Stop Buying Tablecloths and Runners — I Tried This Unconventional Trick Instead (It Totally Works!)

Every year when warm weather rolls around, I feel that familiar urge to refresh and redecorate. But because my budget for decor is a bit tight right now, I have to get creative about how to spruce up my space this spring. Instead of going through all the trouble of listing my existing furniture for sale and picking out all-new pieces, I decided to try a simple solution first: furniture covers. 

And no, I’m not talking about the plastic couch covers or vinyl tabletop wraps of yesteryear: I’m talking about using textiles draped over furniture to help hide unsightly pieces and make your space look layered. The end result is unfussy and casual, but still striking. And I’m not just talking about slipcovers and blankets, either: Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to the textiles you use. 

This time around, I got extra creative. Armed with nothing but a small rug, I took my dining table (yes, dining table!) from plain and cold to textured and fabulous — all in just about 60 seconds!

The simple, faux-marble tulip table I bought for my dining area five years ago was still a perfect size for the space, but it just wasn’t my style anymore. I couldn’t find a tablecloth I liked to cover it with, but I did have a spare rug lying around. I thought, why not try it?

Turns out I’m not the only one using rugs as spontaneous table covers. When content creator Romilly Newman recently styled the New York City showroom of luxury Australian rug company Armadillo, she put two of the brand’s stunning rugs on two long tables. “What makes styling rugs on tables feel so unexpected is that it challenges how we traditionally see them,” says Jodie Fried, co-founder and creative director of Armadillo. “Rugs are usually understood as grounded, functional pieces, so placing one on a table reframes it as something sculptural, tactile, and artistic.” 

According to Fried, this design move also “shows how rugs can soften a space, add depth, and bring warmth and visual interest in ways that extend beyond the floor.” I’ve heard of people using rugs on sofas like throw blankets, so why not a table (provided it’s drapey like a tablecloth)?

When I bought the small rug you see here on vacation in Palermo, Italy, I had no plan for how I’d display it at home. I knew I didn’t really have room for another rug in my space, but I just fell in love with the pattern. I knew I’d figure out something to do with it. I thought about hanging it as a tapestry on the wall, but when I realized it was thin enough to drape like a fabric, I knew it was perfect for my dining table transformation.

Now, as a tablecloth, the rug brings so much warmth to my dining area — a trait the formerly modern, black-and-white setup lacked. To my surprise and delight, the rug laid nicely over the 32-inch round table too, despite being a different shape and size (104 inches by 68 inches, to be exact). There was a little bit of excess material pooling at the bottom, but I just tucked it underneath the table for a cleaner look.

This method can work just about anywhere else in the house, too; it’s not just for tables. Bedding, drapes, or fabric scraps can quickly revamp a side table, coffee table, even a sofa. My red velvet Chesterfield sofa once felt like a style statement, but lately it’s felt more like a bold eyesore. So I tried covering it with an espresso brown linen quilt from The Citizenry. While the look could use some adjusting, it gets the job done in terms of making the palette feel more me right now. 

Whether you try this styling trick with textiles you already own or some you choose to invest in, it’s a pretty easy and quick method for giving your space an instant makeover. It saves you from shelling out a ton of money on all-new pieces — and it saves your old pieces from the landfill! That’s a win-win in my book.