Table Settings 101: Elevate Your Table Setting with Napkin Folds

Rectangular Fold

A neat and classic presentation of a linen napkin.

Can be placed on top of the place setting or to the side of the setting.

1. Take a square napkin and fold it in half.
2. With the now rectangular napkin, fold it in half two more times along the original fold.

Waterfall Fold

A placement that gracefully flows over the edge of the plate and down the side of the table.

1. Fold the napkin into thirds.
2. Place one end of the folded napkin between the charger and the bottom dinner plate (or between any two plates that are used at the setting).
3. Then let it lay over the edge of the plates and down the table.

* For variation: Lay napkin out flat. Pinch the center and lift. Place the pinched section in the center, between the two plates.

Wrapped Fold

Napkin elegantly encircles the plate, creating a sophisticated look.

1. Fold the napkin into half. Then in half again following the first fold.
2. Wrap napkin around dinner plate, placing the ends underneath the plate.

*For variation: twist the napkin once near the middle prior to wrapping around the plate.

Napkin Ring

Napkin threaded through a decorative ring to add a touch of simplistic refinement.

1. Lay napkin out flat.
2. Pinch the center of the napkin and lift.
3. Take pinched center and pull through napkin ring.

*For variation: Fold napkin in half and roll it up along the fold. Place rolled napkin through ring.

Triangular Fold

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally, creating large triangle.
2. Take the corners at the end of the fold and bring them to remaining corner in the middle, creating a square.
3. Flip the napkin over to where the fold seams are face down.
4. Fold the napkin in half diagonally again with the fold seams going down the middle of the triangle that is created.
5. Fold napkin in half down the middle of the triangle and the fold seams.

Diamond Fold

Adds an artistic touch through a fold that resembles stacked diamonds.

1. Fold napkin in half. Then fold in half again along the first fold, creating a square. All the original corners of the napkin should be together.
2. Take the top layered corner and fold it to about an inch away from the opposite corner.
3. Repeat with the remaining 3 layers, each one about an inch away from the previous corner.
4. Flip the napkin so that the folded corners are face down and a triangular shape remains.
5. Take the two parallel corners and bring them to meet in the middle along the longest side of the triangle.
6. With the two corners overlapping about 1-2 inches, flip the napkin so that the layered corners are face up.

Knot Fold

A charming technique to add interest and texture to a place setting.

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally, creating a triangle.
2. Take the right angle corner of the triangle and fold it in half twice towards the first fold.
3. Tie a knot in the napkin towards the center.
4. Tighten knot until desired size.

Bow Tie Fold

Creates an element of fun through the use of a simple fold and a napkin ring.

1. Fold the napkin into thirds.
2. Bring the shortest edges of the napkin to meet in the middle of the napkin. Have the edges overlap one another by about half an inch.
3. Down the shortest length of the napkin, fold in an accordion style keeping the middle of the napkin pinched together.
4. Thread the accordion folded napkin through a napkin ring until it is in the middle covering both layers of the overlapped edges.
5. Once through the ring, fan out the edges of the bow.

Leaf Fold

A leaf shaped fold accented by a napkin ring .

1. Fold the napkin in half diagonally, creating a triangle.
2. Along the folded edge, fold napkin in an accordion style all the way across.
3. Making sure to keep the accordion folds together, pull the end with the original fold through a napkin ring about half an inch to an inch.
4. Fan out the end of the napkin that is opposite the napkin ring.

Heart Fold

A romantic fold ideal for special occasions and adding a touch of love.

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally, creating a triangle.
2. Fold triangle in thirds along the first fold, with the layers fully overlapping one another.
3. Along the first fold, bring the two ends of the fold to the middle to meet, but not overlap.
4. Flip the napkin so that fold seams are facing down.
5. Begin to roll the napkin together starting that the folded edge going down the pointed end.
6. Stop the roll with 1/4 of the napkin remaining out.
7. Holding on to the rolled portion so it does not uncoil, unfold the top layer of the roll to the left over itself.
8. Then repeat with the top layer of the roll to the right, unfolding over itself, creating the arches of the heart.

Rose Fold

A beautifully intricate fold that resembles a blooming rose and adds an air of delicacy.

1. Fold the napkin in half diagonally, creating a triangle.
2. Starting along the first fold, fold the napkin about 1 inch down towards the point of the triangle.
3. Continue the 1 inch fold until it is about 5 inches from the point of the triangle.
4. Starting at one end of the fold, roll the napkin in on itself all the way across the fold.
5. Tuck the end into the roll to secure it from uncoiling.
6. Take the 5 inches of napkin that remains out and fold it over the coil, creating the leaves of the rose.

Lotus Flower Fold

1. Lay the napkin out flat and bring each corner to the middle, creating a smaller square
2. Repeat the first step with new corners, creating an even smaller square.
3. Carefully flip the napkin so that the seams are all face down.
4. Once again, fold the four corners into the middle, creating another smaller square.
5. Holding the down the corners that are in the center, carefully reach under the newly created corner and pull the loose napkin over the corner.
6. Repeat for the remaining 3 corners.

*For variation: Carefully reach underneath napkin between two corners and grab loose napkin to pull out, creating leaves of lotus.