If you have got yourself a new dining table, or planning to gift someone something exclusive, and wanting to try something different, think about gifting a table mat or a placemat. To begin with let’s understand the difference between a placemat and table mat. A common definition that can be used for both table mat and place mat is that they are a protective pad made out of different materials like paper, plastic or cloth, which can be used either at home or in restaurants. However, if you want to clearly define the purpose of table mat and placemat.