Placemats are a popular element of table décor. Both aesthetic and functional, these great alternatives to tablecloths add a chic, festive and colourful touch to the daily table. You use your table three times a day. Might as well make it pretty and inspiring, right?
A set of table mats is enough to completely transform the atmosphere of a room. Whether they’re made of fabric, plastic or coated cotton, placemats are an affordable way to decorate your interior while keeping your table safe from stains and scratches.
What to consider when choosing placemats
Where to start? Here are some things to consider when searching for the ideal table mat.
The style of your room
Think about the room where you use your placemats. What are the dominant colours of your walls, chairs and floor?
The style of your table
Is it a functional kitchen table? An ultra-modern contemporary look, a rustic farmhouse feel or an elegant vintage antique?
Size matters
Will you use them on an expansive rectangle table where large placemats will feel at home? Or do you need smaller placemats to fit on a small or round table?
How will they be used
Consider who is going to use the placemats and how often. Are they for daily family use or are you buying them for more formal occasions?
How to position your placemats
Invest in a set of quality placemats and position them under each guest plate, not too close to one another. If you have a dark wooden table, lighter tones work well for the placemats. You will also need napkins in plain or a highlight colour from the placemats. Just make sure the whole decoration remains in the same colour range.
An elegant option is to add a long table runner on your table. Choose either plain or a matching pattern. Check it’s not too wide as you want to avoid overlapping with the placemats. Add a floral or seasonal composition in the middle of your runner to complete your table décor.
There is a third, even more sophisticated option for larger tables. Use a set of two or three identical table runners (one runner for each pair of guests facing each other) and add two matching placemats at each end of the table.
Style tips for placemats
- Choose your placemats according to seasonal colours and context: quirky plastic designs for lunch with the grandkids, natural floral placemats for an afternoon tea in the garden, coated placemats for a messy catch up with wine spilling friends.
- To complete the look, make sure you have matching napkins. Paper ones are fine for informal lunches. When using your placemats as a feature on your dinner table, preferably choose elegant linen or cotton napkins. Select one (or maximum two) plain colours that will highlight at least one of your placemat colours.
- If you decide to use both a tablecloth and placemats, it’s best to use either plain placemats on a patterned tablecloth or patterned placemats on a plain tablecloth. In both cases, complete your table décor with plain colour napkins. You might want to avoid putting placemats on a tablecloth for a formal dinner. Some guests may think you don’t trust them with your precious tablecloth and could be a little bit offended J.
Placemats vs Tablecloth
Placemats are perfect for those times when there are only one or two people dining. No need to pull out the big tablecloth. Put the placemats on the table and you’re all set. Ideal if you just want a quick cuppa and a biscuit too.
When you own a really beautiful antique or designer table, you don’t necessarily want to hide it under a tablecloth. If you want everyone, including yourself, to be able to admire it. This is where placemats shine. You can keep your table on show and still protect the surface.
Can we help?
Do you need advice to choose the right placemats for your home? We can help. Contact us if you need to discuss the best option for your table. We’d love to help.
Judy Morris
Thank you Isabelle. I have a beautiful set of French Affair woven tapestry placemats, And you are absolutely correct; we use our table often, so why not dress it with style more often! Make every meal an occasion. ????