Quilted table runners can be used for decorative purposes just as well as we can use them as dining table runners. I personally see a difference between the two uses of a table runner, what I mean is that when choosing a table runner you should know if you are buying it to decorate the table or the buffet when you are not using it or if you want something practical, that is washable and can be used at meal times.
If you have a very expensive handmade bobbin lace table runner you probably would not want someone spilling a glass of red wine or grape juice on it, therefore you would avoid using it at family meals where kids many not be as careful, but you would place it on the table to give a touch of elegance to your dining room when it is not in use.
Quilted table runners are more versatile and can serve this dual purpose well as many are beautiful and will add a finishing touch to a dining room decor. It evident that quilted table runners will not fit in every home style, they have a definitely more country down to earth look than tapestry for example, but they can depict any motif you want, and like tapestry they tell a story. The story may have a different narrative, it may tell your story. When I walk in someone’s home and the table runner says “One Nation Under God”, I know a lot about the personality of the people in this home. When the table runner is made of washable cotton with these words, one look told me that I am in the home of a patriotic family, with reverence to God, one who uses the dining room to welcome children and teaches values. A family who values the company around the table and the table on which this patriotic quilted table runner is set.
Shabby chic decor is another home style that is well suited for the look of quilted table runners. As shabby chic decorating tends to use objects out of context, you might consider using your table runner in some room other than the dining room or the kitchen. Consider using a table runner on a dresser to protect it from damage from keys and pocket change that so often ends up there.
A final thought, a quilted table runner like any quilts can be used as a wall hanging. You could use the table runner on the wall and buy matching table mats for your dining table.
