Chilewich Placemats

They’re made of TerraStrand, a woven vinyl yarn that’s 100% phthalate-free and made of at least 18% renewable plant content. Because the yarn is woven, the color and texture run through the mat instead of sitting on a vulnerable surface layer. Every mat carries Microban, a built-in treatment that resists the bacteria, mold, and mildew behind stains and odors.

Yes, all are genuine and the same mats Chilewich sells under its own name. We’re a family housewares store that has sold New York households the real thing since 1929. If you’re unsure which weave or size to settle on, call us at 212 289 7367 and we’ll give you our thoughts. We offer same-day delivery to our neighbors on the Upper East Side.

Start with the shape of your table, then pick the weave that suits how you eat on it. A round mat pairs well with a round table, a rectangle with a standard place setting, and an oval where a rectangle would overhang the edge. For a busy family table, the Basketweave hides crumbs and wipes clean fast. If you’re hosting, a flatter and more graphic pattern reads as appropriately dressy.

More than twenty woven patterns across rectangle, round, and oval shapes. Basketweave is the original, a tight four-over-four weave with a firm, textured surface, but the line also includes finer weaves (like Mini Basketweave and Bamboo), plus graphic patterns like Origami, Fable, and Dahlia. The standard rectangle measures 14 by 19 inches and the round runs 15 inches across. Our placemats collection holds a larger selection beyond this brand.

You get a mat woven from solid TerraStrand yarn that holds up to years of daily use, where many lower-priced woven-vinyl mats are thin, printed sheets that crack, peel, or curl. Most Chilewich mats are made in the United States and all are treated against stains and odors.

Their weather-resistant material, alongside their visual design, makes them a suitable complement to the Chilewich weaves. Each can in our Hachiman Garden Beetle Watering Can selection is made in Japan from polypropylene and offers an integrated hose holder for easy refilling.

Yes, but they’re wipe-clean only and should never go in the washing machine or dishwasher. Wipe the mat with warm water and a little dish soap, then stand it up or lay it flat to air dry. The woven vinyl is non-porous, so most spills lift right off, though turmeric, tomato, and mustard can stain if they sit on it. To treat stains, Chilewich recommends you scrub gently with a soft brush or soak the mat in a diluted bleach solution and rinse.

Kept off the stove and out of prolonged direct sun, a Chilewich mat stays flat and true for years. The woven TerraStrand doesn’t tear, fade, or peel the way a printed mat does, so holds up well under daily use. Use a trivet under very hot pots and pans, since the mats aren’t heatproof and their weaves can get distorted by heat over time.

Yes. The same TerraStrand weave runs across the whole line, so you can match a table runner or a set of coasters to your placemats, or carry the look to the floor with a woven doormat or floor mat. To clean the floor mats, shake them out or vacuum and hose them down. Their higher price reflects their larger size and ability to take lots of foot traffic.