I love coasters, I think they are one of those subtle and yet necessary accents to your room and can bring in a really great pop of color. My living room is proud to host these beauties from Anthropologie: in lime.

I love all the new designs for coasters I've been seeing around lately but I hate non-absorbent ones. I live in Texas, and in the summer, a cold drink sweats more than enough to run off the edge of something with a glossy surface. Any suggestions for ones that will take in some of the moisture as well?

Although my unfinished wood round coasters aren't absorbent, they hold condensed water well and keep wood tables dry inconspicuously. Each coaster top is deeply treaded in concentric circles, with the outermost circle forming a higher rim.

I just did a few improvised coasters for a 25th bday party, where we cut out paper circles in black and white, ones with a hand holding up 2 fingers, and the other half of the coasters with all five fingers. It looked pretty neat and everybody liked them. Inexpensive and personalized. Best of all, served their purpose!

Inexpensive 4"x4" ceramic tiles provide great canvases for DIY coasters. You could easily and inexpensively re-create #3 with white ceramic tiles, glossy black paint and spray coat.

Squares of felt work nicely. You can get them pre-cut as coasters, or just buy some felt and cut it yourself. Apparently it's an old-fashioned German biergarten thing, largely replaced by cardboard beer-coasters now.

Love all of those, but I could never justify spending so much for 4 little squares (unless I got them as a gift, then I'd love it!). I use a set of fabric ones I bought in Asia for less than $1 and they're attractive and practical.

i've tried just about every type of coaster known to mankind & i just don't get it. every livin' one of 'em lets water pool on the top, so when you pick up the coaster, the water drips all over the place. now ... no coasters in my house. i cut a silicone baking mat into squares, and use a paper napkin underneath to catch the drips. and yes, it IS as glamorous as a drippy coaster.

I have two sets of coasters and they were each less than $5. I think you can have nice coasters without spending a lot.

And I'm pretty sure for the fourth photo, you can buy cheap faux-cork coasters, some paint, and stencils, and just make your own.

I like the idea of a set of coasters that say "Drink Responsibly"

Thanks for the idea, somecraftydame. I've been looking for coasters for a while now but have had a hard time finding ones I like, actually do the job (catching drips), and I'm willing to pay for. Time to head to the home reuse store for some tiles and some cork.

I agree with several others, I love all the gorgeous coasters, but hate the price. I love the gorgeous ones but in the summer they just don't serve their purpose -- so we bought a pack of 4 round cork coasters from target to use on a daily husband and breakout the nicer ones when guests are over :) Sometimes you got to compromise!