If you want to have a work of art that also serves a purpose in your living room, rec room or kitchen, you need to think of an absorbent coaster. Placemats on the table do the trick when you are serving a meal, but when you are serving a beverage alone, then a coaster is what you need to place under the glass or cup before laying it on the furniture.

Cold drinks can mar the finish because the water that condenses on the outside of the glass will run onto the table top and cause an unsightly stain if left alone. Hot liquids can cause the wood in tables to turn white so that you are left with a white ring when you pick up the cup.

By using an absorbent coaster (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Name-Drops/Categories), you can prevent both of these events from causing damage to your furniture. With real wood, the only way to repair the damage is to refinish the furniture. While furniture that has a laminated finish is not as susceptible to damage from hot liquids, water pooled on the surface and left there for a while can cause the finish to buckle and crack. In this case you will probably have to replace the piece of furniture.

A typical absorbent coaster set comes with four coasters. You can have this set displayed in an attractive holder that matches the design of the coasters or you can have several sets. Cork coasters imprinted with a wide array of designs are suitable for any room in which you entertain guests.

Cork is one of the most absorbent materials you can find and the cost is quite attractive allowing you to have sets of coasters for all seasons of the year and for different occasions. Even though the surface is smooth, the water won't collect on the drink coaster (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Themed-Gift-Sets/Categories) to the point where it will cause the glass to stick to the liquid.

Sandstone is another great material for use in an absorbent coaster. These coasters contain cork backings so that they won't scratch your furniture. You can choose from smooth or textured surfaces and the colors of these coasters will help bring a touch of nature to the interior of your home. The natural swirls and grains of the stone show through in the coasters, giving you images of sand dunes in deserts. These coasters also come in imprinted designs suited for all occasions.

When you choose an absorbent coaster made of stone, you can be sure of having a unique design. Each coaster in the set will be different, even though they are of the same color. The slices of sandstone cut from a huge boulder all display the various intricacies of the stone during its formation thousands of years ago.

Marble is an elegant material often used in sets of absorbent coasters. The handcrafted design will compliment any décor. Since marble is a very delicate material, these coasters usually have a protective edge so that they won't come into contact with another material that will damage the marble. They, too, have a cork backing so that they can slide across the furniture without scratching the finish.

A leather absorbent coaster is a great addition to a rec room or a room containing leather sofas. They are available in a variety of colors and can be imprinted with many different designs. Some like to have this type of coaster imprinted with images of sports teams to fit the occasion when they have people over to watch a game on TV.