While your glass-topped table may look nice on its own, there are several reasons why you may want to cover it. A tablecloth or table runner keeps the table mostly dust-free while adding a touch of color. A table pad, miniature pads and place mats help keep the table scratch-free during use.
Lovely Linens
Video of the Day
Tablecloths
Table linens add a sense of style or color as they jazz up a glass-topped table. A tablecloth helps keep a glass side or end table dust-free on a day-to-day basis, while a tablecloth over a dining table helps prevent scratches and clinking sounds during a holiday dinner.
Video of the Day
Table Runners
If you prefer not to cover the entire glass table -- after all, glass imparts a beauty of its own -- use a table runner down the center of the table, setting a centerpiece atop the runner.
Place Mats
Decorative place mats help dampen sound during meals, even on a glass-topped patio table. Those same place mats help minimize cleanup of the table surface, catching errant crumbs and spills from the sides of meal plates.
Protective Pads
A protective pad that fits the tabletop perfectly shields the glass from scratches, cracks and breakage -- especially handy when children frequently dine at the table. These pads are thick enough to protect the table from items dropped upon it as well. While some pads look a bit on the bland side, others are available in a vast array of colors and can even be embossed with a monogram or design.
Tip
Pads can also be used beneath a tablecloth and can be removed whenever you wish to show off the glass tabletop.
Creative With Cork
Create your own cork topper for the table as an alternative means of both glass protection and decor. Trace the glass top onto a sheet of paper or cardboard to use as a template for the cutting the cork top. Alternatively, you could make a topper from smaller sheets of cork, gluing them all to a soft fabric backing cut to the size of the tabletop. Customize the cork by painting a design on it such as chevrons, stripes or vines.
On The Flip Side
If the glass top looks just fine as it is, but you wish to hide the table surface beneath it:
- Dress it up with a sheet of colored tissue paper slid between the table and the glass, the same size as the tabletop.
- Make a collage of vintage travel postcards or travel brochures, or simply arrange them on the table without securing them down so you can swap them out for something different whenever you like.