Table runners are the little black dresses of dining room décor: They’re incredibly versatile and can be styled for anything from ultra-formal to Fourth-of-July festive.
You can use a table runner to set the scene for a special celebration or to perk up the decoration of your dining room for a new season.
What is a Table Runner?
A table runner is a type of table linen — a long strip of almost any fabric from burlap to silk — that’s used to decorate dining tables. Generally sized between 10 and 18 inches wide, table runner lengths range anywhere from 36 to 108 inches long.
Why You Need a Table Runner
While runners technically can protect your table’s surface from hot dishes or pans, they’re generally more decorative than functional. Used on a bare table, a table runner adds a pop of color and texture but still allows you to show off your table’s surface.
Layered on top of a tablecloth, they add a spark and create a rich, pulled-together look to match any party’s color scheme. Table runners tend to draw the eye to a table’s centerpiece, framing the table and encouraging guests to lean in for a conversation.
A key bonus of table runners is that they usually aren’t under your family’s or guests’ plates or glasses, which means they’re less likely to need laundering after every meal.
Finding the Right Size
Traditionally, table runners are long enough to hang 6 to 12 inches past the table’s ends, and for rectangular tables, are about one-third the width of the table. But these aren’t hard-and-fast rules — table runners are a great way to be creative with your decorations, so consider other options, such as a runner that’s shorter than the full table length, one that hangs all the way to the floor, or one that’s a bit narrower for a modern look.
Choosing Your Table Runner
Your material, color, and pattern options for table runners are nearly limitless. You can highlight your room’s décor by repeating the colors or patterns in your window décor or carpet or by complementing the color of the walls.
Table runners are also a great way to tie in with the theme of an event or the season — you can choose holiday or seasonal patterns or create color combinations that are specific to the particular table you’re planning to set.
Styling Your Table Runner
When you are using table runners, it’s fun to get creative with the layout of your table. Some of the most popular options include:
A single table runner – This look features a single table runner that spans the length of the table. You can leave the rest of the table bare or pair it with matching placemats or napkins to tie the room together.
Layered with a tablecloth – When you’re layering a table runner over a tablecloth, you can choose to work in subtle complementary hues or in more eye-catching contrasts that echo a party’s theme.
Along the table’s width – The traditional table runner is used lengthwise, but you can also use a table runner along the width of the table.
In a crisscross style – You’re not limited to just one table runner, either. You can set the table with a single table runner along its length, with others spaced out widthwise crossing over it. For round tables, the table runners can fan out in different directions, like the spokes on a wheel.
Beyond the Dining Room
You can do a lot for your dining room with a table runner, but there are so many other great ways to use them. Try one on your coffee table, on an entranceway table, on your dresser with matching trinket trays (creating a surprisingly glam effect), or on a mantel above the fireplace to draw attention to your favorite family photos (just make sure you’re not creating a fire hazard). You can even place one that matches your coffee mug or office decor under the keyboard on your desk — it’s a fantastic way to make a workday feel a little more special.
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