Christmas placemats are usually the first thing people buy for a festive table and the first thing to look dated, because a printed reindeer mat only comes out for three weeks a year. There is a better way: a set of natural woven placemats that live on the table all year, dressed up for Christmas with a napkin, a ribbon and a sprig.
That is how we set our own tables. Our placemats are round, oval and scalloped mats in rattan and seagrass, sold in pairs, and they take about a minute per setting to turn festive.
This guide covers which shape and material to choose, five ways to dress a placemat for Christmas, three finished table settings to copy, how many you need and how to keep them clean through Christmas dinner.
Why natural placemats make the best Christmas placemats
A Christmas table has a lot going on: a runner or garland, candles, crackers, glasses, a centrepiece and more plates than usual. A patterned mat under all of that adds one more thing to look at. A natural woven mat does the opposite. It gives each setting a frame, warms up a white tablecloth and lets the red, green and candlelight do the talking.
The other reason is money. Buy Xmas placemats with a print and you store them for eleven months. Buy round rattan placemats and they are on the table for Sunday lunch in March. For a table that needs six mats, that is the difference between a decoration and a piece of furniture.
Choosing the shape and material
Whether you call them Christmas table mats or placemats, shape matters more than material, so start there.
Round placemats
Round placemats suit most tables, and they are the easiest to dress because a round mat, a round plate and a folded napkin stack neatly. The Round Rattan Placemats – Natural – Set of 2 and the Round Seagrass Placemats – Natural – Set of 2 are both 35cm across, which leaves a border of woven texture around a standard dinner plate.
Scalloped and oval placemats
A scalloped edge adds a little decoration without a print. The Scalloped Rattan Placemats – Natural – Set of 2 and Scalloped Seagrass Placemats – Natural – Set of 2 look more dressed on their own, so they need less on top. On a narrow table, the Oval Scalloped Seagrass Placemats – Natural – Set of 2 are 40 x 30cm, which fits settings closer together without the mats touching.
Rattan or seagrass?
Rattan placemats are firmer and more structured, with a tighter weave that holds its shape under a heavy plate. Seagrass placemats are softer and looser, with a more relaxed look. For Christmas, rattan suits a formal dining table with a cloth; seagrass suits a kitchen table or a farmhouse look. The Round Rattan Placemats – Brown – Set of 2 are the darker option if your table is pale and you want the mats to show. We explain the materials in What Is Water Hyacinth? Rattan, Seagrass and Wicker Explained.
Five ways to dress a placemat for Christmas
A tea towel instead of a napkin
A folded cotton tea towel is bigger than a napkin, more absorbent, and it comes in Christmas prints. Fold the Set of 2 Red Christmas Tea Towels – Gingham & Wreath into a long rectangle and lay it across the mat under the plate, or fold it in quarters on top. Alternate the gingham and the wreath down the table. Our Christmas tea towels guide has more ideas.
A velvet ribbon or a small bow
Tie the napkin or the cutlery with Velvet Ribbon – Bordeaux or Velvet Ribbon – Moss Green. A 10-metre roll does the whole table with plenty left for the tree. For the head of the table, a Small Red Gingham Bow on the plate marks the host's seat without a place card.
A sprig of berries
Cut a few pieces from the Faux White Winter Berry Spray and tuck one under each ribbon. One 71cm stem gives you four or five sprigs. White berries show up against the woven mat better than green foliage does.
A coaster on every mat
A coaster at the top right of each placemat gives the glass a home and ties the settings together. The Rattan Coasters set – White lighten a rattan mat; the Ceramic Coasters Set – Scalloped 4pc echo a scalloped mat; and the Scalloped Wooden Coasters – Natural are the smaller set if you only need two. For matching rules, see Table Mats and Coasters: How to Create a Coordinated Table Setting.
Candlelight between the settings
Placemats mark where people sit; the space between them is where the light goes. The Set of 2 Black Heart Glass Candle Holders come with 12 candles and stand 10.5cm, low enough to talk across. Put one between every second setting rather than in a line down the middle.
Three Christmas table settings to copy
Three ways to put the same Christmas placemats to work, from full table to table for four.
Classic red. Round rattan placemats in natural, the red gingham tea towel folded under each plate, bordeaux velvet ribbon round the cutlery, white berry sprigs, and the Set of 4 LED Christmas Village Houses down the centre instead of a runner.
Green and natural. Scalloped seagrass placemats, the wreath and mistletoe tea towel on each mat, moss green ribbon, the Green Eucalyptus Christmas Garland laid down the middle of the table and the Set of 3 Glass Christmas Trees at the centre with fairy lights inside.
Small and cosy. For a table for four, oval scalloped seagrass placemats, white rattan coasters, one candle holder at each end and the Set of 2 Wine Glasses – Scalloped on each coaster. No runner, no centrepiece, nothing to move when the food arrives.
How many Christmas placemats do you need?
Our placemats come in sets of two, so count seats and halve it. Six for Christmas dinner is three sets. Eight is four.
Two tips. First, buy one extra set: a mat under the gravy jug and one under the pudding stops the table getting marked. Second, you do not have to match. Round rattan in natural and brown alternated down the table looks deliberate, and rattan at the adults' end with seagrass at the children's end means the mats that get the most spills are the cheaper ones.
Christmas table mats on a small table or kitchen island
On a narrow table, round 35cm mats can touch. Use the oval seagrass mats, or leave the mats off the two end seats and give those places a coaster and a napkin instead. On a kitchen island or a breakfast bar, one round mat per stool with a coaster on each is a Christmas table in itself. Add the candle holders and you are done. For the full table, our 10 Easy Christmas Table Decorations post goes through runners, centrepieces and the rest.
Keeping them clean through Christmas dinner
Natural fibre mats are tougher than they look, but they are not waterproof or heatproof. Four rules get Christmas placemats through the day:
- Use a trivet for hot dishes. Put serving dishes on a board or trivet, not straight on a mat.
- Brush crumbs off dry. A soft brush or a dry cloth after the meal. Do not shake them over the sink.
- Wipe spills with a slightly damp cloth. Dab gravy straight away, then leave the mat flat to dry. Never soak a rattan or seagrass mat or put it in the washing machine.
- Store flat. Stack them evenly in a dry drawer. Do not fold or roll them, and keep them away from the radiator.
After Christmas
Take the ribbon off and put the tea towels back in the kitchen. The placemats stay. That is the whole point: a mat that was a Christmas placemat on 25 December is an everyday placemat on 26 December, with nothing to pack away. If you dressed the mantel too, our Christmas mantel decor guide covers what to leave up into January.
Final thoughts
The best Christmas placemats are the ones you do not have to buy again next year. Start with a natural rattan or seagrass mat, add a tea towel napkin, a ribbon and a sprig, put the light between the settings, and keep the hot dishes on a trivet. The table will look like Christmas, and in January it will still look like your table.
Show us your Christmas table on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or TikTok. We share our favourites.
FAQs
What are the best placemats for a Christmas table?
Plain woven placemats in rattan or seagrass. They frame each setting without competing with the food, candles and crackers, and they stay on the table after Christmas. Dress them with a festive napkin, ribbon and a sprig.
Do I need special Christmas placemats?
No. Printed Xmas placemats are used for a few weeks a year. A natural round or scalloped mat works all year and turns festive with a red or green napkin, a velvet ribbon and a berry sprig.
Are Christmas table mats and Christmas placemats the same thing?
Yes. Table mats and placemats are two names for the same thing: a mat that sits under one place setting. Rattan and seagrass table mats are the most common natural versions.
What size placemat do I need for a Christmas dinner plate?
A 35cm round placemat suits a standard dinner plate of 26 to 28cm, leaving a border of mat showing. On a narrow table, a 40 x 30cm oval mat lets settings sit closer together.
How many placemats do I need for Christmas?
One per seat, plus one or two spares for serving dishes. Sets of two mean a table of six needs three sets and a table of eight needs four.
Can you put hot plates on rattan or seagrass placemats?
A warmed dinner plate is fine. Hot serving dishes, roasting tins and teapots should go on a trivet or board, because natural fibre mats are not heatproof.
How do I clean a placemat after Christmas dinner?
Brush crumbs off with a dry cloth, dab spills with a slightly damp cloth and leave the mat flat to dry. Do not soak it or machine wash it.
What do you put on a Christmas placemat?
The plate in the centre, a folded napkin or Christmas tea towel on or under it, cutlery tied with ribbon, a coaster at the top right for the glass and a sprig of berries tucked under the ribbon.
Can I mix Christmas placemats on one table?
Yes. Alternate natural and brown rattan down the table, or use rattan at one end and seagrass at the other. Keep one shape across the table so the settings line up.
