Foldable Wooden Table Mat

Most placemats are either practical or good looking. This one manages both by being made of real wood, cut into narrow slats and joined so the whole mat folds and rolls rather than sitting rigid. Open on a table it looks like a solid board; folded away it takes up almost no drawer space.

Wood handles heat better than fabric or plastic, so a warm serving dish or a teapot goes straight down without a second thought and without leaving a mark on the table underneath. Beech is the paler of the two, bright and even-grained, and suits a lighter dining table. Walnut runs darker and richer, and looks best against pale ceramics and linen.

Cleaning is a wipe with a damp cloth rather than a wash cycle, which is part of why it stays looking good. Keep it out of standing water and give it an occasional dry with a cloth, and the finish holds. A set of four covers a dining table; a single mat works just as well as a trivet on a worktop or a landing spot for a coffee pot. Because it rolls rather than folds flat, it also travels well for a picnic table or a camping trip, where a rigid board would take up space you do not have.

• Product type: Foldable wooden table mat
• Finishes available: Beech, Walnut
• Material: Natural wood slats
• Feature: Heat resistant
• Storage: Folds and rolls flat
• Use: Placemat, trivet, serving mat
• Care: Wipe with a damp cloth, dry afterwards
• In the box: 1 x wooden table mat