Bring It On

Find unexpected detail beneath dinner. Whether it's wooden beads, silly animal faces or organic drawings, today's placemats have the kitchen table covered

By Kate Sullivan
CTW Features

Those who dine together enjoy time together, and those who dine in style look better while doing it. Whether a particular meal channels a class act or calls for casual comfort, has jungle appeal or makes the mood mod, updating tabletop décor has never been easier. Ditch the team of decorators - restyle your entire kitchen with one purchase.

One accessory turns an ordinary outfit into a signature look and your placemats do the same for your tabletop. Here's how to turn this household staple into a style icon for your home - setting a table never sounded so good.

Re-weaving History

How has such a traditional dining tool become a trendsetter? For Tori Mellott, decorating editor of "Domino" magazine, the historically linen and cotton tablemats used for formal dining got a post-war American makeover with the invention of plastic. Fusing form and function, combined with pop culture's burgeoning obsession with home décor, "decorating trends finally trickled down to the placemat category," she says. Cool, contemporary and fun, today's mats set the stage for any gathering.

Rule 1: There are No Rules

When it comes to playing with placemats, Mellott encourages mixing and matching. "The hard and fast rules of entertaining are not as solid as they once were." Try using black and white as a base with different color napkins to offset the monochromatic look. Or think like a rainbow and choose different shades for each setting. If conformity calls, then stick with a similar pattern or form but give yourself permission to spin the color wheel.

John Tusher, the owner of Velocity Art and Design of Seattle, observes this same culture clash in his own store. "When it comes to placemats - switch it up. They are so affordable you can have 10 different sets for 10 different looks." Favoring brands like New York-based Chilewich and San Francisco-based Modern-twist, Tusher regularly sees his shoppers alter their dining décor without decimating their budget.

Spanning the Generations

Past and present dance in sync when dishware and table settings unite. Tusher's favorite look calls for mats with muted mod tones, like taupe or egg shell, donned with a combo of traditional dishware and original, chunky organic pieces that don't necessarily belong to a tableware set. This look flows in homes with modern interiors, creating a clean, appealing tabletop while working for both casual and formal entertaining.

Minimalists find their mate in today's contemporary mats. Industry leaders like Chilewich not only earn a reputation for contemporary styles, but they also produce placemats that meet today's needs. The mat scores points with Tusher's team, "because it's spun with vinyl, you can pop it in the sink, wash it down in seconds and it lasts a lifetime." And Mellott seconds the notion - "the Chilewich mats are practically indestructible."

Bed Bath & Beyond carries lines that minimize clean up. As public relations manager Catherine Gentile recommends, "look for microfiber mats, which have spill 'bead up' properties as well as being soil resistant."

Over the Top

Catering to the more colorful at heart, the imagination comes alive with designs that move from functional to fun. Mellott loves a look by lifestyle designer Kim Seybert. "Known for her beautiful, useful mats, she creates a line of fun shapes, like the huge palm leaf mat. It's this breakfast-nook look that jump starts any day."

Want to breathe even more energy into the dining experience? Go for a line that appears more art deco than home deco. For Mellott, "Chateau X by Jane Krolik comes in wild colors, like acid green and crazy turquoise blue, and they are just as festive in the evening as in the morning."

Placemats are perfect for those who crave creative elements but are hesitant to steer from the traditional because china and dishware are such permanent purchases. "The placemat is the ideal solution for infusing pigment, pattern and texture on to the table," Mellott says. Unlike china, there is no lifetime commitment. Grow tired of a look in a year? Just replace it with a new, guilt-free set in seconds.

Mat to Order

Monogramming stays in style and moves even closer to home when stitched on placemats. Friends of Mellott know that her gift of choice is a set of monogrammed linen mats with matching napkins from Horchow. Other designers like Sferra offer custom monogramming and will create nearly any design you ask for.

From clean and muted, to fiery and festive, decorating tastes come alive in the dining décor. Meatloaf gets a modern upgrade when placed on a muted microfiber mat, asparagus come alive on a feather-adorned fascia mat and cheeseburgers go classic on a monogrammed mat. With today's options, setting the table is chore no one will want to ignore.

Beyond the Table

Tusher always buys extra mats. "Styles tend to discontinue, so if you like a set, buy extra." He recommends at least eight. "Placemats look great in other areas of a home when you aren't using them on your table." So don't hide them in a drawer - don the mats on end tables in the living room, under serving dishes during a party, on an armoire in a bedroom, or under a vase in the front foyer.

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