Easy Ways to Select, Store and Organize Table Linens

Table linens can certainly add a beautiful finishing touch to any table. However, families today tend to not use table linens as much as families did in the past. As such, you might feel a little unprepared when purchasing formal or even casual table linens for your home. Plus, once you buy them, how do you care for them, organize and store them so that they always look their best? If you're confused by the subject of table linens, here's some tips that can help.

Choosing the Perfect Table Linens

Before shopping for tablecloths, napkins and other table linens, it's important to understand exactly what you need. The size and shape of your table is the best place to start. If you have a standard size table, you'll probably find it easy to buy tablecloths that will fit perfectly. However, if your dining room or kitchen table is an odd size, you'll need to get a bit more creative. If you can't find a tablecloth that fits perfectly, you'll need to find one that is as close as possible. Although it might be tempting to just use a tablecloth that is too long or too wide, an incorrectly sized tablecloth can ruin the look of your finished table. It's best to carefully trim and hem the tablecloth so that it fits perfectly. If you're not comfortable with your sewing skills, hire a seamstress to do the job instead.

In most cases, you'll want to have at least two different sets of table linens - one for casual events as well as one for more formal affairs. Additionally, you might enjoy using holiday themed tablecloths for occasions such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. Of course, once you own one or more sets of table linens, you'll have to devise a way to keep them organized, safe and neat.

Appropriate Storage Techniques for Table Linens

Although you might think that the plastic bag that your tablecloth was purchased in can serve as a storage bag, this is almost never a good idea. Plastic bags or even plastic containers can trap moisture, which are bad for table linens. In fact, too much moisture could even encourage the growth of bacteria or the presence of insects that could cause damage to your fine linens. It's also important to remember that creases and folds in the tablecloth can cause damage to the textile fibers over time. Although this might not be a big deal with inexpensive casual tablecloths, you'll want to take care to protect your fine tablecloths and linens. Many experts recommend folding fine table linens in clean tissue paper, similar to the method used to store wedding gowns. A few extra folds of tissue paper can be used to pad the fabric folds so that damage does not occur. Finally, never store your fine table linens in a crowded drawer or hang them in a crowded closet. Both of these techniques can eventually cause damage to your table linens over time.

If you have several different sets of table linens, it can be helpful to organize them so that all the various pieces are stored together. For example, you might want to tuck your fabric table napkins inside the folds of the tablecloth. By positioning them carefully, you might even be able to use the napkins to prevent sharp creases from forming in the tablecloth. If there are certain table linen sets that you only use once or twice a year, store them in an out-of-the-way drawer in order to free up convenient space for table linens you use much more frequently.