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Home Decor Idea #122
| Western Living There's no more functional or practical gift for the home than decorative drink coasters. Coasters add color and style to any home decor while protecting fine furniture and preventing messy rings. Coasters are available in many shapes and sizes and are made out of a number of materials. Some drink coasters are more decorative than functional in that they are not very absorbent. These types of coasters, such as glazed ceramic drink coasters, work best in dry locations such as the Western USA.
The most popular coasters are naturally absorbent coasters that have colorful designs printed on them. The most popular materials for maximum absorbency are sandstone and ceramic. Sandstone coasters are drilled from natural Western sandstone, usually in Arizona, Utah, or New Mexico. These long "tubes" of sandstone are then sliced into disks about 4 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. Usually a colorful design in silk-screened onto the coaster in such a way that the natural absorbency of the sandstone is not compromised. On the bottom side of the coaster is placed a thin piece of cork or felt to protect furniture.
Ceramic coasters are much less expensive to make. They are about the same size as sandstone coasters, but are made from molded ceramic or natural gypsum. Similarly to sandstone coasters, a colorful design is silk-screened onto one side. Because of the white color of ceramic or gypsum, the designs tend to be much more vibrant that sandstone coasters. Both types range in price from around $10-$20. No matter which type of drink coasters you choose, your coasters will bring years of enjoyment to you or a very happy gift recipient.
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