The 16 Best Placemats of 2025

When I was a child, I loved the variety of holiday or new season designs on my mom’s kitchen table because she always had placemats ready for me to turn out. The winter chill was welcomed by blazing snowmen in January, and pastel stripes were always seen in the spring to match the budding outdoors.  

My move to my new home has resulted in the accumulation of numerous placemats. It’s a great way to add texture and color to my kitchen island or table. Placemats are a simpler choice than tablecloths due to their ease of use.  

Placemats that you can clean after meals are a great option for organizing your laundry without adding more items to your hamper. I find it convenient to have a set of fabric placemats to use when entertaining loved ones. I’ve compared designs for kitchen cabinets and tables of different shapes and sizes

Cotton Placemats

These placemats are made of 100% cotton and can be washed after a few uses, providing years of use with excellent durability. Our selection of beautiful colors and designs has been curated by our editors

The  Maison d ‘Hermine Placemats The delicate floral pattern is the perfect backdrop for weeknight dinners or date nights. Our opinion is that a solid-colored placemat is an excellent choice for your kitchen. The blanket-stitch border on the Birch Lane’s Ivara Cotton Placemats Enhances the overall design with a subtle touch

Patterned Placemats

Placemats can be used to add subtle patterns and playful themes to your decor. You can mix and match your decor with gingham, stripes, and florals to create an unique look

The Ebern Williams Vinyl Striped Placemats , with their natural texture and colors, will bring instant warmth to your Table setting The striped design is perfect for a farmhouse-style kitchen, according to our suggestions. Contrastingly, the checked DI IH eavyweight Fringed Placemat Set Is reminiscent of a picnic blanket and perfect for an elegant yet stylish home

Scalloped Placemats

Add a playful touch to your dining room decor with these charming, scalloped placemats. When you invite guests, they will immediately grab the attention of attendees and make a playful impression

A sloping placemat on the table can take up just as much space, and if you’re looking for mats that are waterproof, consider using one of these options Kreatur Waterproof Round Placemat , they’ll make for extra It’s effortless to clean up after a dinner party The Juvale 100 Pack Disposable Placemats Are ideal for families with children as they can dispose of their belongings after each use. For a large family dinner party, write on placemats and put them under the dishes

Easy-to-Clean Placemats

Families with small children or those living in a busy household will always have their placemats, which are durable and easy to clean. Our favorite feature for placemats with cork backing is their ability to be washed with a damp cloth and its non-slip and heat-resistant qualities. The Rifle Paper Co. Citrus Grove Cork Placemats Is a bright corkboard selection?.  

Faux leather and woven vinyl are heat-resistant mats that can be used without a hard mat. These designs are easier to store than hard boards and can be washed in the sink if there is a large spill

How We Elect the Placemats:

We included a variety of designs that would suit different tastes and styles. Our search for the best placemats online turned up to something that is also durable and easy to care for

Our selections were categorized by style and material rather than shape. Our article also highlighted placemats that are ideal for busy households because they can be washed with a towel in an instant. If you’re looking to buy a set of placemats, it may be worth considering this option Prioritize a washable material , solid or patterned designs, or a heat-resistant option

What are the key features of a Placemat?

Eye-Catching Style and Patterns

If you’re hosting a dinner party, I suggest using one of my placemats with solid color so that you can easily build upon it. Nevertheless, the same as the one on the wall is not enough to make it appear normal The West Elm Wide Strip Cotton Placemat is a Wide stripte Serves as a neutral ground to position around

Protective and Functional Design

The most important thing is that placemats can prevent any spills from damaging your table. Cloth placemats are primarily used for scratching surfaces such as plates, silverware, and cups. While they provide a good initial defense against water rings, you’ll want to clean up any large discharges after they occur, particularly if you have ice cubes Wooden dining table

The majority of cloth placemats, including the one shown, are made from durable materials Maisie Table Linens by Ballard Designs , 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. The water-resistant nature of these placesmats ensures that spills will not seep through like a fabric placemat

Faux leather placemats are also my go-to, especially if you’re looking for something similar to a drink coaster. These mats absorb water by pooling instead of permeating with it. Among the available leather options, we’ll give you two choices that are super-residue and easy to clean The West Elm Braid Texture Easy-Care Placemat is designed with this material in mind And Rizzo Recycled Leather Placemat

AD urable, Easy-to-Clean Material

As I’ve stated before, it’s important to consider your washing-related concerns when buying cloth placemats. After a week or so of use, linen and cotton are typically washed, and some fabrics can be tumble-dried without difficulty

I air-dry my cloth placemats because my dryer doesn’t have a low-heat setting that will prevent their shape from warping. If the top fabric and bottom liner of your placemats differ, I suggest air drying them. A difference in size between the two fabrics may result in a shrinkage that can alter the shape of the placemat

Placemats made of plastic, woven vinyl, or coated corkboard are more efficient in terms of cleaning time since they can be washed with a wet cloth or rinsed off. My preferred choice is a device that I use to communicate with others Gentle all-purpose cleaner I’m using a microfiber towel to wipe my hard mats after dinner and also cleaning the kitchen

One More Thing

You may think that hard placemats sound great, but they’re not ideal for storage if you have limited space. You can Employ a kitchen cabinet organizer ( Resembling this one from Youcopia Place a set of placemats vertically and store them in an organized manner. A slim cabinet that can accommodate baking sheets also serves as a suitable spot 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 Providing all the essentials is easy for me when hosting a party

Why Trust The Spruce?

Emma Phelps Has been writing about home design since 2022 and is currently an associate editor at The Spruce. Phelps takes pleasure in hosting her friends and always has a tablecloth on the dining room table. So much placemats, tablecloths and cloth napkins and other table-top decor pieces has she joked she needs a whole closet?