This stunner from Lindsay Speace, photographed by the talented Brie Williams, with it’s chartreuse tablecloth and glass topper, ehoes the beautiful artwork and demands attention in this beautiful room.
Mark Sikes really knows how to rock a skirted table. I love this simple elegant version with box pleats and beautiful trim in the living room of his own home. It brings an earthiness to the all white room (photography by Amy Neunsinger). You can follow Amy’s beautiful work on Instagram here as well. Mark has a new book coming out soon. You can find his original book Beautiful on Amazon here, as well as his current book More Beautiful on Amazon here as well.
“Skirted tables are timeless. I try to put one in every home that has a traditional quality. They are especially good for large spaces with multiple seating areas, to break up the hard surfaces of other tables and add an element of softness and pattern to the room.”
– Mark D. Sikes
Here he skirted a dining room table simply in the same beautiful check that he upholstered the walls in. The table cloth compliments the beautiful banquette.
If you love a skirted table don’t be afraid to think outside the box and experiment with unconventional ways to incorporate a table skirt. Designer Sean Symington tucked this clever version into a narrow hallway and created softness in this tricky space. Something like this vignette works great in small spaces.
In our former home we used a skirt to hide the kitty litter in our laundry room. The fabric is a performance fabric by perennials.
I love textile Designer Carolina Irving’s skirted side table in her Paris apartment. The beautiful swath of ikat fabric lays the foundation for the fabulous gallery wall above. A vintage textile would be wonderful styled this way as well.
I love a round entryway table. I have never lived in a home with a foyer that would accommodate one, but they sure make an inviting entrance. Designer Heather Chadduck‘s entry in her personal home photographed by her talented husband David Hillegas is probably the most photographed skirted table on Pinterest and Instagram. It’s no mystery why.
This console table skirt at one time available at Ballard Designs is my favorite incarnation. It has a simple clean look and could be draped with a vintage textile or any other topper seasonally for color or texture. If you sew this would be an easy diy project. You can purchase rectangular tables on Amazon here. Search thrift stores for tables that could easily be covered and have a piece of glass cut to cover the top.
This table featured in Architectural Digest, designed by Christopher Maya, photographed by William Waldron, adds softness, and a pop of color to a room with a lot of legs.
I love how Plate and Plaid on Instagram created this artful display on this pretty round table draped in another pretty ikat fabric.
This pretty rectangular table with it’s slipcover like skirt and bow detail from Paperwhites interiors, photographed by Suzy Thompson sets the tone for the rest of the living spaces. I love the juxtposition of the modern lamps with the antique mirror. The glass top protects the fabric from stains.
A skirted table can function as a side table, entry table, dining table, or even a bedside table and provide extra storage beneath the skirt.If you would like to order a 33”round folding table you can find them here on Amazon. If you would like to order a 48” folding round table go here. If you would like to order a console table go here. If you aren’t a seamstress Kirtam Designs on Etsy can make almost any of the above designs. To check out their Etsy shop go here. Ballard Designs also offers their essential skirted side tables here as well.
Thank you for reading It’s Not Your Mother’s Table Skirt. Life is too short for boring tables.Table skirts are officially back in vogue, and they’re bringing a whole lot of flair to the party.
Hi Cindy,
In our home of 35 years, we had a corner table with a table skirt. Our son had a Texas tortoise that would try to hibernate under the skirt of the table. When Timothy (the tortoise) was missing, we’d look there and find him. I love the tailored skirts shown in your post. Great post.
Karen B.
Hi Karen
I love that story!!
Smiling to see these are coming back into style, or for some of us, they never went out. Had moved and no longer had a place for mine. Tried selling it, but couldn’t give it away. Now am planning a move in the near future and it’s coming with me 😉 Also liked the rectangular tables. As young newlyweds, we couldn’t afford a nice antique sideboard, so Hubby made a workbench and I made a box pleated slip cover out of clearance fabric. Worked like a charm and we stored china and other seldom used items. Didn’t cost much, but had plenty of style.
Love a table skirt, it is a nice way to add color to a room as well as to add hidden storage. Have a great weekend Cindy.
Yes the hidden storage!!
Jam packed with information! Being a lifelong fabric girl. I’ve always loved skirted tables. I’m a dump and love trim and dressmaker details. In my dining room mostly library the room in centered with a 54” round table with an Afghan tribal rug over it with an underskirt of hand blocked fabric. Love mud cloth over tables and ottomans. Miss Joanie. So young. She obviously adored you and your style!
Sounds gorgeous!
Hi Patricia
Your table skirt sounds fabulous!!
I hadn’t thought about these in forever. Do you remember the pressed wood or semu cardboard small round tables that were bed and couch size? I really loved the hiuge floral arrangement!
Hi Linda
Yes I do remember those!! I think I had one at one time!!
Love this post as years ago I made several. The gathered piece to hide kitty litter, I had a huge area under laundry folding countertop and made the same…looked wonderful!! When we were much younger and could not afford to buy much, I bought a small round table to use as a side table in our bedroom…made a table skirt!
Love all your ideas!! Thanks for sharing.
I had one to hide the kitty litter in my former hom Jannie!
I loved this post….subscribed to Mark Sites sites…..beautiful ideas for our homes….thanks
Hi Deb
Mark Sikes is amazing. You will enjoy!!
Joni, Cote deTexas loved “The Skirted Table” Miss her, thanks for this interesting post Cindy.
Me too! Followed her blog for many years.
Hi Joan
We all miss Joanie don’t we?
Hi Pamela
I thought of Joanie as I was writing this post…
One of these days I am coming on one of your tours! When I can leave for more than four days!!
nice examples Cindy! I have not considered a skirted table in ages, but you have me thinking, and my mind is swirling. thank you dear friend xo
debra
You have some nice examples here. Several years ago there was the great table skirt debate in blog land. I must admit that I've always fallen into the "love 'em" camp. I even have one in progress for an octogan entry table in the living room st the moment.
I think they are fabulous in a large entry. They can give weight to a space that is hard to achieve with a bunch of legs!! I finally found the right piece for my own entry, or I would have considered one there!
I agree with Michele, I love this style as well and the idea of storing a buch of stuff out of sight is great too.
The stash factor in limited space is very tempting I agree!!
Love this style and love the hidden storage option! xox
Although I don't have any in my home, I love table skirts, and the collection of them that you brought together here is wonderful. My favorite is the simple tailored one covering the bar setup. Really lovely!
I agree… the tailored skirt is sophisticated and what I typically do. Occasionally, I will do a gathered skirt if that is what the client prefers…but I keep it simple so as not to look fussy or dated.
I followed you over from your Instagram…
I love the skirts you posted and I actually have my dining table skirted, only because it is wood, the chairs are wood and the floors are wood, too much wood in one spot. I bought it from Ballards many moons ago and it washes up beautifully. In fact I am looking for a topper to put on it for Fall/Winter changes. For me it just works.
The too many legs and too much wood issue…they work don't they?!!
I'm one of the table skirt lovers and have had several over the years. But the one I have left is not long for this world! The ones you've shown are chic, chic, chic and I love them. I think with the right decor they are fabulous!
I have ONE ROUND ANTIQUE POKER TABLE covered up with MOUNDS of TAFFETA cloth to cover ugly legs….I than have piles of STUFF on top and some FAB old FRENCH CHAIRS hanging out around the table as I have no where else to put them…………I do have stuff hidden underneath!
They are great for stashing!! I am warming up to them…thanks to my new client!
Does she need some FRENCH CHAIRS?I have SIX I THINK!
Unlike you, I have always loved fabric and gulp TRIM!, and have always had a skirted table somewhere in my house. When I ditched the big dining table and added a round table in the room that became the dining/library room, I went hard core and draped the table with an Afghan tribal rug. I like the way the legs showed underneath part. Then I realized I liked even better having a table full of books most of the time could be easily moved if I kept the moving men pads under the table legs. What to do? The 54" diameter made having a cloth made a little more than I wanted to pay for the beautiful fabric I had chosen. Instead, I went retro and ordered to blue batik bedspreads (as I might have done in college in the late 60's) and I love the look. The plus is that this room is next to the garage and tends to be the place where packages are dropped off. The heavy-duty rug is up to the job to protect the table top!
Love the tailored look, but generally I prefer the look without a skirt. I do appreciate this idea for a serving table when I have to use those folding tables. Ha! Ha!
I, too, love the lacing detail and the Greek Key design on the alfresco table. Thanks for sharing all these ideas.
Hi Penny! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your link! Now I can find you!
These table skirts are all wonderful. I love the tailored look of them. On a previous post, you mentioned that you could not find my blog. You should just be able to click on the link that is my name…but if not, here it is:
http://www.enjoyingthesimplethings.com
Sandra you are the epitome of what a granny is not!! I am sure whatever you have is lovely, and as long as you like them who cares!!
YOU WOULD LOVE HER CASA!!!!!!!!VERY MODERN!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG! I may have two granny tables. They don't have any fringe on them. They're very simple but quel alors. How does one know if they're granny or not? Is it the bulbous bottom that makes if granny? Is it OK if it's just a simple hem with an over cloth? God forbid I have granny tables. These days I have to worry about granny clothes, granny tables and just the fact I'm a granny.