Guide to Mixing, Matching, and Layering Table Linens
Our guide to layering table linens will help you choose and coordinate the perfect pieces to create a beautiful atmosphere for memorable meals with friends and family. There are many components to a well-made table, but tablecloths, table runners, and other linens are the foundation on which the design and its elements—from florals to decor—rest. Once you master the basics of layering different types of table linens, follow our tips for mixing colors, patterns, and textures to achieve your desired look. Then, find all the inspiration you need to layer a lovely table with top-quality linens, whether hosting a holiday dinner or preparing for a weekend brunch.
How to Layer Table Linens
Setting a beautiful table is a multifaceted endeavor that starts with layering the right linens to add dimension and color. Before you begin to experiment with making a table design of your own, consider the traditional approach to how to layer table linens, which follows this order:
- A tablecloth is the base layer. Choose a tablecloth that covers the full surface of your table and drapes over the edges. The closer the tablecloth falls to the floor, the more formal the look.
- A table runner can be used alone or layered over the tablecloth. It is traditionally positioned to run the length of the table.
- Placemats and napkins help define individual place settings. If you’re using both, the placemat should come first, and the dinnerware layered on top. Cloth napkins should then be folded to the left of the plate and placed beneath the flatware. Cloth napkins can also be rolled in napkin rings or folded artistically and placed in the center of the plate.
Once you understand the four main types of table linens and how to layer them to suit your style, needs, and the occasion, you can mix and match pieces, colors, and patterns to build a tablescape worthy of a magazine spread. Don’t be afraid to experiment: Turn a table runner sideways and let it take the place of a placemat for seats opposite each other across the table. Or, angle a small square tablecloth over your base cloth, so it functions as a makeshift table runner and adds dimension and visual interest.
Tips for Coordinating Table Linens
What’s the best color for a tablecloth, and should your napkins match? Should a runner and placemats match? While these are common questions hosts have about choosing table linens, you shouldn’t be so concerned with whether they match, but how they coordinate. Here are our tips for layering table linens to create a lovely, cohesive design.
Choose a Tone
Table linens significantly impact the overall ambiance of your dining room, so choose carefully. Are you looking to design a playful, inviting setting for a family gathering? Or perhaps a rustic backdrop would be better suited for a harvest-themed fall feast. Formal occasions in the dining room require a different mood than everyday meals around the kitchen table; keep the occasion—and its general tone—in mind when choosing which linens will work best.
Play with Contrast
The point of layering linens is to add depth and dimension to your table design, and contrast ensures that one piece does not bleed into the next. Prioritize contrast using color (dark versus light), scale (big versus small), or texture (rough versus smooth) to achieve a visually dynamic tablescape that draws the eye and becomes an appealing backdrop for your meal.
Keep Colors Consistent
When mixing patterns, it’s best to carry consistent colors throughout each piece. For example, incorporate a navy blue from your floral tablecloth in a solid-color table runner and striped navy placemats, then add neutral napkins to balance bolder hues. Weaving a unifying color across multiple layers ensures visual cohesiveness by allowing different patterns and textures to complement, rather than clash with, each other.
Pay Attention to Scale
Varying the scale of prints and patterns is integral to coordinating multiple designs across your table linens: Juxtapose bold florals with tiny gingham checks or balance a whimsical, busy print with minimalist ticking stripes. You can also explore scale through texture, using linen or embroidered pieces for contrast against more delicate-looking pieces. When you thoughtfully vary the scale of patterns and textures across layers of table linens, you create an attractive tablescape.
Understand Outdoor vs. Indoor Table Linens
Indoor table linens are typically made from cotton or linen, known for their softness and absorbency—qualities that are less than ideal in outdoor environments. In contrast, outdoor table linens typically feature low-maintenance synthetic materials like PET, which are designed to withstand the elements and resist stains and fading, ensuring they look lovely even after exposure to sunlight, weather, dirt, debris, or spills. To choose between the two, consider the demands of your dining environment and its location: If you’re setting the patio table for a formal alfresco party, indoor table linens may best help you achieve your desired look. Conversely, indoor meals with kids or messy foods (think pasta sauce or soup) might warrant using an outdoor tablecloth indoors.
When to Use Table Linens: Ideas for Every Occasion
Whether you’re working with placemats, cloth napkins, tablecloths, table runners, or some combination, most table linens can be dressed up or down to work for the occasion. The key is how you use and layer the pieces to achieve your vision. Need some inspiration? Consider these ideas for mixing and matching table linens for holidays, celebrations, and everyday use.
- Placemats and cloth napkins are ideal for daily use. A placemat at each seat protects the table from damage when you serve warm or hot dishes. Not just for entertaining or formal occasions, cloth napkins offer a sustainable alternative to paper napkins.
- Formal occasions call for a fully layered look. Start with a solid or printed tablecloth then add a runner in a coordinating color palette. Finish the look with matching placemats and cloth napkins to complete the design. Coordinating patterned and colored table linens in a formal atmosphere showcases your distinguished tastes and design know-how.
- Whether it’s your first or fifteenth time hosting Thanksgiving, layered table linens in harvest hues are always a hit. Choose rustic linen or textured tablecloths for a laid-back look or seek out embroidered designs, floral prints, and metallic details for an upscale tablescape.
- Choose Christmas table linens to fit your festive decor. A combination of red or burgundy with green is timeless and classic, especially when paired with pops of gold. Elegant white, ivory, and metallic-accented table linens are perfect for a formal Christmas Eve dinner or winter celebration. For Christmas brunch, cookie exchanges, or other kid-friendly celebrations, printed holiday table linens with whimsical motifs offer a charming vibe.
- Entertainers who love to host alfresco parties should stock up on outdoor linens. Set the scene for summer barbecues celebrating Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Fourth of July with a navy and white table runner, classic gingham check napkins, or other linens to capture the patriotic spirit with a casual spin.
- Layer a festive or neutral runner with taper candles, fresh or faux florals, and seasonal accents for stunning everyday dining room decor.
It's All in the Decorative Details
Creating a welcoming environment when entertaining depends on the small details, which can turn your gathering into an experience. Top layered linens with tableware and decor for an eye-catching centerpiece: Serve your favorite dishes on coordinating platters and trays, incorporate fresh florals in seasonal hues, or cast an elegant glow across the entire scene with a series of votive, taper, or tea candles.
Carry the mood of your event beyond the dining room with oven mitts, aprons, or tea towels that match or coordinate with your tablescape. For more tips for creating an inviting, welcoming space for guests and family members alike, explore our other Guides.