What Is The Purpose Of A Dining Table Pad

If you have a lovely wooden table, whether it's brand new, antique or somewhere in between, you may have already found out how easily its shiny, smooth surface can become scratched or marred from day-to-day use. Dishes, flatware, pens, pencils and even spilled salt can scratch your table's gorgeous wood surface. Instead of allowing your table to become scratched, protect it with a table pad.

Definition and Purpose

A table pad is a fairly thin pad that is rigid on the top surface and soft on the bottom. It is made to the exact size of the tabletop, so that you can place it over a table's wood surface to protect it from scratches, moisture and heat.

Benefits

The obvious benefit to table pads is that they keep your tabletop looking new. They can be custom-made to perfectly fit atop your table and can be used during meals with or without a tablecloth. Table pads are rigid on the top so that they are stable enough for dining and writing but are soft on the bottom where they come into contact with the wood surface. They lie securely on top of the table and protect it from scratches, moisture, spills, fingerprints and dust. They are easily removable but can be left on the table indefinitely if you like.

Drawbacks

Table pads can be expensive. While you can buy common sizes "off the rack," many table pads must be custom-made, which adds to their expense. They can be bulky to store when you're not using them, but most fold up easily and can be stored under a bed or propped up between the back of a dresser and a wall. While some people prefer to leave table pads on their tables at all times, many others feel that hiding a pretty wood tabletop with a surface that is not nearly as attractive is a shame.

Other Considerations

Limiting table pad use to only dining tables isn't mandatory. Table pads can be used on any surface that you'd like to protect. For example, desks often become scratched from pens and scissors and can easily benefit from a protective table pad. Dressers, buffets, conference tables, pianos and chests are additional pieces you may want to protect with a table pad.

Tags: become scratched, wood surface, your table, from scratches, from scratches moisture, protect from