Hosting Hacks: How to Fold A Napkin Like A Pro

Napkins are the last touch to any tablescape that ties the setting together. Whether you’re complementing the colours of the table decor or creating a new focal point with an extravagant napkin design, the right napkin and napkin fold can transform your table setting.

Add some finishing flair to your next tablescape with our easy napkin folds sure to impress your guests this season! From simple napkin folds for beginners to seasonal napkin folds to stay on-theme, we have something to complement your next soiree in style.

How To Fold A Napkin

There’s no right or wrong way to fold a napkin. Ultimately it comes down to your personal preferences and the desired look and feel. However, these easy napkin folds are a great starting point to learn how to fold a napkin:

Napkin Fold One: Pocket Napkin Fold For Cutlery

This napkin fold is often found in high-end restaurants for its clean, minimalist and practical design. It’s the perfect option for those looking to save space on the table as it’s pocket fold can hold cutlery, placeholders, menus and more.

1. Fold a napkin in half with the open end facing you
2. Fold the napkin into quarters
3. Place the open corner away from you and to the left
4. Fold down the first top layer of the napkin in half diagonally and press down
5. Turn over the napkin with the open corner facing away and to the right
6. Fold the right-side back 1/3 of the way and press down
7. Fold the left-side 1/3 of the way and press down, tucking the right-side corner into the fold
8. Turn the napkin over and add cutlery into the napkin pocket

Napkin Fold Two: Wrapped Napkin Fold

For those just starting to host and fold napkins, the wrapped napkin fold is an easy, quick and simple method for elevating your table setting. Its streamlined look will still wow guests with little involvement from you. It’s a win-win!

1. Fold a napkin into thirds lengthways
2. Lay the napkin across the top plate
3. Wrap and tuck the ends underneath the plate
4. Add a place card or decor on top of the folded napkin

Napkin Fold Three: Napkin Ring

Another napkin fold that’s simple for setting the table in a rush is using a basic napkin fold and a napkin ring. This design allows your stylish napkin rings to steal the show and tie into your overall tablescape theme.

At Pillow Talk, our collection features timeless napkin rings sure to transform your table and elevate any theme! From wooden napkin rings to coastal napkin rings and minimalist napkin rings, find the perfect pieces to add to your setting this season.

1. Lay the napkin out flat
2. Pinch the middle point of the napkin
3. Pull the middle of the napkin through the napkin ring

Napkin Fold Four: Bow Knot Napkin Fold

Simple, sleek and sophisticated the bow knot is a classic napkin fold any host or hostess should master. Perfect for cosy evenings or casual dinners, the bow knot napkin fold can bring a sense of relaxed refinement to your next soiree.

1. Lay your napkin flat, with the reverse side facing up
2. Roll the napkin from the top to the bottom, forming a thin strip.
3. Fold one half of the strip into the middle, overlapping slightly
4. Fold the other side on top of the other and flatten
5. Slip a napkin ring over to the middle of the folded napkin
6. Fan out each end of the napkin to your desired style

Napkin Fold Five: Envelope Napkin Fold

A more complicated napkin fold, the envelope napkin is a statement design sure to leave guests gushing. Perfect for Valentine’s day events, Mother’s Day lunches, birthdays or dinner parties, the envelope fold can be used to display placeholders, menus or simply create a beautiful focal point at your table.

1. Fold the napkin in half diagonally to form a triangle
2. Fold both exterior corners of the triangle into the centre
3. With the same edges fold them into the centre again
4. Fold up the bottom to the top of the left-hand side and right-hand side folds
5. Fold the envelope flap down over the napkin
6. Seal with a placeholder card, decor piece or botanical accent

Seasonal Napkin Folds

If you want to elevate your tablescape for a seasonal event, an on-theme napkin fold design is an easy way to do it! Our in-house stylists have pulled together their favourite seasonal napkin fold designs to transform any table setting throughout the year:

Seasonal Napkin Fold One: Christmas Tree Napkin Fold

A centrepiece for your holiday tablescape, the Christmas tree napkin fold is a favourite for its intricate-looking design. But it’s a lot simpler than you might think! With these easy steps you can create instant wow-factor for your festivities this season.

1. Lay the napkin flat
2. Fold the napkin in half along the horizontal
3. Fold the napkin half again along the vertical
4. Place the napkin in a diamond shape with the open corners facing you
5. Fold the top layer of the open corners to sit just below the opposite corner to from the top of the Christmas tree
6-9. Repeat for each layer and tuck each one into the upper fold
10. Flip the napkin to the other side.
11. Using the centre as a guide fold the right-hand side napkin corner inwards 1/3 of the way
12. Do the same for the left-hand side
13. Fold the top of the napkin down and flip the napkin over
14. Tuck the first flap corner at the top of the tree underneath itself to create a clean line
15. Repeat this for all layers of the tree

Seasonal Napkin Fold Two: Bunny Ears Napkin Fold

An adorable napkin fold design perfect for Easter lunches, long weekend soirees and dinner parties, the bunny ears napkin fold can take your tablescape to the next level this season! Simply place on top of the entree plate to create an on-theme napkin fold design your guests will love.

1. Lay the napkin flat
2. Fold the napkin in thirds on a horizontal line to create a long rectangle shape
3. Put a finger on the top of the rectangle in the middle, then fold each side of the rectangle along the centre line to create a triangular shape
4. Fold the bottom right corner into the centrefold, then repeat with the left corner.
5. Flip the napkin over
6. Fold the bottom corner up to the centre line
7. Bring the left and right corner together to create the bunny shape. You can use a clip at the back to keep the bunny secure
8. Adjust the two “ears” to stand upright and fan them out gently
9. Make sure the bunny ears are symmetrical and stable

So, there you have it! How to fold napkins like a pro straight from our in-house stylists. Need some new napkins to refresh your tablescape this season? Explore our curated collection of premium napkins and napkin rings online to bring your dream tablescape to life.