The kitchen table needs a tablecloth, which is necessary to protect its surface from damage and give the interior style, decorativeness and personality. In previous years, our mothers and grandmothers made tablecloths of oilcloth, replacing them on holidays with cotton or linen. For modern housewives, the choice is much wider - today women have the opportunity to choose from a large number of options for material, size and configuration.
Materials of manufacture
For sewing tablecloths use a variety of materials. Let us dwell in more detail on the advantages and disadvantages of the main ones.
Oilcloth is the most practical and cheapest option. Oilcloth on the table is considered a popular option for everyday use. The appearance of such a product can not be called presentable - it is too simple and rough. However, the coating reliably protects the surface from liquids, greasy stains and bumps of kitchen appliances. The price of such material is very affordable, therefore You can always buy several suitable models at once, changing them as necessary or according to your mood.
Oilcloth is optimal for use in the country - it is good both in the house and in the summer kitchen. The oilcloth coating is not afraid of rain and ultraviolet rays, while maintaining its aesthetic appearance and functionality in all weather conditions.
Polyester - Another practical material at an affordable price, but at the same time significantly superior to oilcloth in appearance and design. A tablecloth from it looks much more solid. As a rule, it is decorated with a variety of patterns and decorative ruffles.
The advantages of polyester include the fact that it almost does not get dirty, does not deform and quietly transfers the washing in the washing machine. This option is usually used as everyday, and due to the variety of design you can always choose a model suitable for kitchens with any interior.
Cotton is a linen material that can be dense and thin, patterned and monotonous. The tablecloth from it falls off in smooth folds, and therefore looks exceptionally noble and stylish. Usually, cotton with a water-repellent coating is used for a kitchen worktop - it prevents the penetration of liquids into the fibers, so the tablecloth is easily cleaned from almost any kind of dirt.
For example, it is very popular among housewives teflon and acrylic tablecloths - these cans withstand washing even at elevated temperatures using synthetic bleaches. Teflon impregnation does not deform under the influence of hot dishes and is hygienic. but with frequent washing, the protective cloth becomes thinner and ceases to fulfill its functions.
Linen - A rather delicate material with an interesting texture, which always looks solid and impressive. But this material has a serious drawback - it gets dirty very quickly, but spots from it are very difficult to remove.
Undoubtedly, flax coating with water-repellent impregnation is the dream of any housewife, but, much to their regret, no protective agents are applied to this material.
Jacquard - A characteristic feature of this material was its design on both sides. We can say that the jacquard cover is two types of decor that differ from each other. Usually, the front and back patterns differ from each other in texture and care.
Jacquard in any situation looks luxurious, aristocratic and noble. In addition, it almost unrecognizably changes the look of the kitchen. Especially such material is good for those who do not like everyday life - it is easy to change the style of a room just by turning the model upside down. The material itself is very dense, easily transferring multiple machine washings.
Silk tablecloths are usually suitable for creating multilayer draperies that give the kitchen a truly rich and effective look, but for everyday use this canvas is not recommended, since this fabric is impractical, very demanding and quite expensive.
Often, tablecloths are sewn not from a natural fabric, but with the addition of polyester. Such textiles look flawless in appearance, but the strength and wear resistance of the material increases many times.
Viscose - synthetic material made from wood fibers. It is usually used for sewing tablecloths either in pure form or as part of some paintings. Such products are easily draped, usually pleasant to the touch and beautifully painted. Of the minuses of viscose can be noted that she wrinkles quickly and hard.
For everyday use, you can use jute, as well as burlap. These fabrics with a stylish rough texture that harmoniously fits into the kitchen interiors, decorated in loft or shabby chic. Such coatings look pretty stylish, but it is better to use them in combination with hot coasters to avoid frequent intensive washing.
Sizes and shapes
Tablecloths are produced in a wide variety of options.
- Round. These are traditional options that are used for round or slightly oval tables.
- Oval. Suitable for festive decor. As a rule, they are complemented by elegant lace fringe on the bottom, so that the coating looks elegant and stylish.
- Rectangular and square. Pretty practical everyday options. It is noteworthy that they are used not only on quadrangular tables.For example, a square model looks very harmonious on a round tabletop.
It is very important to accurately determine the size. In accordance with the standards, the tablecloth should be slightly larger than the working area of the countertop, but not less than 20%. And if the model is used for a gala banquet - the difference should exceed 70%, hanging almost to the floor.
The minimum acceptable tablecloth sizes are:
- for everyday use, the canvas should hang about 20-30 cm;
- for a more important and significant event - 30-40 cm;
- for a banquet - more than 40 cm;
- in the event of a ceremonial reception, the canvas should hang down to the floor.
Color solutions and design
Color schemes and tablecloth decors largely depend on the features of its use. Traditionally, they are conditionally divided into two types.
- Everyday - they are usually made of the simplest inexpensive materials with a special water-repellent and protective coating. They can be functional, for example, tea, dining or decorative - in this case they are used to create spectacular accents in the interior.
- Festive - elegant coatings sewn from expensive paintings decorated with decors and having an interesting texture and relief. These tablecloths are suitable for special occasions. Also on sale are often found models with a children's print, New Year's or romantic themes.
As for the color scheme, the choice should be made taking into account the features of the overall design of the room.
- Whites - Usually used both daily and for holidays.
- Light, delicate shades (pastel, light green, pistachio, coffee with milk, blue) - look harmonious with everyday use. Such shades are harmonious in the Empire or Baroque style kitchen.
- Bright colors, rainbow colors - will be a good addition to a theme or children's party.
- Dark tones noble colors are usually combined with classic and neoclassical cuisines, designed in a prim English style.
Modern tablecloths are distinguished by a wide variety of patterns, and the choice is made in accordance with the style and design of the dining room and the reason for the meal. Typically, the following decors are found.
- Cell. It can be small or large, made in a wide variety of color options. Typically, such tablecloths are purchased for kitchens in the style of Provence or country, they are optimal for everyday use.
- Stripes. Such decors perfectly emphasize the concept of the Scandinavian style in the kitchen interior. Bright stripes are suitable for party decoration, and faded are good for everyday use.
- Flowers Tablecloths with flowers always create comfort, bring fresh notes to the room, so many housewives like it.
Keep in mind that small flowers are best suited to dining rooms in the style of Provence or Shabby Chic, and large drawings will place spectacular accents in country-style kitchens.
- Geometric abstraction. Typically, these options are used for a successful table setting. In addition, such decors are optimal for conducting business meetings in an informal setting.
- Patterns along the edge of the coating will become a real godsend for baroque interiors, as this design involves embroidery with silver or gold threads around the edges. A barely noticeable figure is optimal for the English style - in this case, the tablecloth can be covered up for festive events.
- Embroidery, braid, ruffles, lace. This is a spectacular option for additional decoration of tablecloths, which looks good and creates comfort in the house. Similar products are used for kitchens in the style of shabby chic and country.
- Patchwork. These tablecloths are made using the patchwork technique - they look harmoniously in kitchens decorated in a rustic or Scandinavian style.
How to choose?
The choice of tablecloths for the kitchen table is great - in the shops you can find transparent silicone and “glass” models, a thermal tablecloth, products made of PVC film, “flexible glass” and even plastic.
To choose the right tablecloth, you need to follow a few simple recommendations.
- The tablecloth must be a harmonious pair with something in the dining room. If you get a model of a certain color and this color will no longer be duplicated by anything in the room, then such a tablecloth will not look aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, when choosing a tablecloth, be sure to look at the pillows on the chair, towels and any other textile objects in tone.
- Choose a tablecloth according to the shape of the table. If you have a round table, it means that you need a round tablecloth for it, if the table is square, then the tablecloth, of course, should be square. Keep in mind that a rectangle laid out on an oval plane will not look as spectacular as you expect.
- For frequent use, be sure to lay a tablecloth with impregnation even if you put special coasters under hot. Otherwise, you will be constantly washed, and this contributes to the rapid wear of the material.
- To select a cloth for banquets, taking into account the characteristics of the material. As a rule, a festive table is often supplemented with candles, and any fallen spark can cause a fire if the coating is made, for example, of synthetics. In this case, it is worth making a choice in favor of flax - if a spark falls on it, then it immediately goes out, in most cases without leaving even a trace on the surface.
- Pay attention to the drying time of the material. There are no equal synthetics in this parameter. A synthetic tablecloth is quickly erased, no stains are eaten into it, and it dries after washing in just a few minutes. That is why the material is indispensable for everyday use, but for ceremonial occasions this ability is useless - holidays do not happen as often as we would like, so the tablecloth can dry for at least a week.
Good examples
Properly selected tablecloth is essential for creating warmth and comfort in the home. This is a stylish component of any family or friendly gatherings, so it is very important to determine its color, decor and texture.
If the dining room is made in a classic and neoclassical style, a light linen tablecloth will be ideal. And also it will be a great decoration for a massive wooden table. In addition to flax, you can pick up interesting models from cotton or synthetics.
Jacquard coatings look really impressive.
For everyday use, expensive coatings are made of synthetic materials - oilcloth, polyester. The times when these materials were boring and monotonous are long gone. Today you can always find a wide selection of models for the most varied tastes, styles and colors.
See how to choose the right tablecloth in the kitchen in the video below.