 4/4/2011 12:46:20 AM.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

I have a runner and a centerpiece kinda thing--a bowl of decorative balls.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

We used to have a tablecloth and a centerpiece but DD started pulling it so that came off. We are going to order a table pad for it though and just keep that on for now.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

junk and toys

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

I always had it set up formally.. I loved the way that it looked.. it was a pain to clean and dust but I loved it!

PLEASE DON'T QUOTE! :)

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Message edited 4/4/2011 9:50:14 AM.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

we don't have an eat in kitchen, up until last week we always had a nice plain vinyl tablecloth on it with a centerpiece cause we eat all our meals there.

We decided we want to start "seeing" the pretty table underneath so last wknd we bought placemats to eat on. I realized that I would rather risk damaging the table and seeing the beauty of it everyday instead od "saving" it cause really, what am I saving it for? I would rather risk doing something to it using it then never seeing it (follow me?!). If we ever do anything bad to it, then I will cover it up again, but it looks so nice!

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

candlesticks and a tablecloth.

I would love to leave it bare, but don't because of the kids.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

its bare (no cloth, etc.), and covered with mail. i'm trying to remedy that but it's hard

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

I have a white table runner with a glass bowl with potpourri.

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

I have one large vanilla candle in a large glass votive in the middle, sometimes I have holiday/seasonal things on the table as well. I go through phases sometimes its bare (easier for me to dust) and sometimes I have a plain off white cloth on it. DH and I do sit and eat at it in the evenings so its annoying with the cloth I usually take it off, and just use placemats. We usually have a labtop or 2 on it and this is where we go through our mail too...

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

I have this:

Re: What is on your Dining room table on any given day?

i have it set ...displaying my china on chargers with napkins in napkin rings.

also tall candle sticks and then pillars too


my china is my grandmothers and i like to see it every day- reminds me of her....

Message edited 4/4/2011 3:16:39 PM.