A round scalloped placemat in the Holiday Wreath print, cornflower blue, from Frances Fields Home. Sold as a single mat, so you buy exactly the number of seats you have rather than a set of four for a table of six. The scalloped edge is the reason to choose this over a plain round mat: it finishes the setting without adding a tablecloth, so a wood table stays visible and the washing-up is one mat per person instead of one enormous cloth. Cornflower is the quieter of the two Holiday Wreath colorways, and it plays well with blue and white china, silver, and greenery.
What is a placemat used for? A placemat marks each guest's place at the table and protects the surface from heat, moisture, and scratches from flatware and dishware. Fabric placemats also do the visual work of a tablecloth without covering the table, which is why they are chosen for wood tables the owner wants to keep visible.
