A table set with greenery, a scalloped oak cutting board with pears, and ruffled placemats set with white dishes and carrot cake

One of My Favorite Ways to Spruce Up a Dining Room

Let's talk about dining rooms!

If you've been following our blog over the last few months, then you probably know that my decor style often uses layering—mixing textures, colors, and smaller decor pieces that can be swapped out easily— to make a statement. This approach has helped my decor stay tasteful and true to my own style while also being easy to adapt. 

How does this apply to my dining room? One of my favorite ways to add some layers of color to the table has been using cotton placemats. I love the charm that they bring, and they're a fantastic way to pull together a table for hosting! That's one of the reasons why Jake and I started a placemat line here at A Bow or Two. I'm excited to share it with you!

We currently offer two styles—scalloped edged and ruffled—with several different print options in each. (And they all have a special stain protection treatment to help minimize discoloring!) Here's a rundown of the two styles, their design option, and why we think you'll love them just as much as we do!

The Scalloped Edge I Couldn't Find

The scalloped placemats came first and-- just like many of our products-- were born because, while I found a lot of nice options, I simply couldn't find what I was looking for: scalloped edged placemats. I love the feminine touch that scalloped designs bring to a space, but when I went looking for a way to bring the design into my dining room, I couldn't find anything that hit the mark.

So, I designed my own placemats.

These scalloped placemats are beautiful, and pair well with the other items in our scalloped collection, like our scalloped wicker baskets and scalloped lacquer trays. I love how these pieces work together to add a classic, subtle, feminine touch to my home!

Our scalloped placemats come in three unique designs:

Cranberry

A table set with a vase of flowers, red scalloped placemats, silverware with polka dot handles, and traditional china

This cranberry print is a deep, warm red that I use constantly in the fall and winter months. It pairs beautifully with natural textures like wood or rattan, and works well for seasonal or holiday-specific decor!

Blue Floral

A table set with blue floral scalloped placemats, striped blue ruffle napkins, and pink handled silverware

Soft, beautiful, and classic, I love using our blue floral scalloped print in spring and early summer. It also works well for whenever I want something that feels a little more pulled-together but not overly formal.

Cream Gingham

A dark table set with white plates and cream gingham scalloped placemats and napkins and pink handled silverware

This cream gingham is our newest scalloped placemat, and I’m already obsessed! After all, it combines two of my favorite things: scallops and gingham. The print is more subtle than the cranberry, softer and more neutral, but it strikes a great balance between being casual and refined while bringing warmth to the table. 

The Kind of Classic That Never Goes Out of Style

Up next is our ruffled placemats, which are meant to give you more style options. The ruffle adds a bit of texture and brings more of a traditional look than its scalloped-edged counterpart. We wanted something that felt soft and inviting—playful, but still classy enough to use when guests came over. 

Blue Belle

A blue belle ruffled placemat set with a white plate, a white ruffle napkin, and pink handled silverware

The first of this collection, I love how the blue belle ruffled placemat, with its dark, classic color, keeps the table feeling fresh. I use it a lot in the summer, but honestly, it’s become a year-round staple. It works with almost everything I already have.

Red Floral

A shot looking down at a table set with a vase of greenery and red floral ruffled placemats paired with red striped cloth napkins and white plates

I love how cheerful our red floral design is! Bolder than its scalloped blue floral counterpart, I find myself reaching for this one during holidays or when I’m setting the table for a more festive themed meal. It instantly brightens things up.

Blue Striped with Heart

A piece of carrot cake sits on a white plate with a green checkered charger, all set atop a blue stripped ruffled placemat with a set of silverware

This ruffled placemat definitely stands out from the others. It's our only striped placemat option and offers a cute floral pocket for tucking in silverware. The lighter blue makes it perfect if you're looking for a more casual, stylish option.

Making It Your Own

I've loved using these placemats as a stylish layering option. Having them on hand has meant that I can quickly throw together a beautiful table, whether I'm hosting or just want a nicer family dinner. 

If you’re someone who loves thoughtful little details, or you just want something pretty and practical to use every day, I think you’ll enjoy these as much as I have. You can view all our different placemats here. Be sure to let us know: which one matches the theme of your dining room the best?

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