Floral Tablecloth Ideas
The floral tablecloth can really add a Sha-Bang to any room. Cloths bring color, texture and an old fashioned elegance to any table. BUT, they don’t just have to be used for just tables, they can be used as bedspreads, slipcovers and curtains.
Here is a beautiful floral linen tablecloth that I purchased last year. I saw it and I just couldn’t resist it. The photo really doesn’t capture the weight or texture of the linen…but it is stunning. When I bought it, I planned on using it as a tablecloth or maybeeee even reworked into curtains, but I haven’t had the heart to see food spilled all over it or to cut it up, so I have been using it as a bedspread in the guest room. I love how the large black and white florals give it a modern and vintage feel at the same time. 
And here is my slipcovered my loveseat. The tablecloth and napkin set were a great find at my local Anthropologie store. LOVE that place. I was so excited when I saw it because I had been looking for something to combine the color palette of my open living/dining/kitchen space (which is inspired by my music nook painting mentioned in yesterday’s post). I didn’t know I was going to use it as a slipcover…I planned to use it as a tablecloth. But while cleaning off the table to try out the new cloth, I threw it over the loveseat. And BAM….the light bulb went off. I’m gonna make a slipcover! Now let me just say I have never made a slipcover before…and really don’t sew much, but I went for it. I even used the matching napkins to cover the pillows. If I can do it, you can do it. You can read more about this project here.
The loveseat has become part of the dining nook these days and I can’t tell you how much we love having it here. It’s just so comfy and cozy. And no worries about food or drinks spills because I can just throw it in the wash as needed.
No those curtains were not once a tablecloth, but that pillow was once a dishtowel. It was too pretty to use, and the colors were just what I needed, so I made a little pillowcase for it. Now the reading corner has a nice floral pop of color.
Still not sure about the floral thang? Then here are a few guidelines suggested by Real Simple:
1. Scale affects mood. A large print on something small looks modern and cool, while a pillow with a mini version of the same pattern would have a sweet, vintage feel.
2. Floral furniture doesn’t have to be granny. It’s all about the details and what you pair it with. If you offset a floral sofa with a graphic-border rug or a blocky coffee table, the couch will seem quirky-eclectic rather than Golden Girls.
3. Florals can go anywhere. You have an ornate Oriental rug in the living room: Does that mean floral pillows are out? No. Find a pillow that includes at least two colors from the rug and has an open print (lots of visible background). The common palette will make it work.
4. Mixing florals creates energy. The key to pairing prints is using a matching background color. Choose one large pattern and two small, thumbnail-size patterns that all share a white or off-white background, say, for a cohesive effect.
5. There is such a thing as nongirlie florals. While small prints in faded hues definitely feel feminine, bold florals, especially large patterns and those in vivid primary colors, can take on a modern-art vibe, which is generally more male-friendly.
So go raid your linen closet and bring on the florals!
Click here for more 31 Days of Decorating With Flowers
