Studio guide from Sylvia Levy, founder of Tree Art Studio (Miami, est. 1995). First published April 24, 2026. Last updated May 12, 2026.
Paper placemats are studio-designed table mats made from heavy, varnish-coated FSC-certified paper, sold as a set of 12 with 12 matching coasters. Tree Art Store sells 31 original studio-designed paper placemat sets across three shapes (rectangular, circular, hexagonal), plus a kids educational set. Each set includes the placemats and matching coasters in a protective envelope, so the table reads as a coordinated, finished setting from the first use.
If you are deciding which paper placemats to buy:
- Hosting a dinner party or holiday meal? A set of 12 is the right scale, with enough placemats for the full table plus a few in reserve.
- Want a butterfly or floral palette? Try Butterfly Garden or Floral Dreamscape.
- Want a geometric or modern palette? Try Hexa Illusion, Optic Prism, or Concentric Pop.
- Want a watercolor or painterly palette? Try Watercolor Foliage or Painted Foliage.
- Want a setting for kids or a children's meal? The Kids Educational Set of 12 turns the place setting into a learning surface.
→ See all 31 paper placemat designs at Tree Art Store · Free shipping on orders over $65
The three placemat shapes at a glance
| Shape | Best for | Designs available |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular | Traditional dining tables, the classic table-setting format | 10 designs |
| Circular | Round dining tables, more casual settings, kids' tables | 10 designs |
| Hexagonal | Design-forward tables, modern interiors, dinner parties | 10 designs |
In this guide
- What are paper placemats (and what to look for in a good set)
- Paper placemats vs fabric placemats: the honest comparison
- Are paper placemats reusable?
- What to look for in a paper placemat set
- What makes Tree Art Store paper placemats different
- Designs grouped by style (butterfly, geometric, watercolor, modern)
- How to choose a set for your occasion
- Paper placemats as gifts
- Three table-styling tips from 30 years of art teaching
- Frequently asked questions
What are paper placemats (and what to look for in a good set)
Paper placemats are table mats made from heavy paper, designed to sit under plates and glasses during a meal. The category has expanded in recent years from generic disposable mats (used once and tossed) to studio-designed reusable sets (used across many meals, with proper care).
You will see the category called several names in shopping searches, all referring to similar products:
- Paper placemats
- Butterfly placemats, geometric placemats, watercolor placemats, floral placemats (style-specific searches)
- Disposable placemats (a sub-category, but high-quality paper placemats are reusable, not disposable)
- Reusable paper placemats
- Party placemats
- Table mats (umbrella term)
The reason the category exists separately from fabric placemats is simple: paper can carry studio-designed artwork at a level of detail and color saturation that fabric printing cannot match. A printed paper placemat lets the design lead. A fabric placemat is more durable but visually quieter.
Paper placemats vs fabric placemats: the honest comparison
If you are weighing paper against fabric, the honest comparison:
| Paper placemats | Fabric placemats | |
|---|---|---|
| Artwork detail | High color saturation, painterly detail possible | Limited to what holds up in fabric printing |
| Reusability | Many reuses with varnish coating and dry care | Reusable across years with washing |
| Cleanup after spills | Wipe clean, light spills only | Machine wash, full liquid cleanup |
| Storage | Flat in a protective envelope, lays down rolled or stacked | Folded in a drawer, often wrinkled |
| Set size | Typically 12, scales to large dinner parties | Typically 4 to 6, scales smaller |
| Coasters included | Yes, matched coasters in every Tree Art Store set | Rarely included, sold separately |
| Environmental footprint | FSC paper, soybean ink, biodegradable | Textile production water-intensive |
| Best for | Dinner parties, holidays, hosting, design-forward homes | Everyday family use with frequent washing |
The two categories serve different intents. Fabric works for the daily family dinner where mats get washed every few days. Paper works for hosting, holidays, and design-led entertaining, where the look of the table matters more than the frequency of washing.
Are paper placemats reusable?
Yes, when made properly. The reusability depends on three things:
Paper weight. Lightweight paper (under 100gsm) is essentially disposable. It tears, absorbs moisture, and curls after one use. Heavy paper (200gsm and above) holds up across many uses. Tree Art Store placemats are printed on 200gsm FSC-certified ivory paper.
Protective varnish. A water-resistant varnish coating on the paper is what turns a single-use placemat into a reusable one. The varnish lets you wipe up light spills and use the placemat again. Without it, even heavy paper degrades quickly. Tree Art Store placemats are coated with a food-safe, plant-based, water-resistant varnish.
Care after meals. Wipe clean promptly after use, avoid prolonged moisture exposure, and store flat or rolled (not folded) in a protective envelope or drawer. A well-cared-for set of paper placemats can serve many dinner parties before showing wear.
Tree Art Store paper placemats are designed for repeated use across many meals. They are not single-use disposable mats, and not heirloom fabric either. The right category for the hosting-and-design table.
What to look for in a paper placemat set
A quick checklist for evaluating any paper placemat set:
- Paper weight. 200gsm or heavier holds up across multiple uses. Lighter paper is for single-use party mats.
- Protective varnish. Look for a food-safe, water-resistant coating. Without it, the placemat is essentially disposable.
- Set size. A set of 12 is the practical scale for hosting. A set of 4 or 6 reads as a starter purchase, not a full hosting setup.
- Coasters included. A coordinated coaster set in the same artwork makes the table feel finished. Most paper placemat brands sell mats and coasters separately, if at all. Tree Art Store includes 12 matching coasters with every set of 12 placemats.
- Shape options. Rectangular works for traditional tables, circular for round tables, hexagonal for design-forward settings. The right shape depends on the table.
- Artwork source. Studio-designed artwork has a coherent point of view across the collection. Stock-art kits use generic illustration libraries.
- Materials. FSC-certified paper, soybean-based ink, and plant-based varnish all signal a brand that takes the environmental footprint seriously.
- Packaging. A protective envelope with sturdy inserts keeps the set flat for storage and transport. Loose-rolled or bulk-packed sets often arrive damaged.
What makes Tree Art Store paper placemats different
The paper placemat category is mostly party-store disposables and a handful of luxury linen brands at the top end. Tree Art Store sits in the middle: studio-designed artwork on heavy reusable paper, sold as a complete coordinated set with matching coasters.
Specifically, what separates a Tree Art Store paper placemat set from the alternatives:
- Original studio artwork. Every design is drawn in Tree Art Studio by working artists. The collection has a coherent point of view across 30 adult designs and one kids educational set.
- FSC-certified 200gsm ivory paper. Heavy enough to feel substantial under a plate, responsibly sourced from sustainably managed forests, biodegradable at end of life.
- Soybean-based ink. Rich color, low-emission printing, safer alternative to petroleum-based inks.
- Food-safe water-resistant varnish. Lets the placemat survive light spills and many uses. Wipe clean and reuse.
- Set of 12 placemats with 12 matching coasters. A coordinated table from the first use. No need to buy coasters separately.
- Three shapes. Rectangular for traditional tables, circular for round tables, hexagonal for design-forward settings. Pick the shape that suits your table.
- Protective envelope packaging. Sturdy white cardboard inserts keep the set flat and damage-free in storage and transit.
- Placemats: 17 × 12 in rectangular, 4-inch diameter coasters. The right scale for a standard place setting.
- One free online art class included. Every purchase includes access to a Tree Art Studio online art class.
Designs grouped by style
Every paper placemat at Tree Art Store is drawn in Tree Art Studio. The full collection has 31 designs across rectangular, circular, and hexagonal shapes. Grouped by style:
Butterfly and floral designs (for spring tables, garden parties, bridal showers, mother's day):
- Butterfly Garden, rectangular
- Floral Dreamscape, circular
- Petal Harmony, circular
- Orchid Reverie, circular
- Enchanted Garden, circular
- Floral Trellis, rectangular
Geometric and modern designs (for design-forward dinners, minimalist tables, modern interiors):
- Hexa Illusion, hexagonal
- Optic Prism, hexagonal
- Cubist Blocks, hexagonal
- Concentric Pop, circular
- Radiant Disc, circular
- Creative Foundations, rectangular
Watercolor and painterly designs (for soft, garden-style, or art-forward tables):
- Watercolor Foliage, rectangular
- Painted Foliage, hexagonal
- Pastel Foliage, rectangular
- Botanic Dance, hexagonal
- Tranquil Foliage, circular
Seasonal and warm designs (for fall, autumn, and holiday tables):
- Autumn Geometry, hexagonal
- Forest Floor, hexagonal
- Holiday Threads, rectangular
- Golden Sunset, circular
Bold and colorful designs (for celebratory dinners, casual gatherings, statement tables):
- Dream in Color, rectangular
- Vibrant Hive, rectangular
- Verdant Spiral, rectangular
- Modern Tropic, circular
- Featherlight, circular
Quiet, restrained palettes (for formal dinners, monochrome tables, restrained hosting):
- Monochrome Balance, rectangular
Kids design (for children's meals, family tables with young kids, educational settings):
- Kids Educational Set, an educational set of 12 designed for children's meals
For households building a unified design language across rooms, the placemats pair naturally with our studio-designed DIY coaster kits for the coffee table and our magnetic oven mitts for the kitchen.
How to choose a set for your occasion
The most useful question is not "which design is prettiest?" but "which design will make this specific meal look right?"
For everyday family dinners. A quieter palette that pairs with a wide range of food and seasonal dishes. Monochrome Balance for restrained tables, Pastel Foliage for soft warmth.
For dinner parties and hosting friends. A statement palette that signals the meal is an event. Butterfly Garden, Dream in Color, or Floral Dreamscape.
For Thanksgiving and fall meals. A warm, seasonal palette. Autumn Geometry, Forest Floor, or Golden Sunset.
For Christmas and holiday tables. Holiday Threads, designed specifically for the holiday season.
For Shabbat and traditional weekly tables. A consistent quiet palette that works week after week, like Monochrome Balance or Tranquil Foliage.
For bridal showers, baby showers, and garden parties. A floral or botanical palette. Petal Harmony, Floral Trellis, or Enchanted Garden.
For modern, design-forward dinners. A geometric or graphic palette. Hexa Illusion, Concentric Pop, or Cubist Blocks.
For meals with young children. The Kids Educational Set doubles as a learning surface during a meal.
→ See all 31 designs and pick a set for your table
Paper placemats as gifts
A set of paper placemats is an unusually thoughtful hosting gift. It scales to a real dinner table (12 mats), arrives with matching coasters, and signals the giver took time to think about the recipient's home and entertaining style.
Common gift occasions:
Wedding and bridal shower gifts. Placemats are a registry staple, but most registries default to fabric sets of 4. A studio-designed paper set of 12 with matching coasters reads as a more considered gift. Butterfly Garden and Petal Harmony are popular bridal picks.
Housewarming gifts. A new home almost always needs placemats, and a set of 12 covers a full dinner party from the first use. Monochrome Balance or Pastel Foliage work for any kitchen palette.
Mother's Day and Father's Day. For the host who has every gadget and cookbook, a beautiful set of placemats is a table upgrade they would not buy themselves. Floral Dreamscape for floral lovers, Watercolor Foliage for the art-forward.
Holiday hostess gifts. For the friend who hosts every Thanksgiving or Hanukkah, a seasonal set of placemats reads as both useful and thoughtful. Autumn Geometry for fall, Holiday Threads for December.
For new parents. The Kids Educational Set turns family meals into a learning moment, perfect for households with young children.
→ Browse all 31 designs to find the right gift
Three table-styling tips from 30 years of art teaching
Three principles Sylvia Levy brings from teaching art and color theory at Tree Art Studio for over 30 years:
Echo one color from the placemat in something else on the table. A napkin, a candle, a stem of flowers, even a serving bowl. One repeated color across the table makes the placemats feel like part of the design instead of a separate object. The rule applies whether the placemat is bold or quiet.
Match the placemat shape to the table shape, not the dish shape. A round table reads cleaner with circular placemats. A rectangular table reads cleaner with rectangular placemats. Hexagonal placemats work on either, because the geometry adds intentional design to whatever table they sit on.
Use the coaster as a frame, not an afterthought. A glass on a coaster reads more deliberate than a glass on the table. Position the coaster slightly above and to the right of the plate, not floating in space. The small placement decision is what separates an everyday table from a hosted one.
Frequently asked questions
Are Tree Art Store paper placemats reusable?
Yes. They are printed on heavy 200gsm FSC-certified paper with a food-safe, water-resistant varnish that lets you wipe up light spills and reuse the placemat across many meals. Avoid prolonged moisture and store flat for best longevity.
What is included in each set?
Twelve (12) placemats and twelve (12) matching coasters, packed in a protective envelope with sturdy cardboard inserts. One free online art class from Tree Art Studio is also included with every purchase.
What size are the placemats and coasters?
Rectangular placemats are 17 × 12 in (43 × 31 cm). Coasters are 4 in (10 cm) in diameter. Circular and hexagonal placemats are sized to match standard place settings.
What is the paper made of?
FSC-certified 200gsm ivory paper, responsibly sourced from sustainably managed forests, biodegradable at end of life.
What ink is used?
Soybean-based ink. Lower emissions than petroleum inks, with rich and long-lasting color.
How do I clean spills?
Wipe promptly with a damp cloth. The water-resistant varnish protects the artwork from light spills. Avoid prolonged moisture or full immersion.
How many designs are available?
31 total: 10 rectangular, 10 circular, 10 hexagonal, and 1 kids educational set. Every design is drawn in Tree Art Studio.
Are they suitable for formal dinner parties?
Yes. The artwork quality and matched coaster format make them suitable for both everyday meals and formal dinner parties. Choose a palette that suits the occasion: quieter for formal, bolder for celebratory.
How are they different from disposable paper placemats?
Tree Art Store placemats are printed on heavy 200gsm FSC-certified paper with a food-safe water-resistant varnish, designed for repeated use across many meals. Disposable paper placemats are lightweight, single-use, and not designed to survive a meal intact.
Are they suitable as gifts?
Yes. Common gift occasions include weddings, bridal showers, housewarmings, Mother's Day and Father's Day, holiday hostess gifts, and new-parent gifts for the Kids Educational Set.
Where can I see these in person?
Follow @bytreeart on Instagram for photographs of the full collection on real tables, or reach out via the contact form to ask about local Miami availability.
Most popular paper placemat sets by occasion
For dinner parties and hosting: Butterfly Garden. A signature floral palette that elevates any dinner.
For modern, design-forward tables: Hexa Illusion. Geometric hexagonal shape, suits contemporary interiors.
For everyday family meals: Monochrome Balance. Quiet restrained palette, pairs with any food.
For fall, Thanksgiving, and seasonal tables: Autumn Geometry. Warm autumn palette in a design-forward shape.
For floral and watercolor lovers: Watercolor Foliage. Painterly botanical, works for spring and summer.
→ See all 31 paper placemat designs at Tree Art Store · Free shipping on orders over $65
