Coasters for plates: types and selection criteria

They say that beauty lies in the little things, and harmony consists of individual details. Napkins under the plates are a vivid confirmation of this, being a practical and aesthetically pleasing element of kitchen furnishings. The material in this article will tell readers about what these products are and what are the main criteria for their selection.

Napkins for dishes are one of the key elements of home furnishing. Today, they not only save the countertop from premature aging, but also from all kinds of damage. These are tools for the care of kitchen furniture, they can be placed under hot dishes on the table. They save tables and cooking places from dirt and stains, bring a clear organization to the meal, limiting the space of everyone sitting at the table.

In addition to being placed under the plates, they are suitable for putting a teapot, cups, glasses on them. They essentially decorate the table when serving it. Depending on the type of product, it can be used under pots and pans (including portioned varieties), as well as ceramic pots. At the same time, the products differ in heat resistance and insulating properties. In most cases, they are also designed to provide anti-slip, and therefore fit snugly to the working surface.

Besides, coasters are also needed for cold dishes... Sometimes, during a meal, in addition to plates, glasses with chilled drinks are placed on them, which in warm rooms leads to the table top getting wet. Such napkins are not afraid of moisture, they do not let it through.Also, among other analogs, there are decorative options, the purpose of which is the exclusive decoration of the festive table.

Thanks to the modern approach to creating various kinds of kitchen accessories, plate coasters can be different today. Moreover differences may appear not only in the type of material used in production... Products differ in other ways as well. For example, some of them are independent elements, others are included in the set with coasters for cups and pans.

The second options are convenient because they create a large share of comfort against the general background of the interior. The first ones have to be selected more carefully, based on the type of utensils available and the method of use. Depending on what they are made of, products can be designed for different types of use... For example, some of them are suitable for hot dishes, while others are not designed for this.

In their lines you can find serving options that can decorate the dining room, living room, tea and coffee tables. They are great for arranging gazebos, decorating tables when decorating rooms on especially special occasions.

Depending on the material of manufacture, they may differ in thickness and density., due to which some of them completely protect the countertop from hot, while others cope with this task only partially.

By the type of execution, products can be very diverse. For example, in the classical form, these are most often products of a monolithic type, or even rugs for dishes. This category includes homemade crochet options like traditional rugs. It can also be textile options made of dense natural material that does not melt and can protect the table surface from hot dishes.

Based on the type of material, models may have different performance characteristics. For example, some of them are anti-slip, which is very good when used in the kitchen. Others are convenient because they have a certain weight. Due to it, they are distinguished by their stability, while some models can be accidentally brushed off the table.

Still others are convenient because in addition to the usual work surface, they have various kinds of functional additions... For example, it can be pockets for forks, spoons and knives, as well as additional miniature napkins under cups or teapots. In addition, the range includes options with looped napkin loops for wiping off after meals.

According to the type of use, the cymbal stands can be different. Some of them provide for everyday use, others can be calculated for holidays. Still others are completely disposable, and therefore do not require any care. The fourth are used as protection of the glass surface from stains and scratches, and therefore they are selected with great care.

Fifths are necessary, like mobile thermo napkins, when households want to protect the surface of the meal from high temperatures or moisture and stains. Some products are also used by customers as potholders.Others perform two functions at the same time and are needed where there are table oilcloths on the tables (they prevent material from caking and protect the dishes from slipping).

Napkins for plates are made from different raw materials, due to which the products differ not only in different degrees of heat resistance, but also in resistance to cuts, punctures, which may appear as a result of careless handling. For example, on the counters of modern stores you can buy napkins for dishes:

• bamboo;
• silicone;
• plastic;
• paper;
• leather;
• wooden;
• cork;
• textile.

The most impractical but convenient products are paper options. Despite the fact that they are disposable, they perfectly help users out in nature, during a meal on a hike or in other non-standard situations. They do not keep the surface of the table from moisture and stains, however, they increase the level of user comfort.

Wooden stands are more perfect in this regard. Often they can have a design that allows air to enter from below, due to which the dishes placed on them cool faster. However, in some models, as practice shows, moisture can form from a hot plate at the bottom of the plate, which gets on the table and spoils the furniture.

When heated, such a stand will release toxins. In addition, not all types of wood can withstand hot contact. The best options for wood are those made from red rosewood, oak and juniper. They are not afraid of contact with hot, and some of them emit aromatic oils at the same time.

Cork coasters for plates with hot are good because they are not afraid of moisture, sufficiently isolate the working base from high temperature. Their disadvantages are crumbling and fragility. However, the advantage of cork models can be called a different type of decorativeness. For example, they can be laminated on one side. Such products are sold in ready-made sets for 6 persons.

Wicker options are made from willow vines. They look unusual and fit perfectly into such areas of interior design as retro, rustic or country. Bamboo napkins can be harvested from stem fragments, these mats are resistant to moisture and mildew, and can be rinsed in water if necessary. Depending on the model, they can be traditional or reinforced (supplemented with metal inserts).

In the production of plate coasters, manufacturers also use plywood, cutting out products of sometimes bizarre shapes from it. A large part of such items are decorated using the burning technique. The forms themselves can be either monolithic or glued from identical fragments. Silicone molds for plates are convenient because they adhere quite tightly to the surface of the countertop and do not allow plates or other utensils on them to move. Self-made coasters can be made of different materials at hand: for example, it can be twine or vinyl records. In addition, they can be laced and knitted. Vinyl and PVC are bad because they fade in the sun. Silicone tries to maintain its integrity, and therefore lasts longer.

To date, manufacturers have managed to find an approach to any customer. Plate napkins can be made not only in different shapes - they are often "sharpened" for a specific style. For example:

• for ecological stylistics, it can be plant prints in the form of leaves, tree branches;
• for ethnic branches of design, trade marks offer products with ornaments of various colors and themes;
• manufacturers will delight connoisseurs of the classics with designs using lace and gilding;
• for fans of minimalistic solutions, the company produces monochromatic products of laconic forms;
• adherents of everything bright and unusual will like creative products, through which the interior acquires a special "zest".

Remarkable are newspaper prints or antique watches, which will be appropriate in the retro style. No less relevant are options with design for Moroccan patterns, Chinese painting, monograms and floral ornaments. Some people like products with a border, others prefer to buy napkins with an asymmetric design. Products of this type sometimes clearly indicate the area for the plate and the place for forks, spoons or knives.

Today, manufacturers surprise buyers not only with the colors and themed prints of napkins and plate coasters. In the arsenal of manufacturers there are many tricks for expanding the client base, and it is the form that becomes one of the key aspects. It can be laconic and familiar, or complex and pretentious. For example, simple options include products in the shape of a rectangle, which can be very small or large, reaching sizes up to 60–90 cm.

Besides them, stands can be round, oval, trapezoidal, diamond-shaped, square... At the same time, the complexity of the form can manifest itself in its design: for example, if some products are simple and more like rugs, others resemble stands on legs that have holes in the center (in the form of a contour of a geometric figure or, for example, a house). Single-layer options can be made in the form of a fruit, an animal, a bird. In this case, products of a certain type, as a rule, are subject to specific color schemes.

Products can have a single shape for several persons. For example, it can be cruciform with a common center. These modifications can be placed under the plates on a small table. Other products are more like stripes, which are used as practical decorative, dressing up a table with them for a gala reception. In addition to plates, they put spoons, knives, forks, and put cups on them. Others often complement the coasters for teapots.

When buying one or another variant of a cymbal stand, you have to take into account a number of nuances. For example, it is important to immediately determine how exactly you plan to use the product.

If you need napkins only for plates, their size will be smaller. But it is necessary to take into account the type of material. The product should not deteriorate from contact with hot, it should not transmit heat to the countertop. Paying attention to the material of manufacture, it is worth noting for yourself:

• whether its thickness is sufficient;
• whether he will be able to protect the surface of the countertop from mechanical damage;
• will it simplify caring for her;
• will it slide with the dishes;
• whether it has the specified quality;
• does it emit harmful and unpleasant odors;
• worth its money and how long it can last.

For example, for laconic branches of style (minimalism), options without a pattern and complex decor are suitable. For the classics, embellishments, openwork and gilding are needed.

When choosing a product, it is the style of the interior that can suggest the type of the best material, as well as its texture. For example, for modern, art deco or brutalism, options are needed from modern materials, and with a noble texture. For example, it can be silicone or plastic, glossy or matte, but not wood or textiles.If napkins are needed for country or Provence styles, woven products are needed here, and models with an openwork edge and a floral print are welcome.

For example, in small kitchens, the best option would be to use silicone napkins for hot dishes. They will not allow any plates or cups to move off the table, they will not run over it if accidentally touched. Silk analogs of the decorative plan are inappropriate here.

When buying, you need to pay attention to the price, correlating it with quality. At the same time, it is important to look not so much at the manufacturer's brand as at the quality characteristics. For example, cheap plastic or poorly glued wood emit specific odors. If such coasters are placed under hot dishes, toxins harmful to the human body will be released from them. Wooden models should be dense, moderately heavy, without cracks and black spots, good plastic weighs a little heavier than cheap one, while its external characteristics are much better.

For information on how to make a vintage plate holder using decoupage technique, see the next video.