Table Runners

There isn’t a lot you can do to decorate a dinner table. But a vase of flowers, a nice tablecloth, and table runners that stand out among all others can really spruce up your dining room. It can also be the most attractive piece of decoration in the room.

However, the history of table runners is pretty bizarre. As it turns out, in medieval times, people were not as keen about keeping the table cloth clean as we are today. For them, table cloth also doubled as a cloth to wipe their hands and faces. It is easy to imagine the condition of the tablecloths after every dinner. Then somebody thought that a napkin is better for that purpose. But the problem of people spilling the food over to the tablecloth still existed. They came about as a solution to this messy problem. Before you start shopping for them, read this article to know more.

A beginner’s guide to table runners

They are one of the most affordable decorative items out there. Moreover, they are also incredibly easy to use and also double as a cloth that protects your tablecloth. What is even more interesting is that there are several ways to decorate a table with them. Not surprisingly, the attractiveness also depends on how you arrange it on the table, whether it be a classical table runner with elaborate thread work or a modern and minimalist table runner. With that in mind, you need to learn some of the most basic ways to arrange them at a dinner table.

Laying the table runner lengthwise

The traditional way to lay it is to spread it along the length of the table, keeping it centred. You should leave the extra length of the runner to hang over the edges instead of folding them in. It is customary to have at least six or twelve inches of extra length on either side of the table. So, if you want to get the length of the runner right, you should measure the length of the table before buying it. The width is also a consideration when you are laying them. It should cover about one-third of the tabletop. Aligning the runner in this manner also gives your guest a reference line to align the silverware and dinnerware.

Short rustic table runners

It is not necessary to take the time to spread a long runner if the setting is not a formal one. In casual settings, a short and sweet runner will do just fine. They are also easy to lay on top of the table and also to align. Spreading them in this manner is a carryover from the rustic traditions. In this case, because the table runners are short, you have to lay them along the width of the table rather than the length. If the table is rectangular, that means you will need more than one runner. When you do that, two people sitting across the table will share the same runner.

Runners for round tables

When it comes to round tables, there are two ways to spread the runners. Though it is not drastically different from the regular rectangular tables, some subtle differences exist. One way to do it is to lay it along the centre of the table. Because it is a round table, there is no specific direction you have to follow. This is if there are only two people sitting at the table. If there are more than two, then you can spread two runners so that they will form an X. If the table is large enough for six people, then you can add a third run as well. And when it comes to the tablecloths, you can use either around one or a square one.

Runners for square tables

Laying the runners on a square table is similar to a round table. If the table is small or only two people are sitting at it, then you can lay a single runner along the centre of the table. One persona can then sit at either end. If the table is for four people, you can try the ‘X’ pattern similar to what you do for a round table. But if the square table is larger than that, then the only way to do it is to use one large runner that sits along the middle of the table. One guest can sit at either, and the rest of the people can fill up the spaces between them.