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I use placemats when it's just me and the BF. Definitely a tablecloth if I have guests.

I used to go bare. But if someone puts something wet or hot (steam) on our new table it leaves a white mark/stain that I can't get rid of. So now we use place mats and hot pads under anything remotely warm.

I don't have many guests over, but when I do it's very casual and doesn't involve sitting around the table (we eat in the living room where it's more comfortable).

I like placemats in lieu of table cloths for most occasions.

Especially if the placemats are from Unison.

I use placemats for me and the hubby or if it is a smaller dinner party. Larger dinning experience and if children are present then tablecloth, no question. Also if it is buffet style then I will use a tablecloth.

For me, table cloths have always been for "casual" dining and placemats are "formal."

In my mind, a table cloth is a catch all, like a drop cloth for your table, and is never formal. I always found it odd to be a guest at a formal holiday dinner, for example, where the hosts dressed the table completely in cloth -- until it occurred to me that a cloth was used to dress up an unattractive table.

When I grew up, the tablecloth protected the table. At formal meals we only protected the table directly under a plate and showed off the pretty wood.

Neither, I like my dining room table with just a runner, which acts as a trivet:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualingual/2437958945/in/set-72157594505190197/

I go bare - because I love my dining room table. It was my grandmother's, and the wood is so gorgeous I can't bear to cover it up!

I love to show off my table, so I prefer not to use a tablecloth. We really don't use either, but if it was a holiday meal, I'd choose placemats.

If you have an ugly table (a piece of plywood on sawhorses, for example) use a table cloth

If you have a beautiful table...use placemats.

visualingual- very nice dining area! your whole home is beautiful, actually!

i also have always thought tablecloths were more casual than nice placemats- but i prefer table runners, and maybe some cute placemats for special occasions. you can show off your table and have some textile ineterest at the same time that way.

it could be because i never find tablecloths that i actually like though.

I lied on the survey... said 'no dress' but no, there's these fancy placemats people gave me. Clearly I don't entertain a huge amount.

i like to use vintage print tablecloths (and you can get them for less than new ones). When they get too worn or stained I cut up the good parts and make napkins.

Tablecloth. My old roommate ruined the finish on my table top.

I use placemats whenever I eat at the table. I only use tablecloths for picnics and the holidays.

I use both. Mostly tablecloths because my table is my husband's parents. For marital harmony I will never be able to get rid of it even though my husband and his sibs wet pennies and made permanent marks on the table and it's beat up beyond "interesting patina."

All of my cloth everyday napkins coordinate with my placemats and tablecloths.

I marked tablecloth, but we don't use them around here very often. Why? For one, the cats seem to think that tablecloths are the greatest toy ever, and as much as I like the look of our dining area with a tablecloth on it, the cats always seem to mess it up. Also, we don't often eat at the table (we're working on changing that, but the table is far too often a catch-all place for homework, recent Target purchases, etc). We do, however, use cloth napkins often.

Definately placemats with guests or without. Tablecloths hide the beauty of your table.

steel table = no need :D

placemats are just too fussy.