Impress guests with these surprisingly easy napkin-folding ideas.
Maggie Burch is a digital media professional with a decade of experience creating, editing, and managing multimedia content for national brands, including Glamour, Southern Living, House Beautiful, and The Everygirl. A homes enthusiast, Maggie writes about decor and real estate trends, designer-approved tips and tricks, and even her own DIY projects. Follow her on Instagram. Folding Patio Chairs
The art of setting a table is one Southerners know well and practice often. And any veteran host knows the way to keep your table looking fresh dinner party after dinner party is to switch up the details. One of the most basic elements of table-setting that is surprisingly versatile is the dinner napkin. Of course they're a necessary part of polite dining, but your dinner napkins can make quite the visual statement as well, depending on how your fold and present them. You don't need to be an origami master to get the hang of the 14 folding techniques below, but you'll undoubtedly impress your guests with each one you test out.
Mary Hollis Huddleston—aka Mrs. Southern Social—loves The Diamond fold. It can be rustic or fancy depending on your tablescape and linens.
This is another easy napkin fold that prominently places your monogrammed or embroidered linens on display. You can add a ribbon or ring to add some volume to your napkins, or they can be folded flat and placed under the top plate or bowl at each setting, leaving just the monogram visible.
For an elevated style that steers clear of stuffy, the drape napkin fold adds instant polish to any table. Better yet, it's easier than it looks!
We'll start simple with a classic napkin roll that's perfect for keeping a clean, minimalist table setting by hiding your silverware inside the napkin. If you've set up a buffet for serving food, wrapping up silverware in a tidy napkin roll makes the whole process of getting a plate and making it to a table much easier on your guests. Secure your rolls with a cute ribbon or napkin ring to keep everything in place.
Lend a touch of formality to your traditional rectangle napkin fold by creating a pocket to slip silverware into. The pocket is also the perfect place to tuck in a flower stem or sprig of herbs for a more organic tablescape.
A little less formal than a fancy bow, The Modern Knot makes for an interesting fold on your table. From casual lunches to picnics, this napkin gold will still bring the style.
This fold is delightfully easy and creates a sleek rectangular shape for your linens. Accentuated by a small ornamental feature, this fold provides a splash of simplicity in an otherwise complicated tablescape. It's perfect for Easter (we love these DIY marbled eggs), but can be tailored to any occasion.
Napkin rings are an easy way to make any tablescape look elegant and refined. This is the ultimate hack to those who just can't seem to master a more complicated napkin fold. Don't have a set of stunning napkin rings at home? Don't worry! This simple tutorial shows you how to make DIY napkin rings with a few simple supplies.
This slight variation on the traditional Napkin Ring fold is oh-so-easy and results in an elegant, sleek effect. To accomplish this fold, execute the Napkin Ring Fold and, instead of sliding the napkin ring to the center of the napkin, merely slide the ring an inch away from the top of the napkin. Fold the sides underneath to create a triangle shape and arrange as you please.
For a napkin fold that looks organic and relaxed, try this approach, which allows the "tail" of the napkin to spill off the table.
This loose, casual fold draws inspiration from the classic napkin ring, but keeps the look approachable with the help of a sheer ribbon. This easy, breezy fold proves that perfection isn't always your best bet—sometimes your table will look just as polished with a simpler napkin fold.
For this more casual variation on the clean-cut napkin roll, use our standard napkin roll tutorial with a few small alterations. This fold shows off the silver design by leaving the ends exposed, while the rest of the silverware is tucked into the napkin roll. Instead of tucking the ends under, leave them to fan out slightly and tie the bundle with a piece of twine. These napkins are perfect for a casual, yet elegant picnic.
If you're ready to wow your guests with a dynamic table setting, try out the basket napkin folding technique. This will add height to your place settings and the little "baskets" it creates are perfect for holding place cards, fruit, or flowers that will add to your overall theme.
Even if your event isn't formal enough to require wearing bow ties, your table can be dressed to the nines by folding your napkins into dapper bows and displaying them on top of your plates. The right ribbon can dress up even the simplest of napkins.
You've seen this fold countless times in five-star restaurants, and now you can recreate it in your own home. With only six simple steps, the fold is much easier to master than it looks. If you're hosting a dinner party, these elegant napkin folds are sure to impress the guests.
If you really want to show off your evening china, why cover the pattern up with a clunky napkin? This fold allows you to elegantly tuck linens in your wine glasses for a whimsical, refined presentation. Find the step-by-step tutorial here.
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