Home » Placemats » What Are Placemats Used For? These little rectangular pieces of fabric or paper that sit under your plate at the dinner table i.e. placemats. We’ve all seen them, but do we really know what they’re for? Are they just a decorative touch to make your table look fancy? Or do they serve a more practical purpose? Well, fear not my friends, for I am here to answer all your burning questions about placemats. From their origins in ancient Egypt to their modern-day uses as a catch-all for crumbs and spills, we’ll explore the fascinating world of placemats and maybe even uncover a few secrets along the way. So grab a seat and let’s dive in!
What Are Placemats Used For?
Let’s take a quick look at some places where a placemat makes the most sense:
Perfecting The Dinner Table at Home
You might be wondering:
How can placemats help me perfectly set up the dinner table?
Well, the answer to this question relies on understanding how guests actually take a look at the dinner table. Placemats can inform each guest about their position on the table and allow them to place the dish without taking up more space.
One other thing that bothers most hosts is the mess their guests make on the table. What did I tell you? Placemats are more than just a pop of flair.
Placemats are tableware that can protect wood tables from spills, scratches, and whatnot. Some of the most amazing placemats for wood tables cater to their use case perfectly and are the perfect package for your table.
They are designed to be thick enough to stop the spills from getting through and light enough to be carried around easily. Again, just protection seems dull. So, placemats are also designed to please the eye and resound a positive aura around the table.
Here’s another issue you might feel you have:
My table is rectangular or round. How can any type of placemat look good on that?
Well, as placemats grew in popularity, so did they grow in size and shape. Placemats for rectangular tables are different from placemats for a round, patio table. To pick the correct placemats for round tables, or others, you should take a thorough look at the features of the placemat.
If you’re about to host the dinner outside, you might want placemats that give off cooler vibes. However, if you’re hosting a dinner inside, you might want a placemat that’s both protective and offers a hint of style to the table’s looks.
Still not impressed? If you adore tablecloths, there are dozens of tablecloths and placemat sets which both complement each other. This way, you can let go of all fears of heat marks, spills, and everything else as the perfect placemat for heat marks will take care of those for you!
Catering To Guests at Restaurants
Worried about your guests leaving stains on the table? Imagine the mess people make at restaurants or places where they imagine the cleaning staff would just handle it all.
Here’s the most amazing part:
Most commercial eateries, bistros, and restaurants make use of placemats on their tables. Not only does the placemat protect the wood table from water rings (formed by most serving cups), but they’re soothing to the customer.
Imagine yourself seated at an eatery with no tableware. I’ll gladly stop imagining this scenario right here; this sounds quite unappealing to me.
On the other hand, eateries that engage their customers in thoughtful art, decorative pieces, and exquisite placemats are in a win-win situation. Not only are their customers pleased with their visual aura, but they can also eat without imagining ruining the ambiance of the place.
Since most restaurants have limited spacing and short tables to serve customers, they make use of small placemat sizes. Most placemat manufacturing brands unveil placemats of different sizes to cater to different tables and counters.
Also, placemats can make the cleaning job way easier for the management staff. Placemats are mostly just wiped or cleaned by a quick whipping as the dirt all goes away. But, if the stains are a little harsh to take out, you can easily wash them by hand or by a dryer.
Informative Placemats for Toddlers
You might be thinking:
How can toddlers take advantage of placemats?
Well, if you’re a parent or have experience with toddlers; you know the mess babies make with their food. Placemats can help you protect wood tables from spills and engage your child in a positive learning experience.
How? You may ask.
This graphical content usually contains informative content, shapes, figures, or letters that the toddler can interact with.
Since toddlers are mischievous and will definitely try to make a mess out of their food, these placemats will act as a barrier. And, since your kid will subconsciously be interacting with the material on the placemat, there are chances of less mess on the table.
Final Words
In conclusion, placemats are not just a piece of cloth or paper that you put on your dining table to make it look fancy. They have a much deeper purpose. They are there to protect your table from spills, stains, and scratches. They also serve as a subtle reminder to your guests to keep their elbows off the table and to use their napkins. And let’s not forget the most important function of placemats – to give your cat a new place to sit and shed their fur. So, the next time you see a placemat, don’t underestimate its power. It’s not just a decoration, it’s a protector, a reminder, and a cat bed all in one.
