How to Style a Beautiful Skinny Table Runner

Hello and welcome to the Skinny Table Runner Blog Hop hosted by Diane from South House Designs! If you’re visiting from Darla at Vintage Joyce Marie, I know you loved her beautiful table!

Barbara/Mantel and Table * Diane/South House Designs * Katrina/PNW Farmhouse Design * Darla/Vintage Joyce Marie

The Skinny Table Runner

Oh my gosh you guys – look at this beautiful skinny linen table runner!

Natural colored linen table runner down the center of a white & gold tablescape

If you were here last time, you’ll have noticed that I also sneaked it into my previous peach tablescape! Today’s table is a lovely neutral take on it, and just goes to show how versatile this skinny table runner is!

My First Sponsored Post

Also I’m so excited because this is my first real live sponsored post! (After blogging for a year and a half! You hate to rush into these things!)

Diane at South House Designs gave me these two runners so I could tell you about them. And I can tell you that I LOVE them!

Closeup of runner, brass candle stick on table

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. I will only promote something on Mantel and Table if I would use it myself. Everything I recommend is something I really love and think you would enjoy – whether I get paid for it or not. That’s a promise!

Table Runner Texture & Color

So back to our table runner.

First off, it’s a gorgeous color! I totally love neutrals, and this is so perfectly subtle. Just enough depth of color on my all white table to add some warmth.

Linen table runner on table with white flowers, candles

That neutral cream/beige/linen color palette is really trending this year! I’m not necessarily one for following a trend just because it’s a trend.

But I’m always super happy when what I like happens to be in style! And I think we’ve hit the nail on the head.

Long view of linen runner on table

And the table runner has so much texture! Brand new, it’s got a lot of structure. I only washed it once, and it’s still got lots of heft for the wavy style I did on this table.

Very close up of table runner showing texture

Because it’s linen, it’ll soften over time and with washings. I love how the edges will develop personality, as Diane says. Here’re a couple pictures of what they’ll look like after a few washings.

They just get more and more naturally beautiful as they age.

The Skinny Table Runner Adds Casual Style

I do so love a formal table with a casual element to it. This runner is perfect at that. It’s kind of right in that sweet spot where it could go with casual or formal. The mix is so fun and welcoming.

Table runner on white and gold table. white flowers in brass pot

That was my goal with this table – to have a lovely neutral table that just hinted at fall. A casually elegant setting.

Napkins & More Casual Style

It’s hard to tell in some of the pictures, but the napkins are also natural linen. They’re much less structured than the table runner, and are just a shade or so lighter.

Natural linen napkins on plate

I added another touch of casual with the twine napkin ties. I honestly just went out to my garden basket, got a twine ball, and cut a few lengths!

Natural linen napkin on plate beside table runner

Sometimes the easiest and most common things can add the perfect touch to your table.

A Neutral Plate Stack

The plates are my everyday plain solid white ones. They’re both fancy and casual enough to carry off this look. That’s one of the things I love about having an all-white set of everyday plates – they’re so versatile.

Closeup of white plate stack

You’ll notice that I didn’t use any chargers on this table. If I had some white ones, I might have used white – but I don’t. The gold accents are really lovely and warm, but I wanted to keep them to a minimum. So no gold chargers this time.

Place setting and table runner on table

The Perfect Glasses

These are my favorite brand of wine glasses – made by Riedel. As you may know, we’re really into wine at our house. And these glasses are so great for getting the best flavors out of whatever wine you happen to be serving. They have different shapes for different varieties. These are the Bordeaux and the Champagne – conveniently two of my favorite wines!

Place setting with Riedel wine glasses

I also love them because they’re so simple and elegant. And clear! They don’t mess with my color scheme, and you can see the flowers through them!

View of flowers on table runner seen through wine galsses

New Gold Flatware Again

I went off about my new flatware back in the peach post, so I won’t this time. But you can see how cool it is! I’d really been wanting something more modern, so I treated myself.

Place setting with matte gold flatware, table runner

The muted gold really matched with the brass vase and candles. And because I set a dessert spoon at the top, the flatware really frames the plates.

View of place settings across table runner

Here’s another instance where the Skinny Linen Table Runner is perfect. It’s only 10″ wide, so lots more space on the table!

Closeup of table runner and white flower arrangement

If I’d used a regular sized one, the dessert spoon would have been on the runner. It wouldn’t have been contributing as much to the beautiful frame I had in mind.

Flowers on the Table Runner

I’ve been having a tiny love affair with alstroemeria these days! This white variety is just gorgeous!

Closeup of linen table runner

To say that this is a very casual arrangement is an understatement. I literally snipped the stems and plopped them in the vase.

They pretty much stayed where they fell. I did cut some camellia branches from our yard, just to give the “arrangement” some shape and movement.

View of table runner, candles, and flowers from top

We actually keep our matchbooks in this little brass urn. But I found a temporary place for them while I used the urn for a vase. (I’ll dry it very thoroughly before I put the matches back!)

White place setting, linen table runner with flower centerpiece

It’s so fun to use unusual things for vases. They add so much individuality and charm!

Side view of flower arrangement on table runner, with lighted candles

And Candles Of Course

I think we use candles almost every night! They’re just so cozy and fun. The candlesticks for this table are some of our old brass ones. They’re formal in shape, but beat up (I mean casual) in appearance.

Long view of centerpiece and candles on table runner

I snugged them between the folds of our table runner, and they look so cozy and inviting!

Closeup of flower arrangement and candles on table runner

So That’s the Skinny Table Runner Table!

I hope you like this table as much as I do! I’m so happy it turned out the way I envisioned it the first time I saw Diane’s table runner.

Full side view of table with skinny linen table runner

Grab Your Own Skinny Linen Table Runner!

Diane and her team make these lovely table runners by hand, and they’re super good quality. They’re heirloom pieces, but with only an every day price tag!

Here’s the link to check them out and grab your own South House Designs Skinny Linen Table Runner. Tell her Barbara sent you!

Top view of table runner and lighted candles, flowers

Shop the Skinny Linen Table Runner Post

Click on the pictures for links to pieces I used for this table.  If the exact item isn’t available any more, I chose a similar option.

This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and end up buying anything from that site within 24 hours, I get a small commission with no extra cost to you. It’s a Win-Win, and helps cover the cost of publishing Mantel and Table. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!

And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!

Click here to buy skinny linen table runners from South House Designs
Click here to buy White Jacquard Tablecloth
Click here to buy White dinner plate
Click here to buy white salad plate
Click here to buy modern matte gold flatware set
Click here to buy Riedel Bordeaux wine glasses set of 2
Click here to buy brass candlesticks set of 3
Click here to buy white taper candles
Click here to buy faux white alstroemeria bouquet

Pin The Skinny Table Runner For Later

Skinny Linen Table Runner in white tablescape. Pinterest banner

Continue the Skinny Table Runner Blog Hop!

The Skinny Table Runner Blog Hop continues with Katrina at PNW Farmhouse Design Co. You can find links to all the inspiring skinny table runner styling below!

Katrina at PNW Farmhouse Design Co

Diane at South House Designs

Darla at Vintage Joyce Marie

Barbara at Mantel and Table (You are here!)

Thanks so much Diane at SouthHouseDesigns.com for arranging this wonderful hop, and thank YOU for joining us!

This Post Shared With

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

22 Comments

  1. Oh! Another beautiful table my friend. The skinny runner is so practical for all the reasons you explained. I love the washed time worn look of this one. We are totally kindred spirits. We use Riedel wine glasses over here and light candles almost every single night. Your tables are always so inspiring. I love the twine napkin ring too. I’ve done this in the past as well- so simple yet interesting at the same time. Have a beautiful day. XO- MaryJo

    1. Thanks so much MaryJo! We totally are kindred spirits! ???? Isn’t it fun to eat in candlelight any old night? And so fun that you use Riedels too. Do you have a couple shapes that are your favorites, or do you have differnt shapes for each kind of wine? Thanks so much for popping over! Hope you have a lovely day too!

    1. Rachel that’s so nice of you all! I love Charming Homes & Gardens – always such inspiring links! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment! See you tomorrow! 🙂

    1. Oh Kim – you are the sweetest – thank you my friend! It was so much fun to style these beautiful runners! Take care and hope you’re not getting too much smoke up in your area!

  2. Barbara, your table is elegant with that perfect touch of casual. The skinny linen runner is the icing on the cake…thanks for sharing with us. I did not realize that you have only been blogging for a year and a half. Your blog is a source of beauty and inspiration. Wishing you a Happy Labor Day weekend my friend.

    1. Hi Pam! I’m so glad you like the table and runner! I’m sure I’ll be using it a lot this fall. I know – it feels like I’ve been blogging forever! Until I run into something I completely don’t understand, then I realize how much more there really is to learn! ???? Hope your weekend is lovely too – so nice to have an extra day! Take care –

  3. What a lovely table Barbara. Everything about it screams family gathering. The not so casual look sets a tone of sophistication with the neutral one. Truly inspiring!

    1. Oh thank you Edmee – you’re always so sweet! It all came together so quickly, and even though it was just my wonderful husband and me at the table, we did have a lovely – small – family gathering! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by, and for all your encouragement! Hope you have a great long weekend!

  4. Barbara, I love the skinny runner – so, um, skinny! I can do the standard 14 inch one on my tables, but I often find that where is want to place the wine glasses ends up being half on the runner and half on the table. and the 16 inch ones are even trickier to decorate around. This is a perfect solution! Love the table too – transitioning into fall seems one of those times where anything goes from neutral, to bright, to muted. Hope you have a lovely long weekend!

    1. Exactly! It’s such a perfect size! I love the big one too – every size has a place! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by, and hope you have a lovely weekend too. I’m so looking forward to it! ????

  5. Oh lucky lady! What a wonderful treat – I have been reading posts about her amazing skinny runners- love love looooovvvveeee them!

    I have an entire basement full of gorgeous dishes – I am inspired to do a tablescape. I used to do them all the time because I always was entertaining – now with Covid it’d be more “playing with dishes” than any hostessing.

    Her runners are excellent and your table is stunning, per usual. SO happy you treated yourself to the new flatware – they’re so COOL!

    Big hugs. Stay well!

    1. Oooh – you should definitely play with dishes Michele! Even if it’s just for you, it’s so fun to sit at a lovely table! 🙂 And take a couple pictures – I’d love to see!! ???? Big hugs back!

    1. Thanks! I was trying to get as much of the runner surface area as possible – it’s such a beautiful texture! Hope you’re having a lovely week and getting ready for a lovely long weekend! 🙂