The other most important consideration is style. Below are some of the main types of styles and in which setting they work best.
Solid color: If you're looking to make a transitional or modern table setting, a basic solid color can work. Modern spaces do well with neutral colors. Any space can get away with muted shades. Bright shades work well in artsy spaces or accent color designs.
Weave: Many placemats come with weave textures. Weaves look great in rustic or classic spaces, since the handmade texture gives a more historical look.
Wood texture: Another favorite of rustic or classic spaces, wood textures go well in less modern tables settings.
Theme prints: If you're going for a certain theme, choose prints. You might find holiday themes, flower prints can work well in romantic settings and classic themes or children's characters can work in a kid's playroom.
Geometric designs: These cover anything that has a pattern, like boarders, striping, checkers or circles. These can look good in modern spaces that make use of stark geometry. More detailed borders can also give a classic look.
Quilted: For a country kitchen or rustic look, go with a classic quilted texture.
Tassel or frayed edges: It's common to find the edges purposefully frayed or tassels added to placemats. If the tassels look purposeful, these can give a regal look.Fraying, especially the more messy it is, is good for casual dining environments or rustic table settings.
A secondary consideration in the style of the placemat should be its shape. Placemats come in circular, oval or rectangular shapes. In general, the material and overall design of the placemat make more of a difference for a table setting than the shape. However, if you want max design cohesion, match the placemat shape to the table's shape. Choose a rectangular placemat for a rectangular table, for instance. A circular or oval placemat can go with tables of the same shape.