I looked up the furniture set, and I think you could go with classic white linens perhaps with a simple modern hem (no grandma lace or anything - absolutely not necessary to feel elegant and formal). Iron it so it's all crisp and flat (that's the key). Add some sleek contemporary/minimalist flatware pattern and maybe more modern dishes. Do whatever you want for centerpiece decoration. Fat square candles on simple bases?

Not sure where you'd find the table linens, but they do exist. My parents have a very modern looking set of linens for the dining room table (only ever comes out at Christmas) that has that modern hem on it. It's actually quite old, but works with my parents' VERY traditional dining room, but would also look fabulous in a transitional/modern setting.

I can see where one could go with a company like Chilewich, using different materials like vinyl and simple designs, or with contemporary design from Scandinavia. You can find both at a place like Design Public. There's also Unison Home, and Heath Ceramics also has table linens.

What do you envision on your table? What would you like to be able to find? Have you ever seen something and thought, oh, I wish I could find more like that? Or is it a question of looking for something but you're not quite sure what you're looking for?

Forget "themed" linens, printed and multi colored linens, other than perhaps napkins. Use center of the table decor for those seasonal effects. Beautiful white linen, plain and simple, crisp and starchy suit EVERY style, set off food and other decor on the table, and brighten any dining room... Mix it up with chargers and smaller touches. Use nature....and your imagination. It's cheaper, more elegant, more fun, and you can toss it when done. Less is MORE. Table settings need not "match" a table and chairs, nor the rug beneath it.

I love my Chilewich place mats I have 4 of their styles I use them foe everyday, for formal dinners with different colored napkins to coordinate.

I never would have thought of table linens as modern, traditional, etc. I choose them for the mood I want and don't limit myself except if i want it to go with my everyday dishes which are somewhat mid-century and colorful. Tablecloths are just fabric and can be labeled tablecloths or curtains, shower curtains, sheets, or yardage from the fabric store.

https://www.laurelandwolf.com/blog/design-101-modern-vs-contemporary-style/ This website has helped me understand the difference between the two. I hope it helps!

Does anyone know a different maker than Chilewich that puts such an emphasis on the weave? While I love the weaves of Chilewich, Thomasville warns you not to ever put any plastic on their furniture...

"The ingredients that make plastic pliable also make it dangerous to furniture. A chemical migration from plastic tablecloths, placemats, camera cases, TV remotes or notebooks can stain or darken the finish. Adhesive spacers or the rubber feet on appliances, trivets, lamps, and calculators can leave permanent scars on your wood furniture."

I like the idea of a pure, bright white cloth, especially for our holiday meals.

Given that and the Chilewich comments, I also then wonder if a little monotone but visible weave might also work and not be overstated. Any thoughts? Or advice?

What does Thomasville say about vinyl? From what I can recall, Chilewich placemats are made out of vinyl.

Finally, one more question raised by the comments thus far: how are your "everyday" linens distinct from your formal ones?

My everyday setup is just inexpensive but nice-looking traditional style patterned placemats and runner from Target (though I've been eyeing some placemats from Williams-Sonoma) and Vanity Fair fancy paper napkins. The distinction is that the everyday stuff is patterned and colorful (with the paper napkins) and the fancy holiday stuff is stark white with little adornment, and include matching cloth napkins. Also full tablecloth, which I don't regularly do.

Swoon ^^^^^^ Utter perfection!

Thank you so much, Rita : ) . This is me, wrinkled and unmatched, as ever!

My everyday linens are made of cotton or linen. I wash them and usually need to iron them, but I don't worry if they aren't perfect. I also use placemats sometimes instead of table cloths. I have both plain solid colors as well as patterns for every day. I have several French cloths for outside and for inside which take me out of my comfort zone a little with their patterns/colors as I tend toward naturals and whites-I am having fun with them!.

For formal occasions like Thanksgiving, I have an antique, white, very heavy damask table cloth. I send it to a cleaner in Maryland who does everything by hand and they iron and hang it for me, so it is ready for the next year. It is lovely, but a pain in the neck to care for, hence the once or twice a year use.

This is one of the outdoor cloths:

I really do love it.

cyn, that looks beautiful, esp with the flowers and leaves. Is it one of the French coated cotton tablecloths?

beckysharp: FYI, Thomasville uses a nitrocellulose lacquer that reacts with any plastic, even vinyl (which is ethelene-based) so Chilewich is not an option for us.

Does anyone have a set of placemats (& tableclot) for each season: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall? ...Or is that just too much?

Other than wood/grass/bamboo placemats, do your placemats ever look the same after the first wash? It seems the sewn/2-sided ones never do for me.

And, what do you do about stains?

• I once had a nice tablecloth that I used once and discovered my guests had left a couple of red wine glass rings and oil spots all over it.
• I've also had flower petals and stamin powder (pollen) stains embedd themselves in tablecloths and placemats.

If this is incredibly important and it seems it is................................have it made. Have it made in Sunbrella pillow weight in as many colors/patterns as one can imagine. Have mats, have a cloth......have AT it. Bleach-able, washable . no stains, color safe /fade proof and safe for any dining table. A single YARD will yield TWO reversible place mats. Go get coordinating napkins, but the best napkin on earth is a low nap cotton dish drying towel!

Have Sunbrella plaid if you like.......stripes.....solid......

https://www.sunbrella.com/en-us/fabrics/recommended-uses?pillows=1

1655 graff, how about Pimpernell placemats, or prett paper ones for everyday. Kitchen papers makes loads of fun patterns. And there are other cork backed choices as well as Pimpernell, can’t think of the name. Check out Amara though.

Does anyone have a set of placemats (& tableclot) for each season: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall? ...Or is that just too much?

I have several for autumn, in autumnal prints/colors, including the one above. I don't have many matching cloth napkins since I like to mix and match; I also have a set of natural colored linen napkins which work well with most of the tablecloths. For the rest of the year, most of the tablecloths are some version of blue-and-white block print or batik, and I just change up the napkins, plates, glassware, etc. for the seasons.

Other than wood/grass/bamboo placemats, do your placemats ever look the same after the first wash? It seems the sewn/2-sided ones never do for me.

My placemats are all wicker/rattan/grass, or cork-backed (Pimpernel), so this hasn't been a problem. Be aware that the current Pimpernel placemats are nowhere near the quality they used to be.

And, what do you do about stains?

Not having to worry about them is definitely another plus in my book for colorful patterns : ) . Especially since we're hosting Canadian Thanksgiving later today with about 25 people.

I wouldn't worry too much about placemats not looking the same after washing. I think there's something lovely and welcoming about well-used, and clearly well-loved, table linens, that show they're used often to welcome others around the table. And unless you're actually hosting very formal dinners, I think there's a lot to be said for guests as well as hosts not worrying too much about perfect, pristine-looking table linens through the entire meal. As a guest or a host, I would much rather concentrate on the conversation, family, friends, than worrying about spills and stains that might happen or have happened. At one dinner with a heavy white damask tablecloth and napkins, and all the best silver sparkling, the conviviality came to a screeching halt after a guest spilled a glass of red wine, and the hostess seemed distracted and upset; we all pretty much got the impression that she couldn't wait for us to leave to break out the club soda.

I also think of the napkins and other linens I have from my mother, some older embroidered napkins from my grandmother, and think of the memories and history.

If I can't convince you : ) , then I'd either agree with Jan's Sunbrella suggestion, or suggest linen tablecloths, placemats, and napkins, in darker colors (with a different color for each season) and a mangle/clothes press. LinenMe has some very nice things. Linen tends to look better the more it's used and washed. Good luck!

Am off to preheat the oven for the turkey : )

Beckysharp: Happy Canadian Thanksgiving (Monday Oct 8)!

ovens on now, too, happy thanksgiving! I use white linen and think it goes with any decor. Paper napkins because I don’t have linens (and also hate fabrics that won’t absorb). I’d say the only fabric that wouldn’t work is the shiny stuff. I have a 70s tablecloth and it’s a tan coarse (but even) weave with a woven pattern down the center.

Thanks, Denita, and Happy Thanksgiving to you too HB!

This is our first year hosting to give sil/bil a break, and I'm definitely doing paper napkins today, though I'm being a heretic and NOT using paper plates.

I'm originally from the US so to me it's always seemed strange having the big day and meal at the end of a long weekend lol. My husband's family always has always had the meal on Sunday, in part to accommodate spouse family's celebrations on the Monday, but this year we moved it to Saturday because of a niece's work schedule tomorrow. I have to admit I'm looking forward to Sunday and Monday of a holiday weekend with leftovers : ) .

I'm suddenly very hungry for Thanksgiving leftovers! :)

Come on over, Denita, it's a 30-pound turkey!

Can't be that far from South Fl to Canada! lol :)

that’s exactly what we are up to here, dining today and leftovers through the weekend. We are in US but celebrate and think of all our Canadian family.