If you’ve ever served wine at a function, then you’ve probably had to deal with the problem of red wine stains on your tabletops or countertops. Despite your best efforts, those stains set quickly, and then run deep. It can be a frustrating consequence of serving red wine at a dinner party. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure and, in this case, the prevention is totally affordable. By using wine coasters to stop red wine from ever reaching your precious tabletops and countertops, you can stop stains before they stop and make sure that your tabletops and countertops remain in pristine condition.

There are two major materials used for wine coasters. The first is stone. Whether slate or marble, stone is a nice choice for a wine coaster because it’s also decorative. A stone coaster under a bottle of wine takes your mind to a vineyard in the Tuscan countryside. It’s a wonderful way to not only prevent your table from getting stained, but also to set the mood for an intimate dinner party in your home. And slate coasters are particularly affordable: you can get four in a pack for just over ten dollars.

The other material often used for wine coasters is metal. Whether stainless steel or silver plated, a metal wine coaster adds a touch of contemporary elegant to your function. It’s also decorative, but gives off a different vibe than a stone coaster. While stone coasters have more of a rustic look to them, metal coasters are edgy and contemporary. When your guests see your metal coasters, they’ll know that your dinner party is the last word in chic gatherings, and that this is a party that people will be talking about for weeks after it’s over. And these metal coasters are even a little cheaper than the stone ones.

Whether you choose metal or stone, whether your sensibility is contemporary and modern or rustic and homey, there’s a wine coaster out there for you. And whether it’s made of metal or stone, it’s sure to fulfill its primary purpose well: to prevent your furniture from accumulating wine stains. Your tables and counters don’t much care what sort of ambiance you’re looking to set at your party. All they really care is that you keep them safe from those dreaded red wine stains. In fact, these coasters are so affordable that you might as well get a set each of stone and metal, just so that you’re covered.