Placemat Reviews and Buying Guide:

* SHAPES - Rectangle, round, square, cut-corner, oval, ellipse
* SIZES - Rectangular and round placemats often come in 3 sizes, while the oval and ellipse are offered in 1 size.
* MATERIAL - Vinyl, bamboo, cloth, wood, cork, glass.
* DESIGN/COLORS - Practically endless with themes for every occasion, lots of patterns, and 100's of colors.
* BRANDS - Lenox, Benson Mills, Pfaltzgraff, Crocodile Creek, Bardwill, Easy Care.
* PRICES - Most often sold in sets of 4 - prices range from $10 to $50.

Placemat Reviews - Some people may ask why they would want to read a review on a placemat. I have found that getting feedback from homeowners on almost any product can be important before deciding on even basic items like placemats. For instance, some of the woven fabrics or bamboo placemats are hard to clean when food gets stuck in the hard to reach areas. Not all placemats are washable in your washing machine. You want ones that are easy to clean and hold up well. Stain proof placemats would be best, but that is probably asking too much. When it comes to kids placemats, we try to get educational ones like the US Presidents or a map of the United States displaying all the individual states. If you child is going to look at the placemat everyday you might as well make it educational for them. Many parents prefer the laminated placemats that are designed for kids since they are so easy to clean. I prefer the placemats that can be used on both sides. That way if one side gets a stain that just won't come out, flip it over and no one will ever know. RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry a huge selection, have competitive prices, and a great return policy. You can browse the best selling placemats here.

Best Placemats: To say that one set of placemats is better than another is really up to the consumer. We won't try to impress you with claiming one set stands out or performs better. It's really about how they look and fit in with your decor. For that reason we suggest that you look at top rated placemats here. Get a feel for all the designs and patterns that are available. Brand names like Benson Mills, Lenox, and Pfaltzgraff dominate the sales, but there are still other brands to consider. The good news is that most sets of 4 are roughly $20 meaning you can buy a few sets and have a variety of placemats to put out throughout the year. Amazon even features a section dedicated to those that are machine washable meaning that caring for them should be easier than those that require hand washing. If you are looking for seasonal placemats (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) it's a good idea to hit the stores the day after the holiday and get discounted prices on those particular sets.

Bamboo Placemats: Bamboo is a very popular choice amongst consumers although some do mention that cleaning can be tedious. I would personally say that bamboo placemats are probably better for adult use (if they don't spill) compared to kids only because food and spills can get between the bamboo pieces. A few reviews we read mention that cleaning isn't as difficult as you may think, as long as you take care of it immediately. Overall bamboo rates well for durable and looks. We found a set that is available in 4, 6, or 8 placemats. Are they expensive? No, most sets of 4 still sell for $20 and they roll up for easy storage. View bamboo placemats here and find a set that works for you. One caveat, we did read that the darker colored bamboo placemats (chocolate, black) have a tendency to run or wear off when you clean them with something like a damp rag. That is not the case with the more natural color option.