I’m a firm believer in a less-is-more approach to hosting. Don’t get me wrong — fancy plates are lovely, and I once went to a dinner party where we were all given gift bags at the end of the night (which made me feel very pampered indeed). But when I host at home, my style is a little more relaxed: mismatched glasses, flowers picked from the garden in Mason jars, and big bowls of food passed family-style around the table. In other words, unfussy but thoughtful.
Which is exactly why a crisp white tablecloth has never really been my vibe for Sunday brunch or Friday night dinner. They’re gorgeous, but the idea of trying to scrub out all those inevitable stains and spills afterward is enough to send my hosting anxiety into overdrive.
But I do like to make the table feel a little special when friends come over. And that’s when I pull out a Swedish staple that instantly elevates the whole setup — without adding any extra cleanup.
What Us Swedes Use Instead of a Tablecloth (It’s So Much Better!)
Instead of a traditional tablecloth, I use an oilcloth (or “vaxduk,” as it’s known in Sweden). It’s something you’ll find in kitchens and dining rooms all over the Nordic country. There, oilcloth is typically sold on rolls at department stores and homeware shops, and you can cut it to the exact size of your table.
No, it’s not the shiny plastic cover you’ll see on tables at some restaurants. Modern oilcloths are much chicer than that. They come in hundreds of beautiful prints — from minimalist Scandinavian florals to playful vintage or geometric patterns — and they instantly make a table feel styled. Think: cottagecore, but make it elegant.
I actually packed mine in my suitcase on a trip back home to Sweden a few years ago, but luckily you don’t need to fly internationally to get one of your own. In the U.S., they’re easy to find from retailers like Amazon and Etsy, often in a range of sizes and patterns (find some of my favorite picks below!).
What’s So Great About Scandinavian Oilcloths
The real magic, though, is how incredibly practical they are. Oilcloth is typically made from cotton or linen that’s been coated with boiled linseed oil, PVC, or vinyl, which makes it waterproof. That means when someone spills a glass of red wine (it’s always red wine), you can simply wipe it away.
Chocolate sauce from ice cream sundaes? Gone. Oily salad dressing? No problem.
After dinner, I just wipe the cloth down (with a Swedish dishcloth, naturally), let it dry for a minute, and fold it away. No washing machine, ironing, or stain remover required. For someone who loves hosting but doesn’t love extra cleanup, it’s pretty much the perfect solution. You can even use them outside this spring and summer!
Ready to elevate your own tablescape? Here are five oilcloths that will look right at home at your next dinner party that are available in all different shapes and sizes. (Pro tip: For the best fit, aim for about a 10-inch drop over each side of the table. So if your table is 60 inches long, you’ll want roughly 100 inches of tablecloth.)