You never know what you'll find under a skirt — a skirted table, that is. Skirted tables have been around since medieval times, when layers and layers of fabrics were placed on top of a table to protect diners from frigid floor drafts. Skirted tables are mostly found in traditional settings and homes. They have been celebrated from English manors to Parisian pieds-a-terre because of their sophistication. There is a certain elegance conveyed when we encounter a skirted table, perhaps due to the fact that they require an ample amount of fabric and are quite simply glamorous.

They are also a versatile decorative component because, depending on the fabric chosen, they can act as a backdrop or a focal point of a room. With a demure simple fabric such as a neutral linen or cotton, the importance of the table recedes. However, when a luxurious fabric such as a damask or printed silk is used, the same table takes center stage in the decorating scheme.

Skirted tables are also versatile; they can be placed in almost any room. In an entry hall, they make quite a statement when topped with an enormous floral arrangement or the spectacular attributes of a unique lamp. Nothing is more chic or better says "home" than one of these tables filled to the brim with silver-framed family photos in a living room, den or library. In bedrooms, they function as the perfect nightstand, with just enough room for a lamp, a glass of water, an alarm clock and a good book, while leaving space underneath the skirt for bed slippers and other items that are best kept out of sight.

Like most trends, skirted tables have been "in" and "out" with the same frequency as hem lines. Skirted tables have always been a go-to item for designers looking to make an impact. During the 1980s, larger-than-life designers such as Hampton, Buatta and Fourcade found ways to raise the bar for these skirts by embellishing them with trim and fabric tapes and making them in all shapes from the traditional round to rectangles, squares and breathtaking octagonal versions.

Not only can skirted tables be placed in the center of a room, but they also can also be placed in between chairs, on either side of a sofa or behind it as a sofa table, and even against a wall as a console. The options are limitless. An added bonus to using a skirted table is that they do double as storage. Items in neat bins or containers can help you keep an organized household and are great space-savers in tight quarters. You can use any round table as your base, or buy a couple of sawhorses and a round tabletop from your local hardware store.

Table skirts are made by most drapery workrooms, and prices vary depending on the size and whether they are lined and interlined for additional body. Table skirts can also be made on a budget and without the aid of a sewing machine by simply layering several pieces of fabric and topping it all off with a square white cotton tablecloth.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.