slo’s THURSDAY 2/13 poll - Placemats

[LuvOrlando]

My fancy dining room table is now our kitchen table and has been used more in the past 2 years than the entire time I had it before.

Have always loved placemats! To me they are a fun and easy way to decorate for seasons and holidays but they are super helpful in keeping the tablecloth clean and neat. Since we eat meals on a fancy table I have the cushioned protector out covered by an upside down vinyl cloth backed tablecloth to capture spills then a tablecloth and placemats but I am getting my money's worth from this table. I have at least 20 sets of placemats from back to when my kids were little, they always make me smile.

 

[VandVsmama]

In the emotional corner of my brain, placemats are for old ladies. So we don't ever use placemats at our house. Don't even own any. I really do not like how any of them look.

 

[evilmommie]

Yes, we use placemats on all of our wood dining tables. To protect the surface. I have everyday mats and fancy mats for holidays and such. I’m a tea party lady, so I switch out to fun botanical prints and tablecloths when my friends come to tea.

 

[Karalee402]

We don't use placemats for every day dining, but I have cute ones for holidays. I also have a few beautiful vintage placemats, but I hesitate to actually use them!

 

[MIGrandma]

No placemats. The dining room table has a seasonal tablecloth. The table in the family room has a clear glass covering cut to size as it is a handmade table, made from a tree trunk base with a large top that has woodland designs of deer, bear, squirrels, mountains, a stream, etc. burned into the wood.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Marie has holiday placemats. Usually none otherwise.

 

[CynBeth]

We don’t use placemats.

 

[leebee]

We don't have a kitchen table and usually eat in the living room while watching TV and unwinding from the day, so we really have no need or use for placemats. However, we have a dining room table that gets used for holiday dinners or when we have guests. I put my only tablecloth on the table and then use placemats on those occasions as I have a collection of them- we just don't use them much!

 

[tvguy]

We never use place mats, but always have a plastic table cloth on the table.
My mom used placemats, but she never had a table cloth on the table.
So in my world, placemats are used when there is no table cloth, and not used when there is a table cloth.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I only use them for formal dining and it’s not an all the time thing since it’s one more thing to wash. They do stay in place for the meal but I still consider them more decorative than functional.

 

[NC Belle]

We use cloth placements with paper napkins.

My wicked witch in law uses cloth napkins, cloth placemats, and [a[er napkins.

 

[ncc1701]

The kitchen table has placemats that have cork backing. It is just DH & I using it so easier to clean up. The dining room table is used when we have guests, so it’s tablecloth with no placemats.
Napkins are always paper.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I have some sets and I do use them, just not regularly. I almost always have a tablecloth on my table and I'll put a mat under my GS's plate when he eats breakfast or lunch. On the occasion all my tableclothes need washing, then I'll put out 4 placemats.

 

[AppleDumpling]

No placemats in the kitchen, but occasionally use them in the dining room to protect the wood table. Usually only for a casual meal for a small group. (For holidays and other family gatherings, often with 8+ people, we use a tablecloth, no mats.)

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We just have the one table (kitchen/diningroom).... yes we have placemats, but they are only for decorative purposes.

 

[tvguy]

What about Chargers? A friend gave us a set of chargers and we used them once. While cleaning them, we read the health warning on them that they were made of materials containing chemicals that can be harmful to humans. While our food was on plates places on the chargers, not sure I want dangerous chemicals that close to my food.

 

[loves to dive]

We always had them on the table as a kid and always used them. I don't use them on my kitchen table, it's stone so no need (I do use trivets for hot things though). I always have a table cloth on my dining room table and if we actually use the table, I put placemats down as well. I can't remember the last time we used the dining room table for anything other than me putting items that were going to be packed for a trip on. If I'm using it for that I have a plain white almost sheet like table cloth I put on it.

 

[TippyThomas]

I don't use placemats. I really don't use the dining table for much other than a catch all at times. I use the breakfast bar for most of my sitting and eating. It's more comfortable there and I can see out the windows into the back yard from there as well. Just a more enjoyable location for me.

 

[BayouQueen]

I love placemats and seek high and low for "stain release" fabric ones. We use them!

 

[TCRAIG]

I don’t use placemats on my kitchen or dining room tables - never have - I DO use tablecloths though…I have dozens of them. Right now I have a blue linen one on my kitchen table and a rose colored damask with matching cloth napkins on my dining table (along with floral Limoges China and pink stemware) for Valentine’s Day. I will switch to a green linen table cloth and china from Royal Tara and other pieces for St Paddy’s day.