Decorating Dining Tables Using Placemats

Where in the world did the idea for placemats originate? Some say they started in China and were made of wood or bamboo reeds. Others think they were simply fabric versions of a table cloth, but easier to launder. Perhaps it started with the cave woman, who used a giant leaf or slab of stone to differentiate one meal setting from another. In any case, it's fairly obvious that placemats rose to the informal dining occasion because they saved the hostess time, protected the family table, and offered an exclusive setting for one.

Like every other simplistic invention, placemats evolved into every type and manifestation imaginable and are now become the chameleons of the dining experience.

Once relegated to the plastic variety and displayed in neon colors that could be wiped clean with the swipe of a dishrag, the somewhat unappreciated placemat is now available in the finest fabrics and features sophisticated colors that reflect high style for upscale decorating.

Combining Elegance and Function
Many mats used for table decorating are still of the wipe-clean variety but are referred to as "laminated and cork-backed for heavy-duty use and easy care", and yes, they are useful, beautiful, and designed to last for years. Maintaining elegance and functionality are the hallmarks of the versatile placemat and modern technology has encouraged its perfection. Many are even made slightly wider than others to easily accommodate silverware.

In fact, for everyday use, the tablecloth has become a thing of the past. And vinyl tabletops went the way of the horse and buggy years ago.

History at Hand
Now depicting some of the richest images of the past, the mats using historical reference and replication can add special interest to a table like no other accessory. The placemat reigns king of the table today and you'll find it in the classiest homes.

Take the Naseau Vine Placemat for exquisite table decorating. Europeans and American colonists in the so-called "age of exploration" had an avid interest in things foreign and exotic. The Nasseau Vine is an accurate representation of a beautiful black and white tracery vine pattern inspired by an 18th century French gown crafted of hand-painted silk and now featured in the colonial Williamsburg collection.

Then there's the elegant Lightfoot House Placemats. Their design was adapted from hand-painted wallpaper depicting peonies and mums, birds in flight and hanging baskets. The blue and white pattern was popular in Europe and America in the 18th century and the original wallpaper is in the collections of the colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

The Furber Fruit Placemat is another elegant style, based on an interpretation of 18th century prints in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation collection. Robert Furber, an English nurseryman, published Twelve Months of Fruits in 1732 and from his paintings of gloriously beautiful images, there are now vibrant representations accurately portrayed in a set of placemats.

Cloth over Vinyl
If your tastes run to high-style yet easy-care fabrics, The Magnolia Placemats Napkins set are stunning scalloped edged, quilted beauties, showcasing "the flower of the south" in rich color and design. Sage green is the perfect background for the grand white magnolia with its dark green foliage. These placemats are enhanced by matching napkins and magnolia napkin rings. Their easy-care feature is that they are 100% cotton and machine washable. They are also reversible to a striped pattern, so will serve double-duty before hitting the washing machine.

The Elements of Choice
There are table placemats to commemorate every season including holiday placemats and those to suit every occasion, every taste, hobby, avocation, or need. Paper placemats for children to play games on, kitchen mats, collectibles, placemats with political messages, cartoons and comic strip heroes, exquisite representations of the hunt, horses, and the elegance of the chase. There are round, rectangular, straw and wheat grass table mats; floral, stripe, paisley, leaf, map and beach themed mats, and vinyl placemats in all the colors of the rainbow.

Hats Off to Modern Dining
There is still a time and a place for the crisp tablecloth, sterling silver cutlery and exquisite crystal for the extra special occasions in our lives. But for most other times, the placemat allows us to change our minds with our moods, is truly the chameleon of the dining room experience and remains one of the most versatile and adaptable additions to our lives. So, it matters not the origins of the homely placemat. It has evolved into the ultimate tool in table decorating and deserves our hats off as we sit down with family and friends to dine at leisure and to share our meals in caveman style with a modern twist.

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How to Measure Tables For Tablecloths

I have been in the tablecloth industry selling to all types of facilities for over 10 years, such as, party rental stores, hotels, restaurants, caterers, banquet halls, churches and anyone else who uses dining facilities.

Most know how to measure for tablecloths but for those that don't this is how to measure for round, square and rectangle tables.

Rectangle tables are generally in 3 lengths 48, 72 and 96 inches long and are referred to as banquet tables and 6-ft or 8-ft tables as the most used. While the average table is 30 inches wide some vary with widths of 18, 24 and 36. Square tables would follow the same formula.

Now you need to determine your facilities' need for a drop, which there is no standard. How the tablecloth needs to look on the table is personal and by choice. Some want the cloth to cover just the top with a little drop others want it to go to the floor. A general guideline is 10" to the lap, 15" to the bottom of the chair or halfway down the table and 30" is to the floor, if in fact the table measures 30" high. Although nursing facilities only want a 4" drop to accommodate wheelchairs. Note any cloth that goes to the floor should have rounded corners to avoid jutting out and creating a means to have someone trip.

Once you determine what drop is best for your facility then you need to add that measurement to the table measurements. For example your table measures 30x72x30, which means width, length (table top on both and height. You want a 10 inch drop you would add as follows 10+10+30= 50 and 10+10+72= 92 so the tablecloth you need is 50x92, now some companies only offer standard sizes so go up to a 54x96 if you cannot get the exact size you need.

This formula work for all tables for rounds you would add the drop of 10" to the diameter. Example 60" round or 60R add 10+10+60= 80 round or 80R cloth.

For measuring skirting, Determine whether you want to cover 3 or 4 sides then add the table measurements, 4 sides of a 6-ft banquet. 30+30+72+72= 204 inches then convert to feet or 17-ft. For 3 sides 30+30+72= 132 inches or 11-ft. Many vendors require skirting is purchased in increments of 2 this is because skirting is cut the length of goods and not width and most fabrics are wider than 60 inches.

To measure skirting for round skirting take the circumference of the table and times by pie then divide by 12 5 x 3.14 = 15.7 or 16ft of skirting.

Always take into consideration whether your tables have squared or rounded corners as 1/4" may make a difference in how tablecloths lie on the table.

Ask if your vendor if you measured correctly but most manufacturers won't recommend a drop as this is your decision and ultimately your responsibility if the cloths don't fit. So learning what your facility needs or how the cloths should look and how to measure will insure you correct fitting tablecloths.

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Selections of Outdoor Dining Tables and Chairs to Suit Your Backyard Patio Furniture Design Needs

Outdoor Dining tables and chairs come in a wide variety of shapes styles, sizes, and materials to suit the needs of just about anyone.

Bistro sets are small tables that generally come with seating for 2. They are small enough to fit just about any size of patio or garden room.

Dining sets come in round, oval, square, and rectangular shapes, and often come with extension leaves for variable sizes. These sets generally seat from 4 to 12 people.

Bar-height sets, which come in 39-inch and 42-inch heights (as opposed to the 28-inch to 30-inch heights of standard dining tables), are made to seat 2 to 4 people.

In choosing a table to buy, the main things to know are how many people will you normally seat, and what style of chair do you prefer. Wide swiveling chairs or armchairs can take up to 25% more space than a standard chair.

Here is a short "table size-to-people" guide that can help you in your table choice:

* 30-inch to 36-inch-long tables seat 2 people.
* 38-inch to 48-inch-long tables seat 4.
* 54-inch to 60-inch-long tables seat 4 to 6.
* 72-inch to 80-inch-long tables seat 6 to 10 (even more with extension leaves).

Table and chair materials run from exotic tropical hardwoods, to powder-coated metals, to all-weather wicker. Always choose outdoor furniture made of a material based on weight, style, and most importantly, durability. Avoid patio furniture that will rust, splinter, or rot easily.

If your style of entertaining involves hours around the dining table, or you do not have another place to sit after dinner, buy dining chairs with soft outdoor cushions for extended comfort. Choose from contemporary, classic, tropical, or rustic cushion designs that fit your overall patio design.

If you need to move your patio furniture often to meet your space needs, lighter weight pieces are the easiest to move. The main drawback to lighter outdoor furniture is the chance of furniture pieces blowing around on very windy days.

If needing a table for a particular outdoor event, you can always use an indoor table, folding or card table, or a picnic table to help. Just cover the table with a thick tablecloth for a very nice look. A tablecloth covering a long table makes a great a buffet-style table setting. Or try using a quilted blanket to cover a picnic table.

As for picnic tables, they are no longer as drab and plain as they once were. Today they are made in a variety of sizes and designs, and actually complement patios and decks of all types.

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Coffee and End Tables - The Right Combination Can Be Stellar

When it comes to living room furniture two standards are the coffee and the end tables. They might match or simply complement each other, but without them you would just have a room with a sofa.

Coffee and end tables are used for many things from eating or resting feet to holding a cold drink or the remote control. The coffee table is usually in front of the sofa while the end tables are commonly nestled beside a chair or sofa. They are made of many things from wood to glass to wrought iron and travertine these tables can add subtle elegance or a punch of style to any loving room.

Sure you can trudge from furniture store to furniture store to department store to see what is available in the world of coffee and end tables. But the best way to see what is available is by shopping online. Browse through an eclectic selection of tables from wrought iron pedestals to wooden kangaroos in the comfort of your own home. It may even make it easier to imagine your new tables in the very room you're sitting in.

Choose from glass tops and marble veneers to a golf club pedestal or a rich cherry finish. Maybe you like the look of two smaller tables bunched together or one large one to make a contemporary statement. Whatever you choose, first and foremost make sure it fits in your living room.

Second make sure it matches your motif. You can pick tables that are conversation starters or tables that aren't too pretty. Just make sure the tables you choose speak to you and represent your personal style. After all you don't want your home to look like a picture in a magazine you want it to look like somebody actually lives there; you. You'll never be more comfortable than in a house filled with furniture that you love.

So before you pick a collection of coffee and end tables for your living room take a look around. What colors or themes do you want to carry through the room? Do you like shabby chic or Victorian? Maybe you are into the simple and clean modern look or maybe you would prefer something a bit more traditional? Once you have decided this than look for tables that match your color scheme. Remember if you pick something on the plain side you can always rejuvenate with a fresh coat of paint and some new drawer pulls.

You'll also have to make sure you get tables that are the right height for kicking up your feet or setting down your soda. You don't want something too low or too high. Once you have found your perfect tables the real fun comes in arranging your living room to get the most use out of them. Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful living room. You have a place for a lamp to read by and your magazines to pile up. You're living in high style.

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