Cloth

For high quality, reusable table skirting, choose linen, satin, cotton or polyester. There are three main styles of cloth table skirting: Shirred pleat, which falls in loose waves; step pleat, which has tight folds; and box pleat, which has crisp, wide creases. To attach cloth table skirting to a table, plastic clips are attached to the back side of the top edge and secured around the edge of the tabletop. The skirting can be laundered and reused, so it's a good choice for people who plan to use the shirting over and over again.

Plastic

Plastic table skirting is designed to look like linen, but it's less expensive. Plastic doesn't crease as neatly as linen, so most plastic table skirts have a shirred pleat. The plastic may be a solid color or printed with a lace look or other pattern. It may be a thin lightweight plastic or a sturdier vinyl, and can be attached to the table with clips or with a built-in adhesive strip. Lightweight plastic table skirting is disposable, and is best for one-time events and parties. Heavier vinyl skirting can be wiped clean with a damp sponge and reused.

Paper

Paper table skirting is light, inexpensive and disposable. It may be made from bright-colored tissue paper, or it may mimic the look and drape of a shirred pleat linen table skirt. Paper table skirting generally attaches to the table with an adhesive strip. Because it's so delicate and not washable, paper skirting is not reusable; it's best for one-time special events where skirting a large number of tables with linen is out of the budget.

Novelty

For less formal affairs, there are table skirts that don't attempt to look like linen at all, such as metallic fringe skirting and raffia skirting that looks like a grass skirt. Plastic and paper novelty table skirting is available with holiday print themes, polka dots and stripes. You can even get your company logo custom printed on a cloth or vinyl table skirt. Novelty table skirts can be attention-grabbers at trade shows,and are good for casual parties like barbecues.