Abersoch Abstract Polyester Placemats - Marine

These Abersoch placemats come as a set of four, printed in a marine palette of soft blues and warm coral reds. The design pairs hand-painted crabs and lobsters with an abstract, flowing background inspired by Britain's coastline, and across the set the motifs vary so no two mats are quite the same at the table. Woven from 100% polyester, each mat measures 46 x 36cm, a generous rectangle that gives a dinner plate, a side plate and cutlery room to sit without crowding the edge.

They are made for indoor and outdoor use, which is the point of them. Take them out to the garden table for a summer lunch, then bring them in for supper without a second thought. The size suits a standard place setting on a wooden table, and the busy, watery background is forgiving of the odd splash and shadow, so a table laid outdoors in changing light still reads as a considered setting rather than a hurried one. They sit as happily with plain blue and white china as with something bolder.

Polyester is the reason these work outdoors: the fibre does not absorb water the way a natural cloth does, so it sheds a spill and dries quickly rather than holding damp. The mats are water resistant and machine washable, which keeps a set of four practical to look after through a season of use. The supplier makes a coordinating Abersoch table runner, so if you want the longer table dressed to match, the runner carries the same crab and lobster design down the centre.

Can I use these placemats outside?

Yes. They are made for both indoor and outdoor use, so they suit a garden table in summer and move back indoors for everyday dining without any fuss.

How big is each placemat?

Each mat measures 46 x 36cm, a roomy rectangle that comfortably holds a dinner plate, a side plate and a set of cutlery for one place setting.

How many placemats come in the set?

The set contains four placemats. Across the set the crab and lobster motifs vary, so the table has a little variety rather than four identical prints.

How do I clean them?

They are machine washable and water resistant. Because the polyester does not soak up moisture the way a natural cloth does, spills wipe away and the mats dry quickly.

Will they hold up to regular use?

The woven polyester is durable and hard-wearing, which is what makes a set of four sensible for a table that gets used through the whole summer season.

Is there anything to match them?

There is a coordinating Abersoch table runner carrying the same crab and lobster design, so you can dress a longer table to match if you wish.