Once, I ordered a tablecloth that I thought was perfect for my dining room furniture table, but when it arrived, it could hardly cover the table. It looks like I put a decorative tablecloth on the dining table. This is definitely not my most satisfactory decoration experience!
In fact, measuring the size of a round tablecloth is not complicated, but there are some tips to make your tablecloth look professional and decent without making people think that you bought the wrong size in the store. After years of hosting banquets, helping friends prepare activities, and, of course, making some embarrassing tablecloth-size mistakes, I finally figured out the specific ways to do this every time.
Let me tell you everything you need to know in detail, so that the next time you buy a tablecloth, you can make sure it fits perfectly!
Why is it important to choose the right size?
Before we go into the specific methods, let's talk about why the size of tablecloths is really important. I used to think that "almost" was enough for tablecloths-after all, it was just cloth, right? Wrong!
A suitable tablecloth can:
Make your dining room furniture table look well-designed and tidy, not messy.
Properly protect the surface of the dining table to prevent liquid from splashing and scraping.
Create a suitable atmosphere for your space (formal, casual, elegant, and relaxed).
In fact, fix it firmly in place and don't slide around.
Make your dining area look harmonious and balanced.
The tablecloth my sister prepared for Thanksgiving is too short. Every time someone touches the table, the whole tablecloth moves. In the end, we basically eat at the bare corner of the table. Learn from her experience: size is important!
Measure the required items.
The good news is, you can complete this measurement without using expensive equipment! The following items are stored in my measurement kit:
Tape measure-A soft cloth tape measure is ideal, but ordinary metal tape measures can also be used. Please make sure that the tape measure is long enough to span the whole table. I once paid a painful price for using a 6-foot tape measure to measure an 8-foot table!
Use paper and notes to record your measurement data, lest you forget it eventually. My mobile phone photo album is full of fuzzy photos taken when measuring the tape measure, because I always forget to write down the data.
Use a calculator to perform basic mathematical operations. Or you can use your mobile phone-we are not doing advanced mathematics here!
Optional content: Have a friend-this will make the measurement easier, but it is not necessary. I once put my knee against one end of the tape measure alone, and I finished the measurement of many tables!
Step-by-step guide: measuring your round table
Ok, let's start the actual measurement work! This process is much simpler than you think, I promise.
Step 1: Clean the dining room furniture table
Please clean up everything on the dining table, including placemats, decorations, and letters that need sorting. You need to be able to completely touch the surface of the table and see the edge of the table clearly.
Once, when I measured the table with a ruler, there was still a mop on it, and the measurement result was actually 4 inches worse. How embarrassing!
Step 2: Determine the center position
This is a trick I learned from an activity planner friend: the center of a round dining table is the intersection of two diameters. Don't overthink the problem-just judge the middle position by intuition.
If you want to be precise (it seems that you are a person who pursues Excellence! ), you can use a tape measure to measure the edges in different directions to determine the middle point. The place where they intersect is the center position.
Step 3: Measure the diameter
Width is the most important measurement. Diameter refers to the straight line distance from one end of a table to the other through its center point.
The following are the specific steps:
Place one end of the measuring tape at the edge of the table.
Stretch it along the center of the table.
Stretch it to the other end of the table.
Read the value where the measuring belt meets the farthest edge.
My dining room furniture table is 48 inches wide. When I first bought this table, I measured it three times, and the result was 48 inches each time. However, some preventive measures must always be taken!
Step 4: Measure the height of the table (used to determine the drop length).
Now measure vertically down from the top of the table surface to the ground. This indicator will tell you how much space the tablecloth can hang down (called "hanging length").
Just lay the measuring ruler flat on the edge of the table and make it extend straight down. Don't let it bend or tilt-straight down is the key!
The standard table height is usually 28 to 30 inches, but be sure to measure it yourself to make sure it is accurate. My breakfast corner dining room furniture table is only 26 inches, because it is an antique product, which really affects my choice of tablecloth.
Special considerations for different table types
Not every round table is the same! The following are some special situations I have encountered:
Table with tablecloth/extension
If your round table is expanded into an oval or larger size, you need to make a decision: whether to buy a tablecloth with a round size for daily use or an expanded size?
I have both! I have a round tablecloth for daily use, and an oval tablecloth for adding leaf patterns at holiday dinners. Yes, this means preparing two tablecloths, but it is worthwhile to adapt to different occasions.
Tabletop and four-legged table
A table-top table (with only one central base) provides greater flexibility in leg length. Because there are no legs to block it, you can choose a longer leg length without the tablecloth piling up at the legs.
The spacing between the legs of a four-legged dining room furniture table may need to be shortened to avoid the tablecloth covering the legs, especiallyif the legs are tilted outward!