As home décor trends shift to more minimalist, clean lines, skirted tables are getting a modern makeover. The once ornate and frilly skirted tables of traditional style are transforming into sleek, tailored versions for today’s contemporary homes. Here’s how skirted tables are going streamlined in exciting new ways.
Saying Goodbye to Flounce
The over-the-top flounced and ruffled skirts seen on traditional tables are disappearing. In their place are skirts with smooth, crisp pleats or barely-there tiered layers. These skirts nip in at the corners and cascade down in neat vertical lines. This creates a tailored look that is the epitome of refined simplicity. For a truly contemporary vibe, skirts are becoming shorter, just slightly kissing the floor. The modest lengths and ample ruffles of the past are traded for subtle hints of leg and an airier, lighter aesthetic.
Fabrics Go Light and Sheer
Heavy brocades, velvets and damasks are being replaced with lighter, breezier fabrics like linen, muslin and voile. These lend a casual, approachable feel while still retaining an element of style. Billowing sheers in solid colors or subtle patterns are another way skirted tables are going sleek. A paper-thin sheer skirt skimming the tops of legs evokes a clean, sparse look. Neutral solids and simple geometric prints work beautifully. Instead of disguising table bases, today’s sheer skirts reveal and enhance them.
Slipper Style Slips Away
The slipper or ruched style of skirts, gathered tightly at the corners, is fading away. Straighter skirts with just a touch of draping at the corners fit better aesthetically with modern homes. Some skirts are tailored to just lightly brush the floor, letting table legs show. This leggy look is at the height of sophisticated style, in sync with how today’s interiors are more open and filled with light. It creates an airy balance, keeping the table visually lighter in the space.
Leggy Bases Steal the Show
Simpler skirt silhouettes allow the table bases to take center stage. Clear visual lines give shapely table legs room to make a style statement, from sleekly tapered to boldly angular. Wood tones are kept natural to blend with modern color schemes, with colors like warm walnut and soft grey fitting right in. Bases might also match other metal accents in a room, in hues like brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze or matte black. The skirts enhance rather than hide the bases.
Curves and Carving Take a Back Seat
The ornately curved legs and heavy, baroque-style carvings of traditional skirted tables are disappearing. Taking their place are tables with tapered legs in simple turned styles or soft squared shapes. Bases have an elegant lightness, enhanced by the streamlined skirts. Carved accents are used minimally if at all, with simple beaded or rounded edges for subtle detail. Clean and contemporary defines the new aesthetic.
The Takeaway
Skirted tables still lend warmth, softness and classic charm to home décor – but now in a more minimalist, linear fashion. Lighter fabrics, sheer materials and simplified silhouettes give skirted tables a distinctly modern, casual edge. With less volume and cleaner lines, they blend seamlessly into pared-down rooms. It’s an updated twist on tradition, showing how skirted tables can beautifully reflect both contemporary and classic style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between traditional and modern skirted tables?
The main differences are that modern skirted tables feature smoother, straighter skirts rather than flounces or gathers. They use lighter, sheer fabrics instead of heavy brocades. Skirt lengths are shorter and table bases are more minimalist and leggy. Overall the look is more streamlined.
How are skirts becoming simpler?
Skirts are minimally gathered or pleated, and some are fitted to just lightly brush the floor. Lengths are getting shorter too, for a more contemporary look. Fabrics are also smoother like linen, muslin and voile.
What style of tables work well with modern skirts?
Simple tapered or softly squared table legs complement streamlined skirts nicely. Wood tones are natural and metal bases feature brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and matte black. The emphasis is on showcasing the leggy base.
How do sheer skirts create a minimalist look?
Sheer skirts in neutral solids or geometric patterns are very airy and lightweight visually. They allow the eye to see through to the base for an uncluttered, sparse aesthetic. Yet they still soften the table edges.
Why are carved accents being used less?
Minimalism is key in modern décor, so heavy baroque-style carvings are being traded for simplicity. Tables might have subtle beaded edges or rounded corners but lack ornate detailing. Clean lines are the focus.
Conclusion
Skirted tables are getting a fresh modern makeover with tailored skirts, leggy bases and sheer fabrics. They blend beautifully into today’s pared-down, contemporary home aesthetics. The streamlined new look gives skirted tables enduring style in a lighter, brighter fashion. With their renewed versatility to fit both classic and current décor, it’s clear skirted tables are here to stay in exciting new forms. Their fluidity and grace lend character to homes while still accentuating the clean lines and minimalism of how we furnish our lives today.
