Good Questions: Protecting a Tabletop with Placemats?

I have a round dining table (Room & Board Axis in walnut) and my toddler is DE-stroying the lovely wood. I don't want to cover it in glass because I'll lose the texture of the wood under the reflections, so I've been using placemats. Trouble is, standard rectangular placemats are ridiculous to use on a round table. I know that specially shaped placemats for round tables EXIST...but are there any out there that don't look like they're from the dollar store? For an idea of the color scheme/styling we tend towards...we have this Agnes and Hoss Roots chandelier hanging over the table. Any suggestions? -Kristyn

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Comments (22)

Make your toddler behave?

Maybe these:

http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10012&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4%2C112%2C124&iProductID=10012

?

I have chilewich round placemats. They make square too.

I have round woven placements from Walmart of all places that are really nice looking, and clean up very easily. I have 3 boys who are messy eaters, and I have a round glass table. I have also seen them at Pier One in the past.

Mine are kind of like these, but chocolate brown

http://www.worldmarket.com/lev/4/productId/4891/mybuyscid/1902670809/index.pro

Great chandelier you've got there!

or you could get a big piece of felt cut to keep on top of the table.

Growing up, we had a round kitchen table. my mom cut a piece of vinyl-backed foam to fit and over that, she used a tablecloth.

I was going to recommend felt as well...I think there was a post last week on some etsy vendor that did custom felt pieces, including placemats

Barco, comes in different colors and translucent too.
its a great work surface and you can just take up and put away when company comes. i think of it as the new version of my mother's old table protector mats; the ones with the felt on one side and stiff vinyl on the other.

I have a round table and I use round woven placemats. They are pretty cute - I picked them up in a Marshall's (HomeGoods) and they were only $8 for a set of 4. Even if you choose to go higher end, the round mats work well with the shape of the table.

I don't think felt is a very good idea for toddlers - you really need something you can clean quickly on a daily basis. We absolutely LOVE LOVE these placemats:

http://www.modern-twist.com/_modern-twist.php?product=page&which=plmain

These aren't as great probably for a round, table, although they do seem to be not as wide as normal placemats. We have a 2.5 year old and use them on our teak wood table - they are super easy to clean and don't look hideous when we leave them out. It's a bit crazy to be so in love with placemats but honestly they make me happy everday. They are a bit expensive but worth it. Plus they look cool! I see they have some new designs now too... hmm maybe I'll have to buy another set!

You could even make some placemats from laminated material of your choice, and cut them to fit around the particular arc of your table. Would be very cool. Hm. I sense a cottage industry idea coming on...

I'm assuming that you're just using the place mat while eating. In which case, I suggest going to your local fabric store and getting some fleece. You can cut it to shape and since it does not ravel, there's no sewing. Lots of cute colors and patterns available. They are machine washable and cheap enough to toss if they get badly stained. Remember--fleece, not felt.

we had this issue too (not the toddler, but the round table in need of placemats)

we bought some rectangular vinyl placemats in earthy colors here: http://www.pearlriver.com/v2/FramesSearch.asp?search=placemat

then we cut them into half moon shapes. they cut easily, they look good with the shape of the table, and they're easy to clean with a little spray.

I agree with cutting - but just the outer edge to suit the table edge.
Using a vinyl or Chilewich 'plynyl' matt would work for this.

I made placemats from a roll of Contact brand cushiony shelf liner. Four large placemats for less than $6. Red and white gingham check. Duplicate the radius of the curve of your table and cut your own, then round off the corners for a finished look. Easy to wash, and they will not slip on the wooden table top.

A friend of mine had a nice table and a toddler. Her solution was to order pads from the manufacturer. They were covered in dark vinyl and allowed the table to serve duty for crafts and toddler activity. When she wanted to have a grown-up dinner, she took the pads off, and when the kid grew up, she put them up in the garage.

I think round is the best solution from a design point of view. Those wedge shaped ones are horrible and remind me of the ones they have by the pool at resorts.

The Chilewich ones are GREAT. We have several types and keep coming back to these. They look great, they can be washed in the sink thoroughly and will last forever.
Chilewich

I also like these to pull the aqua color from your chandelier:
Cost Plus

~Lorrie @ MyDesignSecrets.com

I had the same problem with my round table! I hated the "hang-over" of rectangle placments and round ones don't cover enough width-wise.

I made placemats (and coasters and shelf liners) with leftover pieces of "floating" vinyl floor covering. It cuts easily with an xacto or even scissors. As diyordie suggested, just "cut them to fit around the particular arc of your table."

Floating vinyl has kind of a cushioney foam backing so it won't scratch the table and is super easy to just wipe off with a sponge. Wide color and pattern choices available, plus a small piece or a remnant wouldn't be very expensive at all. I roll the placements up to stash between meals...

http://flickr.com/photos/mviamontes/2179095573/in/set-72157594582842556/
http://flickr.com/photos/mviamontes/367462762/in/set-72157594496738668/
http://flickr.com/photos/mviamontes/1460514841/in/set-72157594496738668/

I have the same table! We have found a few different place mat solutions. One option is to use 2 standard rectangular place mats end to end (see pictures). I also purchased some round place mats at Crate&Barrel which fit 4 to our 42" round top. I recently bought some round Chilewich place mats which I love. http://www.surlatable.com/gs/product/brands/chilewich/chilewich round bamboo placemats.do

Crate has several attractive round styles. The perforated leather, in particular.

Thanks for the ideas! I just ordered the Modern Twist placemats in beige with teal. I really wanted something easy to clean and something that we can leave out all the time. Hopefully I won't mangle them when I cut them. But if I don't, it should be a perfect solution!

-Kristyn

Your toddler wont be a toddler forever. Suck it up for now, and go with a clear plexi-glass top. It's not as reflective and wont break or crack. Also it's not as heavy so when milk is spilt and get under it, you can easily remove to clean. A year or two and you'll be able to toss it. Round placemats are your best bet. I go with something absorbant and machine washable. The Chillewich stuff is beautiful but liquids go right through.