Trend watch: Cool coasters

These unique coasters will not only protect your coffee table, but will also kick-start cocktail-party conversations.

By Cristina Velocci Fri Nov 2 2012

Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or just inviting over a friend for brews, you’ll want to have a stack of coasters at the ready to avoid unsightly rings on your coffee table. These unique coasters from home decor stores such as Anthropologie, CB2 and MoMA Design Store will do the job in style.

Brooklynite Anne Petrimoulx has loved baseball ever since attending her first game at four years old (she’s a third-generation Detroit Tigers fan), and she’s channeled that passion into a line of accessories crafted from deconstructed gloves. These double-sided leather coasters—fastened by brass rivets and featuring the lacing holes and branding of their former incarnation—are the perfect companion for your beer while rooting for the home team. ReMitt vintage baseball glove leather coasters, three for $20, at remitt.etsy.com
Even if you don’t have cash to spare, you’ll still feel baller using these money coasters, fashioned from shredded U.S. bills that have been taken out of circulation. John Bennett and Gustavo Bonevardi Currency coasters, four for $35, at MoMA Design Store, 81 Spring St at Crosby St (212-767-1050, momastore.org)
Impress your guests by laying out these oversize silicone seals, which instantly make any cocktail party an official affair. PO: Wax Seal coasters, four for $15, at CB2, 451 Broadway between Grand and Howard Sts (212-219-1454) • 979 Third Ave at 58th St (212-355-7974) • cb2.com
You’ll earn points with die-hard Scrabble fans for displaying these cardboard coasters, modeled after tiles from the popular board game. Since the commemorative tin comes stuffed with two full alphabet sets, it’s not impossible to stage a rogue round while under the influence. Wild and Wolf Scrabble coasters, 54 for $20, at spoonsisters.com
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Never reach for the wrong drink again with these handmade slate coasters, upcycled from chalkboards that were salvaged from an Illinois elementary school. The set comes with a piece of chalk, so you can scribble the names of guests across the proper placeholder for their beverages. Urban Evolutions reclaimed slate coasters, four for $28, at uncommongoods.com
Photographer: Tom Koto

Guests will get a laugh (and a hint) from these etiquette-driven coasters, featuring acerbic phrases such as "no one likes a hot mess" and "don’t stain my table", "douchebag" printed across innocent-looking pastel paper doilies. Knock Knock Indelicate Doilies coasters, eight for $10, at zgallerie.com
The artistic prints on these stoneware stunners are so gorgeous, we almost feel guilty using the squares as mere coffee-table buffers. Anthropologie Indoor Picnic coasters, $6 each, at Anthropologie, locations throughout the city; visit anthropologie.com

Brooklynite Anne Petrimoulx has loved baseball ever since attending her first game at four years old (she’s a third-generation Detroit Tigers fan), and she’s channeled that passion into a line of accessories crafted from deconstructed gloves. These double-sided leather coasters—fastened by brass rivets and featuring the lacing holes and branding of their former incarnation—are the perfect companion for your beer while rooting for the home team. ReMitt vintage baseball glove leather coasters, three for $20, at remitt.etsy.com