Table Runner

A table runner is a narrow strip of decorative fabric, typically 12 to 18 inches wide and long enough to extend beyond both ends of the table, placed lengthwise along the center of a dining or console table to add color, texture, and visual interest. Unlike a tablecloth that covers the entire surface, a table runner showcases the table's material while providing a focused decorative band that anchors centerpieces, candles, and place settings. This selective coverage makes runners ideal for tables with beautiful wood grain or distinctive finishes that deserve to be seen. Table runners are among the most versatile dining textiles, working across casual everyday meals and formal entertaining with equal ease. They can be used alone on a bare table, layered over a tablecloth for added dimension, or placed perpendicular to the table's length across individual place settings in a modern interpretation. Seasonal runner changes offer one of the quickest ways to refresh a dining room's appearance, from lightweight linen in summer to rich velvet or brocade during the holidays. The relatively small amount of fabric required also makes runners an affordable way to introduce premium materials like silk or hand-woven textiles.