Everyday Dining Table Decor Ideas for 2025

The practice of dining on tables is fast gaining momentum across India. Not that Indians are averse to using them but more because modern day homes, especially in densely populated urban centres barely offer enough space to accommodate a dining table and accompanying chairs. At some homes, we can see foldable dining tables in use, due to space constraints.

Just in case you’re unaware, dining on tables or using a dining table isn’t some western concept introduced by foreign invaders to India. As a matter of fact, excavations in the Indus Valley civilization in Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat as well as sites now in neighboring Pakistan revealed, dining tables made of wood and stone were widely used as long ago as 3300 BC, much before the western world could civilize.

Unfortunately, over the years, foreign invasions leading to widespread poverty on the Indian subcontinent as a whole made dining tables an unaffordable luxury. Furthermore, rural residents preferred to sit on the floor for their meals- a system that’s now becoming popular across the globe.

Having said all that, if you’re among those owning a dining table, surely you would love to decorate it. Generally, most Indian households are happy to spread a nice plastic or fabric tablecloth on their dining tables, with separate ones for special occasions and festivals.

In this article, I will discuss two different ways to decorate your dining table in 2025 and beyond.

Reasons to Decorate Dining Table

Actually, there’re three top reasons to decorate your dining table. You can decide which type of décor suits your needs or you could have all these too. Furthermore, you could use these for daily needs or on special occasions.

1. Protection Against Food Stains

If you’re using one of those common plastic or fiberglass tables including folding ones, it’s necessary to protect it against food stains. Some of these materials are prone to staining easily due to food dyes and spices through oil, which is a solvent for both. Using dining table décor such as tablecloth and placemats can help avoid such staining.

2. Rough & Damaged Table Surfaces

Tablecloth and placemats also help to conceal any rough or damaged tabletops. Often, plastic or wooden tables or even those with glass tabletops sustain scratches, cracks and chipping. Surely, you wouldn’t want guests or visitors to see such tabletops and hence, would wish to cover it aptly.

3. Blending with Overall Home Décor

Often, we decorate our dining table to blend with the overall home décor and create a matching ambience. This is one of the commonest uses of dining table décor in India. Since tablecloth and placemats are available in all sizes, shapes and colors as well as designs and patterns, they can be used to create a symbiotic or synergistic effect with the home décor such as curtains, sofa covers and other elements.

Everyday Dining Table Decor Ideas

There’re two types of décors for dining tables that you could use. These are commonly available in India.

Using Placemats and Tablecloths

Depending on the type of dining table you’re using, its possible to use a placemats and tablecloth for decorations. You can use either one of them- that means only placemats or tablecloth or both. 

Alternatively, you can change the décor too using any of these at one time and other next.

Furthermore, you can also use various types of placemats and tablecloth. They’re available in variety of materials and colors, patterns, designs and even shapes. 

Here’re some of the different types of placemats that can provide a superb décor to your dining table.

1. Placemats

Placemats are small rectangular or square sheets of various materials that’re commonly used to place plates, hot or cold vessels, crockery and cutlery. In India, we’re fortunate to have them in various sizes and materials. 

Bamboo:

The first and most popular placemats for dining table décor that I would suggest are bamboo placemats. These are 100 percent natural and made of sturdy bamboo wood. They’re painted in superb shades and crafted into artistic pieces to adorn every dining table. Bamboo placemats can be used to place plates as well as hot and cold utensils since they’re heat resistant.

Cotton:

Easy to handle and maintain, you can use cotton placemats for lighter meals where there could be no spillage or at homes without kids and toddlers. Cotton placemats are available in India in different shapes, sizes and colors and you could use various types for matching moods, meals or even festive season and special occasions. They require washing and can be folded easily.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC placemats for tables are commonly used. That’s because these placemats are generally waterproof and to some extent, heat resistant. They require minimal maintenance and can be wiped clean after each use. These are available in different colours and designs, you can also find PVC table mats with matching runner set.

River Grass

River grass or reed is one of the best natural fibers and material for making placemats for tables. They can lend your dining table that rich, ethnic and also rustic look since such placemats come in various vibrant colors and designs. Reed placemats are also strong and being natural, are heat resistant too. However, you might have to handle these with care since color and dyes could wear off the river grass in some cases.

Synthetic Leather

Some people also prefer waterproof synthetic leather or faux leather tablemats. They come in block colors and generally, limited patterns but in various shades. These placemats are meant to give a richer feel to your dining table. They’re glossy and resemble real leather. However, you might not be able to use them below hot pots and pans. Yet, these are an excellent addition to the table décor for special occasions and festivals or merely for decoration.

2. Tablecloth

We’re all aware of a tablecloth and have possibly used one by now or already own some. In short, a tablecloth is a woven or single piece of fabric with various designs or colors and patterns that’re cut to a specific size.  The sizes generally are universal and made to fit dining tables perfectly. We can get these in square, rectangular and circular shapes too.

PVC

PVC tablecloth is common at restaurants and public places such as party halls. These can also be used at home if your household is prone to spilling or dropping food on the dining table. Being leakproof, they protect table top well. These PVC tablecloths are easy to maintain and can be washed or wiped frequently.

Polyester-Jute

The next in line are tablecloths made of a blend of polyester and jute fibers. This is an adaptation of the ancient Indian art of blending cotton and jute fibers to create home décor items. In modern times, polyester is used since it is relatively wrinkle free and can be dyed easily in vibrant colors. These tablecloths are suitable for special occasions and for households without kids to spill food on table.

Waterproof & Nonslip

Waterproof and nonslip or elastic tablecloth are the best choice. They are made of fabric that’s been treated for waterproofing. Generally, the lower side will have a matte type fitting which sort of prevents the tablecloth from slipping off while in use. These types of tablecloths are now trending in India and you can use these for your home. 

In Conclusion

As we have seen, these are the two most common ways to decorate a dining table. Then we also have table runners. You can decide on what type of décor to give your dining table based on own preferences, and overall home décor as well as special occasions you celebrate.