My mom always has placemats on her kitchen table, and when I was younger, I loved noticing the different designs she pulled out for a holiday or new season. Blustery snowmen appeared in January to welcome the winter cold, and pastel stripes always made their appearance in the spring to match the budding outdoors.
Since moving out and into my own space, I have also amassed quite a collection of placemats. I find it’s a great way to add texture and color to my kitchen island or table. Plus, placemats are much less fussy than a tablecloth.
If you don’t want to add more laundry to your hamper, I recommend checking out placemats that you can wipe down after each meal. I’ve found it’s nice to have a set of fabric placemats, too, for hosting family and friends. Below, I’ve scouted designs for various table shapes and sizes and kitchen decor schemes.
Cotton Placemats
Amazon
Since cotton is a durable material, these placemats will not only last you for years but they can easily be washed after a few uses and still look brand new. Ranging in color and design, we’ve rounded up the prettiest ones.
The Maison d’ Hermine Placemats‘ delicate floral pattern is the perfect setting for weeknight dinners or date nights. We also think you can’t go wrong with selecting a solid-color placemat to match your kitchen. The blanket-stitch border on the Birch Lane Ivara Cotton Placemats is a subtle detail that elevates the overall design.
Tip From The Editor
Stains happen and the last thing you want is a marinara splotch ruining a crisp white placemat. I try to treat and wash any spots in the sink soon after they appear. It’s better to treat the stain early, especially if it’s oily, and swap it out for a fresh placemat.
Patterned Placemats
Wayfair
Placemats are a great opportunity to introduce subtle pattern play into your decor. Gingham, stripes, and florals are classic and stylish options that pair well with any other decor accents you add.
The Ebern Williams Vinyl Striped Placemats, with their natural texture and colors, will bring instant warmth to your table setting. We think this striped pattern would be especially fit for a farmhouse-style kitchen. Contrastingly, the checked DII Heavyweight Fringed Placemat Set reminds us of a picnic blanket and would be adorable in a boho chic home.
Scalloped Placemats
Amazon
Bring a playful flair to your tablescape with these charming, scalloped placemats. They will instantly catch people’s attention and create a whimsical statement when you’re hosting guests.
Scalloped placemats can take up slightly less space on a table, plus if you find waterproof mats like the Kreatur Waterproof Round Placemat, they’ll make for extra easy cleanup after a dinner party. The Juvale 100 Pack Disposable Placemats are great for households with kids as you can throw them away after each use. You could also write on these placemats and use them under dishes for a large family-style dinner party.
Easy-to-Clean Placemats
Rifle Paper Co.
Durable placemats that can easily be wiped clean are non-negotiable for families with small children or anyone living in a busy household. We especially love corkboard-backed placemats for this reason, because they can be wiped with a damp cloth and are also non-slip and heat-resistant. The Rifle Paper Co. Citrus Grove Cork Placemats are a colorful corkboard option.
If you don’t want a hard mat, faux leather and woven vinyl are also heat-resistant. Such designs can even be rinsed in the sink if a large spill occurs, and they’re also slightly easier to store than hard boards.
How We Picked the Placemats
We included various designs that would appeal to multiple personal interests and styles. As we searched through popular placemats online, we prioritized those that are durable and easy to care for too.
We organized our picks based on their style and material rather than shape. We also highlighted placemats that are particularly great for busy households because of their wipeable material. Given your reason for purchasing a set of placemats, you may want to prioritize a washable material, solid or patterned designs, or a heat-resistant option.
What to Look for in a Placemat
Eye-Catching Style and Patterns
While placemats are functional, they’re also decorative. You can find countless placemat designs to choose from, whether you want something classically neutral or vibrantly festive. I have a mix of solid colors and floral patterns in my collection. My home’s interior is a mix of antique and new pieces with lots of floral decor, so I love tying florals into my table decor, too.
If you’re hosting a dinner party, I recommend choosing a solid color placemat that you can easily build upon. However, even a pattern like the one on the West Elm Rhode Wide Strip Cotton Placemat can serve as a neutral base to arrange around.
Protective and Functional Design
Perhaps, most importantly, placemats should prevent damage to your table from spills and stains. Cloth placemats are primarily preventative against scratches from plates, silverware, and cups. They can be a great initial defense against water rings, but you’ll want to still wipe up any large spills after they happen, especially if you have a wooden dining table.
Most cloth placemats, like the Ballard Designs Maisie Table Linens, are not thick enough to offer proper heat protection against a pan or pot right from the stove. Cork-backed placemats, like the Rifle Paper Co. Citrus Grove Cork Placemats, are great for this reason. They’re also water-resistant, so spills won’t seep into them like a fabric placemat.
I also love faux leather placemats, especially if you’re looking for them to have a similar purpose to a drink coaster. Water pools on the surface of these mats rather than seeping into them. We have two leather options on our list that are super easy to wipe clean: the West Elm Braid Texture Easy-Care Placemat and Rizzo Recycled Leather Placemat.
A Durable, Easy-to-Clean Material
As I’ve mentioned, you should consider your laundry priorities before purchasing cloth placemats. Linen and cotton typically require washing after a week or so of use, and many can easily be tumble-dried.
I prefer to air-dry my cloth placemats because my dryer doesn’t have a low-heat setting that won’t warp their shape. If your placemats have a different top fabric from the bottom liner, I also recommend air drying those designs. The two fabrics may shrink differently, which will warp the placemat’s shape.
Tip From The Editor
You may be skeptical of this advice. Who has the time to air-dry placemats? I do, apparently. I have (unfortunately) learned from experience and have a whole set of West Elm mats with curled edges. Your delicate fabric placemats will thank you, and you’ll save yourself the hassle of ironing them.
Placemats made from plastic materials, woven vinyl, or coated corkboard are quicker to clean, as they can usually be wiped with a damp cloth or rinsed. I like to use a gentle all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloth to wipe my hard mats while I’m also cleaning my kitchen after dinner.
One More Thing
You may be thinking that hard placemats sound great in theory, but they’re difficult to store if you have small drawers or closets. You can use a kitchen cabinet organizer (like this one from Youcopia) to stand a set of placemats upright and easily store them. If you have a slim cabinet designed for baking sheets, this is also a great place for structured placemats.
I keep my placemats, cloth napkins, napkin rings, and tablecloths in a small chest of drawers. This keeps them flat—and prevents wrinkles—and I can easily pull out a full set when hosting a party.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Emma Phelps is an associate editor at The Spruce who has written about home design since 2022. Phelps loves to host her friends and always sets her dining room table with a table linen. Her collection of placemats, tablecloths, cloth napkins, and other table-top decor pieces has amassed so greatly that she jokes she needs a whole closet to contain it.
