Placemats are both decorative and practical additions to dining tables that can protect the table's surface from scratches while sprucing up its appearance for meals. Placemats come in various materials like vinyl, cloth, wood, and fiber. They can also be used in other rooms beyond the dining area as inexpensive accents to enhance the look and feel of a space, such as when freshening up or brightening rooms in a home being sold. Melamine placemats with a glossy finish and cork backing are easy to wipe clean and can withstand heat but should not be put in the dishwasher.