Placemats
Placemats in Saudi Arabia — the quiet layer that protects your table and makes every setting look finished. At RIS you will find elegant placemats for daily meals and gatherings alike: printed paper placement mats for easy hosting, and a palm trees linen placemat set that brings a refined Saudi touch to the table. Pair them with your tableware and dinnerware for a table that is composed, not just set.
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Why Every Table Needs Placemats
A placemat does three things at once: it shields wood, marble and glass from heat marks, scratches and cup rings; it defines each guest's place so the table looks ordered before a single plate arrives; and it adds colour and texture under plain dinnerware. In Saudi homes where the dining table works daily — family lunches, coffee and dates, then a full dinner for guests — placemats keep the table itself looking new for years.
Paper or Linen — Which Placemat?
- Paper placement mats are the host's shortcut: beautifully printed, perfectly flat, and replaced after the meal, so big gatherings in the majlis or dining room need no laundry at all. Ideal for parties, Ramadan iftars and everyday family meals with children.
- Linen placemats, like the palm trees set, are the elegant reusable choice — soft natural texture, washable, and more beautiful with every year. They suit smaller dinners where the table itself is part of the occasion.
Choosing the Right Size and Shape
The standard placemat is about 30 × 40 cm — wide enough for a dinner plate, cutlery on both sides, and a glass at the top right. Leave about 5 cm of table showing between neighbouring mats so settings do not crowd. On round tables, choose round or wedge-friendly rectangular mats angled to the seat; on long tables, a repeated row of identical mats creates the rhythm that makes a table look designed.
Styling with Placemats
Let the placemat be the middle layer of the setting: mat, then dinner plate, then side plate or bowl. A palm design under white plates gives a Saudi table quiet character without prints fighting the food. For formal dinners, layer linen mats over a bare polished table rather than a cloth, and repeat the mat's colour once more — in the napkins or the centrepiece — for a sophisticated, deliberate look.
Care and Storage
Wash linen placemats in cold water on a gentle cycle, reshape while damp and iron warm for a crisp edge; store them flat so the fold lines do not set. Keep paper mats flat in a dry drawer or box, away from humidity, and handle them by the stack so the printed surfaces stay clean. Both types last longest when they are kept out of direct sunlight between uses.
Delivery Across Saudi Arabia
RIS delivers across Saudi Arabia, with free delivery in main cities on orders of 2,500 SAR or more. Placemats ship flat and protected, and you can see the palm trees linen set in person at our Jeddah showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard size of a placemat?
The standard placemat measures about 30 × 40 cm, sized to hold a dinner plate, cutlery on both sides and a glass above the plate. For large dinner plates of 28 cm or more, or for charger plates underneath, choose mats closer to 33 × 45 cm. Whatever the size, keep about 5 cm of bare table between neighbouring mats so each setting stays distinct.
Paper or linen placemats — which is better?
Linen is better for smaller, elegant dinners: it is reusable, softens beautifully with washing, and gives the table a refined natural texture. Paper placement mats are better for large gatherings, children and busy Ramadan nights, because you simply replace them after the meal with zero laundry. Many Saudi hosts keep both — linen for guests they want to honour, paper for joyful, crowded family tables.
Do placemats really protect the table from hot dishes?
Yes, placemats protect the table from everyday heat, scratches from plate bases, and rings from cold or hot glasses. Linen and layered paper both insulate a plate of hot food comfortably. For dishes straight from the oven or a heavy hot pot, add a trivet underneath as well — a placemat is a protective layer, not a heat-proof board.
How many placemats should I buy?
Buy one placemat per seat at your table, plus two spares, so a stained mat never breaks the symmetry of the setting. A six-seat dining table therefore needs a set of eight for comfortable hosting. If you host large majlis-style gatherings, paper placement mats bought in generous pads are the practical way to cover every seat at once.
Can I use placemats on a marble or glass table?
Yes — placemats are especially useful on marble and glass, which show every ring, scratch and fingerprint. A mat under each plate stops cutlery noise on stone and keeps cold glasses from leaving water rings on marble. Choose mats without rough or beaded backs for polished surfaces, and lift rather than drag place settings when clearing the table.
How do I wash linen placemats?
Wash linen placemats in cold water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent, and avoid bleach, which weakens natural fibres. Reshape them while damp, dry flat or on a line, and iron while very slightly damp for a crisp, elegant edge. Linen softens with every wash and resists stains better once it has been washed a few times.
Should I use placemats with a tablecloth, or instead of one?
Either works, and the choice sets the mood: placemats on a bare table show off beautiful wood or marble and suit modern Saudi dining rooms, while mats layered over a cloth give the most formal, protected setting for big dinners. If you use both, keep one of them plain so the patterns do not compete. Never use a mat so small that the plate sits half on and half off it.
What shape of placemat suits a round table?
Round placemats follow the table's curve most naturally and keep equal spacing between settings. Rectangular mats of the standard 30 × 40 cm also work if you angle each one squarely to its seat rather than to the table edge. On a small round table for four, slim round mats stop neighbouring settings from overlapping.
Are placemats practical for everyday meals with children?
Yes — placemats are one of the most practical table pieces in a family home, catching spills and crumbs at each child's place before they reach the table. Paper placement mats are the stress-free choice for daily use because a messy meal just means a fresh mat next time. Linen mats also wash easily, so many families keep an everyday set separate from the guest set.
How should I store placemats between uses?
Store placemats flat — in a shallow drawer, a flat box or stacked on a shelf — so they keep their shape and crisp edges. Paper mats should stay in a dry place away from kitchen steam, which curls the sheets. Rolling linen mats around a tube prevents hard creases if drawer space is tight, and a light iron restores them before guests arrive.
What colour placemat works with white dinnerware?
Almost any colour works under white plates, which is why the placemat is where a table gets its character. A palm tree design in natural green tones gives a Saudi table a calm, rooted elegance, while deep or metallic tones make white dinnerware look formal and bold. Repeat the mat's main colour once — in napkins or a centrepiece — to make the choice look deliberate.
Do you deliver placemats outside Riyadh and Jeddah?
Yes, RIS delivers to all regions of Saudi Arabia, and delivery is free in main cities for orders of 2,500 SAR or more. Placemats are packed flat with protective boards so paper pads and linen sets arrive crisp and uncreased. You can also visit our Jeddah showroom to see the palm trees linen set in person.
