How to set a royal table for four
A formal-looking table in about ten minutes, from the placemats up.
4 min readHow to measure your table for a table runner
Length, width and where our 36-inch runners fit best.
3 min read
A runner that is the right size looks deliberate. One that is too long, too narrow or too wide looks like an afterthought. Two measurements tell you what you need.
Measure the table
Measure the length and width of the tabletop. For an oval or round table, measure across the longest and widest points.
Width: about a third
A classic guide is a runner roughly a third as wide as the table. On a 36 to 42-inch-wide dining table, a runner of 12 to 16 inches leaves room for place settings on both sides.
Length: drape or sit on top
Long fabric runners are often cut to hang over each end of the table. Our runners are a different style: at 36 inches long, they sit on top of the table as a centerpiece, with the surface showing around them. That makes them a good fit for four-seat tables, round and square tables, coffee tables, consoles and sideboards.
On a longer table
For a table longer than about six feet, try laying runners across the table's width instead, one between each pair of facing guests. Each runner becomes a shared setting for two people, which is an elegant look for a long dinner.
Leave room
Whatever size you choose, leave space for serving dishes on trivets and a low centerpiece. A runner shows best when it is not completely covered.
