26 choice tablecloths to top off your spring lunch with
The wonderful thing about a tablecloth is you needn’t know what’s underneath it – it’s the flattering and forgiving smock dress of the table world. You could have the cheapest, worst dining table in the world under there and it will look dressed to perfection when hidden beneath some beautiful table linen and topped with a candlestick or two.
Quality linen will only get better with age and use, so it’s the perfect thing to shop for in charity shops, brocantes or on eBay. If you do accrue the odd stain here and there, just see them as fond mementos of a great meal but try using baking soda or a mix of water and white wine vinegar to remove the mark while it’s still fresh.
What is the best tablecloth drop?
Size matters, so choose a tablecloth that will have a drop of at least 15cm (anything between that and the floor is great and entirely down to personal preference). You also shouldn’t feel like you need to shop in a linen department specifically – with a quick and easy hem, any favourite fabric can become a tablecloth as long as it’s wide enough. We love to liven up a room with inexpensive Indian block printed cotton table linen from Etsy or a cheerful gingham check, which is of-the-moment but also an enduring classic that won’t date.
See below for our edit of the best table linen to smarten up your space and transform those ugly duckling dining tables.
Tablecloths
This bold and striking tablecloth from Mindthegap would look equally as smart on a Christmas table as it would outdoors in summer.
I always admire a brand who takes the ‘go big or go home’ stance when designing their prints and colour combinations. The green wild house pattern on this tablecloth is so striking and it would sing against contrasting plates and cutlery.
I’m always drawn to blue and I especially love blue and white together, so I loved the retro tile print on this linen tablecloth. Style it with contrasting crockery and acrylic-handled cutlery.
LaDoubleJ know their way around a tablescape, so choosing from their collection is a kid-in-a-candy-shop situation. I’ve gone for the storybook print of this linen tablecloth there are so many colours to pull out and play with, though their Jungle Book print is always a winner in our eyes.
Blue is one of three colourways available in this seersucker tablecloth from brilliant independent homeware website, Host. The best bargain of the bunch, it’s perfect for summer dining – lay out a casual picnic-style spread with cheerful red-handled cutlery and graze all afternoon.
This charming floral print is a perfect piece for high summer dining. I’d use it to decorate a table outside, alongside bud vases and silver flatware.
If you're after something simple but pretty, this John Lewis option is a great choice. It reminds us of tables, covered in fresh pastries, set for long summer lunches on holiday.
This green tablecloth has that rumpled, casual quality everyone loves about linen. The green would look fantastic underneath some white stoneware plates.
There are few things more lovely than a table dressed in floral linen. I chose this as it looks so chic in its relatively neutral colour palette and I’d style this in an elegant way with white china and wooden-handled cutlery.
This relaxed linen tablecloth from Soho Home provides a blank canvas for interesting plates and cutlery but it doesn’t eschew attention to detail with the macrame fringed trim. The parchment is a great seasonal option but it also comes in deep navy and red.
Deliciously decadent, this tablecloth was born of Jess Wheeler's genius mind. We think it's perfect for late summer evening dining.
Perfectly simple, this blue linen tablecloth is a must-have for any household. This well priced cotton tablecloth from John Lewis is a perfect staple to have on hand. Combine this with bamboo cutlery and pink or mustard coloured napkins. It will really energise a dining space for summer.
This linen tablecloth from La Redoute is such a calming shade of pale pink. I think it would be beautiful layered up with printed napkins and statement plates. It’s available in an impressive array of sizes and the black stitched edge is a nice design detail.
Exclusive to Matches, you can rely on Johanna Ortiz to dream up a bold, punchy print. We'd style this one with natural materials like jute placemats and bamboo cutlery.
Late Afternoon is a relatively new small brand with a well edited selection of cushions, table linen, glassware and ceramics all made for them by artisans in Europe. As a lifelong stripe lover, their Garden stripe would be my pick (it’s also available as a cushion).
In your table linen arsenal, there should always be a really beautiful quality plain white or off-white linen tablecloth. Ellei Home, based in Scotland, always has a beautiful, small edit of homeware that I trust the quality of implicitly, so I looked straight to them for linen.
The Sette have one of those heavenly websites where you simply want to buy everything. Their new collection is packed with prints and colours that'll make you swoon.
This richly hued tablecloth would make for a lovely autumnal table. Balanced with oranges and reds or left understated with whites, most colours will sit prettily against this backdrop.
LaDoubleJ's latest tableware collection is one of our favourites yet, with striking prints and bold colours to boot.
I can’t believe I don’t own this particular tablecloth as it has been a favourite for a couple of years. It comes in a few muted colour ways and I love them all. There are many gingham tablecloths around at the moment and this is one of the best I’ve seen.
There are few things more lovely than a table dressed in striped linen. I chose this as it looks so chic in its pared-back colour palette. I’d style this in an elegant way with white china and wooden-handled cutlery.
Looking for some more tableware to pair with your new tablecloth? Have a look at our guide to the best napkins, or head over here to see our round up of the best glasses. To take your tablescape to the next level, do have a nosey at our round up of the loveliest candles and candlesticks.
