When to upgrade the furniture?

[Anonymous]

I am doing a moderate kitchen remodel. I have a mat under the dining table I call "the blotter." It's freaking ugly and un-cleanable. Ditto the table - it has a wood-tone formica top which has served us well -- except when entertaining for the holidays! Then I am reminded how fugly it is!

Question is: youngest DS is 6. Is it too soon to upgrade? When did you trade in "the blotter" and start worrying about spills and other kid-related furniture mishaps?

We must have SOMETHING under the table b/c floor is ceramic tile.

What if I got something that just fit under the table/between the table legs (cozy for our toesies) Is that too weird?

tia.

[Anonymous]

I would think that if your DS is six, you can upgrade.

What I don't get is you saying, "we must have SOMETHING under the table b/c floor is ceramic tile." We have porcelain tile in our kitchen and nothing under the table. What's the issue with tile? It is easily cleaned.

[Anonymous]

I also don't understand why you need something under the table.

We have a very nice wood table that we bought when our oldest was two (he's now six). I keep a protector plus a tablecloth on it all the time (unless we're having company) and it still looks brand new.

[Anonymous]

If you must have something under the table, get a nice indoor/outdoor carpet. Some of them are pretty good at looking "real" but since they're made of polypropylene, you basically can hose them off. (Ballard Designs has some good ones).

Agree with PP re: pads to protect it from heat marks and nicks/scratches and then just throw a table cloth over it for company or take off the pad. My parents do this and 5 kids and 5 grandkids later, the tabletop still looks like the day it was delivered 20+ years ago.