Tablescaping is an art.
Usually seen in top restaurants, at weddings and on photoshoots, pimping up mealtimes with chic cutlery, a nice tablecloth and stylish plates is a sure-fire way to make dining at home that much more exciting. We eat with our eyes first, after all.
The one rule to elevating table settings? It’s all about layers. Starting with a tablecloth, plain or patterned, adding a cool placemat serves as a setting for charger plates, dinner plates, cutlery and glassware. Opting for complimenting or contrasting placemat patterns can change the look and is a simple way of adding a sense of occasion to things, even if you are just sitting down to a lunchtime sarnie.
The other major plus of a placemat? It keeps mess to a minimum. Having a barrier between your table’s surface and the plates means that cleaning up spills is low effort. Vinyl or wipe-clean options are best if you’re dealing with a household of messy eaters.
Placemats are an extra frill, but one that keen hosts will love the look of - especially if you’re planning a dinner party.
They’re relatively inexpensive (although high-end designer versions exist) and can be easily stored in kitchen drawers, meaning a collection is easier to house than ranges of plates or glassware. For pleasing uniformity and to create interest, a great set of placemats just can’t be beat.
They make excellent gifts too if you’re looking for an off-beat housewarming present. When shopping for placemats, it all comes down to personal aesthetics, but be sure to look for designs and palettes that will complement your existing crockery and cutlery for easy style points. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up the best options below, across all budgets and tastes.
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Rebecca Udall Pair of Francesca Waxed Linen Placemats in Olive
An olive tone never fails to be chic, especially when paired with metallic details, like gold-hued cutlery.
Rebecca Udall's Italian linen designs are finished with wax for easy cleaning and sold in pairs so you can buy according to your table settings. They'll come gift-wrapped too; handy if you're looking for a no-fuss present. Available in three other earthy shades.
Buy now £50.00, Rebecca Udall
Bed Threads Lavender & Petrol 100% French Flax Linen Scalloped Placemats
Scallop trims are everywhere at the moment, from cushion hems to wallpaper borders. Bed Threads has channelled the trend into placemats with a contrast trim that brings a cheerful pop of colour to the table. Sold as a set of four, the designs are crafted from 100 per cent French flax linen with six other colour combinations to choose from. A real conversation starter.
Buy now £65.00, Bed Threads
Addison Ross Faux Tortoiseshell Placemat - set of four
Home of scallop details and cute salt and pepper mills, Addison Ross is well-versed in elevated home accessories. For the table, we love its set of faux tortoiseshell placemats, completed with a curvy scalloped edge.
No less than 20 coats of lacquer have been applied to the surface with hand polishing in between each layer to ensure a stunning lustre. Cream velvet rounds of the base to keep it stable on any surface, whether a bare table or your best tablecloth. Suitable for plates only, no oven-hot items.
Buy now £120.00, Addison Ross
LES-OTTOMANS Palm Tree Placemat
Dreaming of holiday dinners? Make your garden or dining table feel a million miles from home with the help of these placemats. With a beautiful border and palm tree motifs, Les-Ottomans designs add a playful edge to dining. We'd reserve these for BBQ feasts when the sun comes out.
Buy now £27.95, Harrods
John Lewis Decorative Flower Water Hyacinth Woven Placemats
Need greens for the table? Add a splash of the lush hue to your tables with this set of two woven placemats made from water hyacinth strands. Sporting a fancy petal-like trim, the design is both elegant and rustic. Perfectly suited to round plates and green toile tablecloths.
Buy now £12.00, John Lewis
LA REDOUTE INTERIEURS Azou Placemats, Set of 4
Make teatime feel like an event with La Redoute's set of four tassel-trimmed placemats. They'll add a literal playful edge to proceedings, and are crafted from woven grass for an organic feel that is robust too.
Buy now £17.60, La Redoute
John Lewis Jute Oval Border Table Centrepiece Placemats, Set of 2, Natural/Navy
A contrast border acts as an extra layer when it comes to placemats. John Lewis offers woven jute designs cut into an oval shape which should give enough space to accommodate plates, cutlery and glasses too. Made in India, they're spot clean only, so perhaps best reserved for civilised dinner parties.
Buy now £14.00, John Lewis
Spode Pimpernel Blue Italian Placemats
Offering vintage vibes, Spode's wood and cork placemats are full of old-world charm. Each rectangle depicts the same rural Italian scene, making them the perfect choice for Mediterranean-themed meals. Finished with a wipe-clean surface, they're ideal for using for family meals as well as push-the-boat-out dinners with friends.
Buy now £20.55, Amazon
IKEA LÄTTAD Place mat, seagrass/black, 37 cm
Hardwearing, long-lasting and with an appealing organic feel, seagrass makes excellent placemats. The texture is also great for sound-absorbing, reducing the clatter of cutlery and plates so that you can have a decent conversation with your fellow diners. IKEA sells them individually, making it simple to buy the right amount for your next party.
Buy now £3.50, IKEA
Mrs. Alice White & Gold Laurel Placemats & Napkins
If you're looking for table setting inspo, Mrs. Alice is the brand in the know. The homewares store is brimming with chic ideas, including linen placemats to take your tables to the next level.
Instantly pretty, this white and gold embroidered laurel design comes as a set of four with matching napkins, all finished with a scalloped edge to tie everything together.
Place under chargers or plates and finish with for-best cutlery for dinners bound to impress.
Buy now £154.00, Mrs. Alice
