This Furniture Trick Shouldn’t Be Left in the ’90s

Raise your hand if you had a skirted table somewhere in your house in the ’90s. Often it was a smaller accent piece next to a sofa where layers of hunter green and burgundy paisley fabrics were topped with a glass surface. Sound familiar? 

The trend may have fallen into oblivion in the past few decades, but lately it’s not just sinks that are getting a dressy makeover. Tables are also enjoying the skirted treatment. So before you rid yourself of an old console or dining table, think about whether a few yards of fabric could give it a new lease on life. Here are some ideas to get you started.

The Country Remix

In this Bend, Oregon, house, designer Frances Merrill draped navy-and-white checkered linen over a hallway console; the fitted silhouette makes the rustic country style feel fresh. With the wood-paneled walls and terracotta floors, this nook feels like a blend of old and new.

The Lavender Nook

Designer Lauren McGrath created a catchall corner in her old New York City studio with a lilac table skirt and coordinating pastel-hued painting. The ultra-narrow piece feels perfectly fitted to its tiny environment and the cover makes it a great spot to hide extra clutter. 

The Ray of Sunshine

McGrath and her mother, Suzanne, cofounders of the firm McGrath II, are such fans of the style that they used it in another recent project. Here, they topped a similar piece with a double-paneled butter yellow skirt that brightens up the whole room (and lets you easily access what’s stored hidden underneath). 

The New Traditional

If some frills are a must, take note from this project by Sarah Bartholomew. The designer swapped classic pleats for a heavily fringed avocado green table skirt. Paired with bright blue and white accents, the scene draws the garden in.

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