Clothing the Table

Table covers vary from plain colors for a romantic dinner, to bright colors and text for a sporting event or marketplace. Table covers can help display needs for sale pitches, showing logos either on the front of the cover, or on all sides. Or, table covers can bring elegance and beauty to a home. Depending on the event will determine which kind of table cover is right.

Knit polyester is the most popular table cover fabric by far, especially for events like trade shows and exhibits. It’s extremely wrinkle resistant. Any wrinkles that do appear from storage or reckless handling will disappear in a short amount of time once it lays on a table for a while, but it is best to properly roll table covers up so they don’t get wrinkled anyway. Polyester covers are lightweight, but they aren’t flimsy, so they drape nicely over the tables they’re placed upon. These covers can be thrown in a wash cycle like any other colored fabric, as long as washing temperatures don’t exceed 160 degrees and drying temperatures don’t exceed 110 degrees. They can also be ironed as long as the printed logo isn’t ironed.

420 Denier Nylon is a good material for outdoor table covers, because it is durable and strong. Generally, this is the same material used for backpacks and other storage bags. Although it wrinkles easily, care when placing it in storage can minimize the hassle greatly. Water simply beads up and rolls off, so it’s weather and mess resistant as well, able to be wiped easily. To wash this table cover, all that is needed is a washcloth and a little soap. Reinforced vinyl is even stronger than the nylon, and it’s yet another table cover great for outdoor and inclement weather use, needing about the same care as the nylon.

If a table cover is for home decoration, however, something softer is probably necessary. Silk gives a home a gentle touch, good at withstanding different temperatures, and strong enough to protect a table. Other indoor home decoration table covers are cotton, linen, and embroidery. Specific care to each is required to maintain its beauty and durability.