The Carved Silicone Placemat

What it is

The Carved Silicone Placemat is a single dining mat made of matte silicone. The surface has a soft carved pattern that catches the light without any shine, so it reads as texture rather than print. It sits flat on a wood, glass or laminate table and gives each setting a clean edge.

Silicone is the reason this mat works hard at the table. It does not soak up spills the way fabric does, and it does not slide around under a plate. A damp cloth is all it needs at the end of a meal.

Size

One size is available.

At 16.5 x 11.8 in (42 x 30 cm), the mat fits a full place setting: dinner plate, side plate or bowl, and a glass. It also works under a serving dish in the middle of the table, or under a mug and a small plate on a kitchen counter.

Color

The mat comes in Ivory white. It is a warm off white, not a bright paper white, so it sits easily next to cream dishes, natural linen and wood tones. Because the color is quiet, the carved pattern does the work. One mat looks intentional on its own. A set of four or six in the same color gives a table a calm, even look.

How to use it

Set the mat where you want the plate to land, then build the setting on top. The matte surface holds a plate in place, so passing dishes around the table is less of a balancing act.

Use it for:

• Weeknight dinners and weekend breakfasts
• Holiday tables, including Christmas meals, when you want a mat that wipes clean between courses
• Coffee and cake on the kitchen counter
• A resting spot for a hot serving bowl

Because the mat is sold individually, you can buy exactly the number you need. Four mats cover a family table. Six cover a table with room for guests. If you keep a stack in a drawer, they store flat and take up little space.

The mat is also an easy match with the rest of the table. Pair Ivory white with a cotton tablecloth or a woven runner, or let the mats stand alone on a bare wood table.

Care

Wipe the mat clean with a damp cloth after each meal. For sticky spots, a little dish soap on the cloth helps, then wipe again with clean water. Dry it flat or stand it on edge. No machine washing, no soaking, no ironing.

Silicone can hold onto strong food colors if spills sit for a long time, so wipe up tomato, turmeric and wine soon after they land. Store mats flat or rolled loosely, not folded, so the surface stays smooth.

Good to know

• Material: silicone, matte finish
• Size: 16.5 x 11.8 in (42 x 30 cm)
• Color: Ivory white
• Care: wipe clean with a damp cloth
• Sold individually