What Are Table Runners? I Want A Table Runner!

Furnishing your home can be one the most rewarding things you do in your home improvement efforts, creating an environment that both you and your family want to be in and spend time can harbour a special family connection. The heart of the home is the dinning table that place where countless hours are spent eating, connecting and sharing and with the dinning table adding so much value to family life, isn't it about time you invested some time in it? Today we will look at home the simple use of table runners can add something special to your dinning experience.

Before we get started I want to make a cautionary note to you, because I want you to suceed. A common pitfall I see from lots of people of making when they are looking to improve their home is: detail. What I mean by this people often over complicate things and don't realise that very small steps and small details can make a big difference. Therefore, I enjoy this post and most importantly enjoy the changes and improvements that you will make to your home as a consequence of this. Above all, remeber the small of changes can make the biggest of difference.

Good question.

Table runners are a great way to personalise your dinning room table. Instead of more traditional tablecloths which cover the entire table, table runners will cover only the middle section of the table, which are often described as "running the length of the table" hence the name table runners. They are available today in a variety of sizes designed for different length tables, with plenty of patterns also available in a popular contemporary style known as a Shabby Chic.

Did you know? It's all about looking shabby, really...

Shabby Chic can be described as a 'relaxed elegance' it's meant to look formal and smart in a casual way, with that classic vintage look. Contemporary modern interior design stores do not often cater to this style, its a gap market. Therefore, if you want to create that shabby chic look the best way is either to make your own or visit your local vintage second hand store in search of a rare bargain.

If you do have the time, inclination, and a few dollars (it doesn't need to be expensive) have you thought of creating your own Shabby Chic set of table runners? There are plenty of websites on the Internet that provide video tutorials and information on how to do so. One of the consistent things I hear on the Internet about producing your own table runner is making sure you measure up your table! Sounds obvious, but its easy to just by the standard commercial table size which for an Oblong table it is generally 52 x 70 inches with a Square table around 52 x 52 inches.

Why not use it on your sitting room coffee table, the dresser in your room or even on the side cabinet you have in the study? The answer of course is absolutely nothing. A table runner can be multi purpose and you can choose them in your own and in turn creating your own style. If you do decide to go ahead with this idea, let me give you one simple piece of advice before proceeding however. Always buy machine washable table runners! Again sounds obvious, but you don't want to purchase a hand washable or dry cleaned only table runner only to find that fact out of after the spilt glass of wine or nail polish that was just left on the side. Avoid the cause of frustration now and heed my advice!

You can use table runners on a bare table, a open wooden grain table with a table runner can really set it off. Purchasing coordinating placemats (aka table mats) provide extra colour and compliment the design look you may be going for. Candles are also another really good suggestion for creating a warm and intimate environment in home providing the perfect compliment to your table runners. An increasingly popular suggestion in this case is to use flame less candles which promote the benefits of not being a security risk to you and your guests after a few glasses of wine as well as the left over wax that often spoil table runners and at the very least mark and damage the quality. If you've ever have to scrap wax of a table cloth at Christmas you will know what I am talking about here!

Sites such as www.table-kitchen-linen.com and www.richardhanworth.co.uk are well know for the variety of table runners.