I want to share a little decorating tip I’ve been using for years.
When we built this house, I wanted a good sized dining room with a round table.
I like round tables because they are so much easier to converse around during dinner.
None of that leaning forward and turning your back on the person on one side so you can hear what the person two chairs away wants to say.
All the while holding your hair so it doesn’t drag in your soup!
All the while holding your hair so it doesn’t drag in your soup!
Of course, not envisioning I would have the Mongolian horde as permanent houseguests,
I imagined nice dinners, on good china, with intelligent conversation.
Those imaginary guests wouldn’t have to be told (42 times) to open the napkin to wipe their mouth because it doesn’t work as well clutched into a ball in your hand.
Or told (12 times) to refrain from conversing with the lady of the house
while eating macaroni and cheese as it is particularly disgusting to look at.
while eating macaroni and cheese as it is particularly disgusting to look at.
Or told (9 times) to not scoop spaghetti into your slice of buttered bread
and then try and force it into your mouth even though she understands that you
CAN open your mouth wide enough to get (almost…oops) all of it in there.
and then try and force it into your mouth even though she understands that you
CAN open your mouth wide enough to get (almost…oops) all of it in there.
No, no, no….she NEVER imagined this when she lovingly planned
her beautiful dining room
with the gorgeous 60 inch round cherry inlay table
which is never uncovered anymore….sniff, sniff…
But, I digress…..
her beautiful dining room
with the gorgeous 60 inch round cherry inlay table
which is never uncovered anymore….sniff, sniff…
But, I digress…..
Before they descended
I did figure out that a fabric shower curtain makes an excellent tablecloth.
Why? Because they are 72 inches square…that’s why.
Most of the fabrics you would want to make a tablecloth from comes only 54 inches wide.
That means a center piece and a smaller piece on each side to get a large enough square.
It also means cutting, pinning, sewing, pressing…
and don’t forget to match the pattern while you’re at it!
Plus, with a 60 inch table the size cloth needed is 90 inches (for a good drop)
…not easy to find, if you’re a cheapskate like me anyway.
I only buy them when I can find them on sale or at Home Goods.
So, I devised this plan for a pretty topper over the white cloths I can find more easily.
Since my St Patrick Day arrangement is still on the table
(minus all the Irish stuff)
I am demonstrating on another table which is 42 in across and 26 in tall.
and don’t forget to match the pattern while you’re at it!
Plus, with a 60 inch table the size cloth needed is 90 inches (for a good drop)
…not easy to find, if you’re a cheapskate like me anyway.
I only buy them when I can find them on sale or at Home Goods.
So, I devised this plan for a pretty topper over the white cloths I can find more easily.
Since my St Patrick Day arrangement is still on the table
(minus all the Irish stuff)
I am demonstrating on another table which is 42 in across and 26 in tall.
This is so easy your dog can do it….
Shower curtain
There’s the hole for the ring….
I found this at Goodwill for $6.99. It’s from Target.
You know that they have an agreement with Target to get their castoffs…
that’s why you always see their stuff there.
Table
I tossed a white cloth over it so you can see the effect.
OK…here’s the hard part……
Put the shower curtain square over the table….
Tablecloth
SNAP…..
YEAH BABY….
But wait…that’s NOT all.
I also use tablecloths to make curtains.
In fact, you can use a tablecloth to make the shower curtain which means
tablecloths= shower curtains= tablecloths
And you thought you’d never use that high school algebra again!
I also use tablecloths to make curtains.
In fact, you can use a tablecloth to make the shower curtain which means
tablecloths= shower curtains= tablecloths
And you thought you’d never use that high school algebra again!
Almost as difficult and time consuming as the tablecloth….
I bought this nice RL floral comforter and sham set from a discount place.
There were coordinating sheets, but nothing else.
No problem, I don’t tend to be a matchy matchy sort of gal anyway
which the main reason I don’t like photographs…I NEVER seem to look right….
which the main reason I don’t like photographs…I NEVER seem to look right….
but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
So I vacillated and prevaricated and procrastinated and all the other
“ateds”
And didn’t do anything.
The room still had the white primer we painted when we moved in 8 years before.
YES…I said 8 years….sheesh…
So I vacillated and prevaricated and procrastinated and all the other
“ateds”
And didn’t do anything.
The room still had the white primer we painted when we moved in 8 years before.
YES…I said 8 years….sheesh…
Then, I happened to be in Home Goods one day about a year after I bought the comforter
and spied tablecloths….
and spied tablecloths….
In my print…!
I read the sizes and realized they were perfect for drapes!
Fold the top over and add rings or fold the top over and sew a pocket.
Fold the top over and add rings or fold the top over and sew a pocket.
Good thing I found them because since I had never finished the bedroom,
my husband got fed up with me one weekend
and said he wanted the bedroom to be yellow
and how come he never got to choose anything he wanted
and so forth and on and on…….
He said this bedroom is getting painted this weekend and I’d better go with him to the store
or he’d pick the color himself!
So there!!
Nothing lights a fire under my derriere better than the prospect of
NOT having a say in a decorating project.
So, off we went and it was done that weekend.
Now he LOVES to tell me about HIS decorating expertise.
yadda yadda
whatever….
and said he wanted the bedroom to be yellow
and how come he never got to choose anything he wanted
and so forth and on and on…….
He said this bedroom is getting painted this weekend and I’d better go with him to the store
or he’d pick the color himself!
So there!!
Nothing lights a fire under my derriere better than the prospect of
NOT having a say in a decorating project.
So, off we went and it was done that weekend.
Now he LOVES to tell me about HIS decorating expertise.
yadda yadda
whatever….
It IS pretty though….very English….
This is the sitting area.
I’d love to show you more but I’m not ready.
Still finishing up in here.
Remember the china mosaic fireplace? It’s across from the foot of the bed.
Still finishing up in here.
Remember the china mosaic fireplace? It’s across from the foot of the bed.
I still have one more shower curtain idea to show you.
I’ve had this eyelet/cutwork shower curtain for about 15 years…maybe longer.
One day in a fit of Marthawannabeitis
I folded it lovingly and tied it with a bit of fabric scrap and put it in the linen armoire.
When the kids are gone and I can have a guest bedroom again…
this will be used to top the bed.
Over a white spread of course, with white embroidered cases.
So, if you happen to come across a cutwork shower curtain
snap it up!
Sharing with
From My Front Porch To Yours
Embracing Change
the36th Avenue
No Minimalist Here
At The Picket Fence
Between Naps on The Porch
Mrs. Hines Class
Freckled Laundry
I'm Lorraine. I have a love for home & design and I enjoy sharing that passion with others. I'm so glad you're here to join me.
email: missflibbertigibbet@gmail.com
I love it I have considered using a shower curtain for a regular curtain. In fact, I hate my living room dining room curtains and this may be the cheap solution. I would have never thought of using them as a table cloth though. It looks great
YESS!! Great ideas, thank you!
I’m all about shortcuts that don’t involve sewing.
~Bliss~
Very entertaining post! Your bedroom is gorgeous with all those wonderful windows and the yellow wall color looks beautiful with the floral curtains. Yes, your husband is quite the decorator. :@
You have a gorgeous bedroom. The curtains are beautiful.
Dee
What an absolutely gorgeous room! I love it all. Thanks for the tip on the tablecloth too. Never would have known!
xoxo,
Kim
Great ideas! I also use curtains as tablecloths. I find the length usually perfect for my size table. Almost all the walls in my house are yellow so I’m so loving the color on the walls!! Love how the curtains look with the wall color and I agree very English Cottage. Sooo Pretty!
Lovely!
… what a great idea 🙂
Greetings from Australia♥
So pretty! I love the colors and I had no idea that Target did that. Thanx for coming to the party!
I so enjoyed your wonderful post – my first visit.
You are so funny, what a great writer!
I LOVE your ideas (and Algebraic equations!)
Your husband picked a great color- it looks so pretty again your white woodwork and your curtains are perfect.
Love it. What a happy space.
I love your room the windows are striking and the coverings so beautiful!
I have used drapery panels and as tablecloths..they are so much cheaper and come in such a wide variety…great tip!
Miss Bloomers
Miss Flib, sorry to shorten but can’t remember how to spell it all, however, do like the name.
What a great idea you had with putting the shower curtain on as the topper. Looks awesome. Your bedroom looks wonderful, like an english cottage.
Love love love your windows, so neat!
It all looks great to me, and the idea of the cutwork tablecloth as a bed topper another great idea.
You have a great day, also, got tickled at what your hubby said, he knows how to get his woman moving………….lol
Blessings for a lovely Friday and weekend,
Nellie
Visiting from From My Front Porch Linky Party, and I enjoyed your post. I’m now following you through Linky Followers!
What invaluable information! And I LOVE your bedroom. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks at Show & Tell.
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
I was feeling down about having lived in my house for over a year without painting over the color the builder painted EVERY wall the same when I read this post and saw you lived with primer for 8 years! I don’t feel so bad now. Thanks for the good laugh. Love the floral stuff.
Beautiful!
Great job!
Thanks for coming by to link up…I would love to have you back this week!
See you there!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Featured you! Cone see snd grab a button!
Stacey of Embracing Change
I love the tablecloth and curtains.
For my own family, I was silly enough to dream of having service for 12–and thinking tht would be enough! HA! There are 8 of us, and soon to be 9, which means we run out of silverware between every meal!
I love your beautiful windows; the curtains DO make it VERY English looking. Quite lovely!
Love it! I use shower curtains for real curtains. Don’t sweat changing them out when I want because they are cheap and they are so much cuter!
This is a great post. Your tips are very helpful. I have benefitted from the post. I follow your techniques.
Thanks for sharing1