The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
From Soho Home’s mustard runner to The White Company’s chic white style, impress your guests with these
Tablescaping is the latest homeware trend to infiltrate our Insta feeds – and where better to start than with our expert round-up of the best table linen?
So what exactly is it? Put simply, tablescaping is nothing more than the art of setting your table. Yep, just like your nana used to do. Turns out that a few candles, placemats, tinted glassware and colour coordinated table linen can make all the difference when it comes to making a big homeware statement.
Whether it came about because we were all stuck at home and trying to #makeamealofit a la interiors expert Laura Jackson, or because we needed something to transform our dining table after using it to work from home day after day, tablescaping is a relatively inexpensive, super chic interiors trend that we can get behind.
When putting our tablecloths to the test we were looking for generous coverage, allowing for a decent drop on our long 4-6 seater table, quality tactile fabrics that we'd happily spend an evening brushing up next too, as well as interesting hems and finishes. Importantly they needed to wash well, retaining their softness and shape once out of the washing machine.
Aside from the aesthetics, covering your table with good quality linen has the added benefit of protecting it from hot pots and plates, not to mention unsightly spillages. And don’t even think of ironing your chosen table linens – the good news is, any creases are all part of the charm.
As much as we can never resist treating ourselves to another (you’ll want a selection to create different themes), a beautifully considered tablecloth also makes a brilliant housewarming gift and will delight whoever is hosting Christmas this year.
So whether you're setting the table for one, dining in a duo or actually hosting guests (IRL or via Zoom, it’s all the same), a bit of clever coordination will take your meal from drab to fab.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
It’s pretty tough choosing our favourite table linen as we’d be genuinely thrilled to eat our tea on any of these beautiful designs, however, we’ve awarded our best buy to the Wes gingham frill tablecloth from Projektityyny. Not only is it available in both rectangle and circular options, as well as multiple shades, with matching accessories but the additional frill hem makes it feel worth the extra money. For a slightly cheaper, more whimsical option, Yolke’s collaboration with Cressida Jamieson is utterly swoon-worthy.