The Complete Guide
Custom Made Oval Table Covers — The Complete Owner's Guide
Oval outdoor dining tables are a popular choice in backyards and alfresco areas. The shape encourages conversation, seats guests without sharp corners, and looks great with the right outdoor setting. The problem comes when you try to find a cover that actually fits one.
Why rectangular covers do not work on oval tables
Most outdoor furniture covers on the market are designed for rectangular tables. They come in standard widths — 90 cm, 100 cm, sometimes 120 cm — and they sit fine on a rectangular tabletop. On an oval table, those same covers either gap badly at the curved ends or bunch up along the sides where the fabric has nowhere to go. The excess folds trap water and debris, and after a season or two you end up with mildew on the underside and staining on the tabletop.
A custom-made oval table cover solves this by being cut to follow the shape of your table. We build the pattern from your length and width measurements, shape the panels to follow the oval profile, and produce a cover that sits flat on the tabletop and drapes cleanly down the sides.
The three measurements you need
Measuring an oval table correctly takes a few minutes and a tape measure. Three dimensions are all we need.
Length
Length is the longest measurement of your oval, taken tip to tip across the top surface. Run your tape from the outermost edge at one end to the outermost edge at the other, keeping it level with the tabletop. Do not measure along the side or the apron underneath.
Width
Width is the widest point of the oval, measured across the middle of the table at a right angle to your length measurement. Most oval tables have a width that is noticeably shorter than the length. If your table is nearly as wide as it is long, it may be closer to a round table, in which case a round table cover would be more appropriate.
Height
Height is the distance from the floor to the surface of the tabletop. Measure straight down from the edge of the tabletop to the ground. This measurement determines how far the cover drapes down the side of the table. Do not measure to the top of chair seats or backs — the cover is for the table itself.
Do not add any extra centimetres to any of these measurements. The production pattern includes the correct ease for the cover to go on and come off smoothly.
How the oval pattern is made
When you submit your length and width, we construct an oval profile that fits within those dimensions. The panels are cut to follow the curve at each end, then sewn together with the same reinforced seam construction we use across all our covers. The finished cover drapes over the curved ends without pulling tight or leaving excess fabric. It is a different job to cutting a rectangular cover, which is why the pricing reflects a small complexity factor for oval shapes.
Material and construction
Every cover we make uses 350gsm silver laminated woven polypropylene. The base is woven polypropylene, which is strong, tough, and tear-resistant. That matters on a cover that gets pulled on and off through the year and has to hold up to wind, sun, and rain without splitting at the seams or thinning out.
Woven polypropylene base
The woven base gives the cover its strength. Polypropylene fibres are tough and do not stretch out of shape, so the cover keeps its form season after season. Because the base is woven rather than a thin film, it resists tearing even when it catches on a table corner or gets snagged during a windy day.
Silver reflective laminate
The outside of the fabric carries a silver laminate coating. The silver surface is reflective, so it bounces sunlight away rather than soaking it up. That keeps the cover and the table underneath cooler, and it shields the tabletop from sun and UV that would otherwise bleach or dry out the surface over time. The same coating is water resistant. It sheds rain off the surface so water runs off instead of soaking in, which keeps rain off the table below.
We say water resistant on purpose. In heavy, driven rain over many hours, no cover stays bone dry at every seam and edge, but for normal weather the coated exterior keeps rain off and dries out fast once the sun is back.
Weight and durability
At 350gsm this is a heavier, more substantial fabric than the thin covers you find off the shelf. The extra weight helps it hold its shape and sit flat on the table instead of flapping around. It is still a cover, not a tarp, so one person can fit it and take it off without a struggle.
Cheap covers tend to fail fast. The fabric goes brittle, the coating flakes, and a single bad season leaves you with a torn, leaking mess. A heavier woven base with a bonded coating is built to last longer than that.
All seams are reinforced, and any hem or edge that faces the weather is double-stitched. The hem at the base of the cover has enough weight to stay in place in a breeze without needing ties or straps, though heavier winds may require you to tuck the cover or use furniture weights.
Caring for your cover
Rinse with a garden hose every couple of months to clear off pollen, dust, and salt spray. Spot-clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Do not put the cover in a washing machine. The agitation will break down the silver coating in a single cycle. When storing the cover for summer or between seasons, fold it loosely rather than tightly, as repeated pressure along the same fold lines can eventually wear the coating.