The Best Fabric for Tablecloths: A Guide to Linen, Cotton, and Everything In Between
Because your table deserves better than something you’d find at the back of a drawer.
When it comes to tablecloths, the fabric makes all the difference. It affects everything — from how your table feels to how your guests respond, to whether it ends up passed down or passed over.
Let’s break down the most popular tablecloth fabrics, their pros and cons, and why — at Nic Brittin — we’ve chosen linen as our material of choice.
🧵 Linen: The Heirloom Standard
Best for: Elegant entertaining, relaxed gatherings, everyday beauty
Why we love it:
Natural & breathable: Grown from flax, linen is timeless, tactile, and luxuriously down-to-earth.
Beautiful drape: It falls just-so, giving a relaxed elegance that never looks stiff.
Strength & longevity: Linen gets softer with age but holds its shape beautifully. With care, it lasts decades.
Slightly creased? That’s part of the charm.
✨ Bonus: Our linens are both digitally printed in the UK and hand-block printed by Nic in the studio — giving you all the artisan feel, with the practicality of long-lasting colour and crisp detail.
🌿 Cotton: The Everyday Staple
Best for: Kitchen tables, quick cleanups, easy machine washing
Pros:
Soft and widely available
Budget-friendly
Easy to wash and store
Cons:
Tends to stain more easily than linen
Doesn’t age as gracefully (prone to pilling and fading)
Can feel a little “flat” in texture
Cotton is lovely — but if you want something that holds its own for years to come, linen might be the better investment.
✨ Blends (Poly-cotton, poly-linen etc.)
Best for: Cheap and cheerful setups, outdoor tables, kids’ parties
Pros:
Wrinkle-resistant
Often spill-repellent
Cons:
Lacks the luxury of natural fibres
Not environmentally friendly
Can feel synthetic or shiny
For high-traffic or one-off use, a poly blend can do the job. But they’re not designed to become part of the family memory box.
🎨 Velvet, Lace, Silk & Others
Best for: Statement moments, weddings, styled photo shoots
Pros:
Visually dramatic
Rich texture and colour
Cons:
Often expensive, high maintenance
Hard to clean
Can feel too formal for real life
Unless you’re styling an editorial spread or a black-tie dinner, these fabrics tend to stay in the “lovely to look at, tricky to live with” category.
💬 So, What’s the Best Fabric for a Tablecloth?
In short:
For beauty and longevity? Go with 100% linen.
For everyday ease? Cotton can work, but won’t become an heirloom.
For parties and messes? A poly blend may be your friend.
For Nic Brittin magic? You already know our answer.
🧺 Caring for Linen Tablecloths
Linen is simpler than it seems:
Wash at 30–40°C with gentle detergent
Hang dry or tumble on low
Embrace the creases, or iron for a crisp finish
Store folded or rolled, away from direct sunlight
Treat it well, and your linen will last a lifetime — possibly longer.
❓FAQs
Q: What fabric is best for tablecloths?
A: Linen is considered the best for its elegant drape, durability, and timeless beauty. It’s a natural fibre that softens over time and lasts for years.
Q: Is cotton or linen better for tablecloths?
A: Linen is more luxurious and long-lasting. Cotton is cheaper and easier to care for, but less durable.
Q: What is the most durable tablecloth material?
A: 100% linen is one of the most durable natural fibres, ideal for both everyday use and special occasions.
🥂 From Our Table to Yours
At Nic Brittin, our table linens are designed with memory in mind. They’re meant to be spilled on, laughed around, toasted over. They’re made to become part of your family’s story — not something that gets pulled out once a year.
When you choose your fabric, you’re choosing how you want your table to feel.
And we think it should feel unforgettable.