As soon as beautifully folded napkins appear on the table, it turns from everyday to festive, and the appreciation of the hostess’s culinary skills in the eyes of the guests immediately grows several times. Meanwhile, achieving such an effect is not at all difficult. You just need to learn interesting ways to fold napkins and stock up on several sets of beautiful paper, linen and lace napkins that will coordinate with your tablecloths and dishes. The Culinary Eden website has selected several options for decorating the table with napkins - both simple and more complex - for all occasions.

For home celebrations and picnics, you can get by with paper napkins. They are practical, beautiful, and new every time. Instead of stacking them in a napkin holder or placing boring squares in front of each guest, you can use paper napkins in interesting ways to fold napkins to create unique table centerpieces. For example, in bright napkins you can wrap cutlery or small bouquets of flowers.

Another option for folding paper napkins is to decorate glasses with them. Roll 1-2 paper napkins into a tube and place them in glasses so that the sharp corner protrudes outward.

Large and thick paper napkins will allow you to create a more interesting composition in a glass: lay the napkin in one layer on the table, grab the middle with all your fingers, forming folds, and place the resulting figure in the glass.

It is easy to fold a fan from a large, thick paper napkin: fold the napkin into an accordion shape, fold the accordion in half and secure the middle with a toothpick or stapler. A standing fan is made in a similar way: fold the accordion not all the way, leaving room for one fold. Fold the accordion in half and tuck in the top free corner to secure the two ends of the accordion. Unfold the fan and place it vertically next to each plate.

The heart can be made from paper or fabric napkins. Place the unfolded napkin in front of you, fold the bottom quarter of the square to the middle, also fold the top quarter and fold lengthwise to form a narrow rectangle. Bend its sides up to the middle, bend the corners of each side. Turn the napkin over and the heart is ready.

Enough about disposable paper napkins, let's move on to real ones - fabric ones. Only with them does the holiday table become truly solemn and stylish. The simplest option is to decorate the table with fabric napkins threaded into special rings. Fold the napkins in four and insert the corner opposite the free edges into the rings. Spread out the folds nicely.

Why not tie a napkin around a fork like a scarf? Fold a thin napkin lengthwise, fold it in half, place a fork near the fold of the napkin and thread the long sides through the loop. Straighten and tighten the knot.

To make a formal butterfly bow out of a napkin, lay the napkin in one layer and fold the two sides toward the middle. Then fold the opposite sides towards the middle and intercept the middle wide ribbon or thread the resulting rectangle into the ring. Straighten out the folds.

It is very easy to make a triple cutlery envelope from a napkin. Fold the napkin twice into a square, placing the free corners to the right. Leave the bottom layer in place, and slightly bend the corner of the second layer under the third. Bend the third layer of the napkin more strongly and place it under the fourth. Bend the last layer even further. All you have to do is fold the sides back, and you have a neat pocket for a fork, spoon and knife.

It is not difficult to make a fan with 3 or 4 rays. To do this you will need a very thin, well-ironed napkin. Fold it diagonally at an angle towards you. Bring the right corner over the left and place it a little lower. Place the right corner of the resulting structure over the left one and place it a little lower. If desired, form the fourth ray in the same way.

A folded napkin can serve as a vase for a small bouquet or gift. Fold the napkin diagonally with the fold facing you. Bend the bottom side 5-6 cm. Turn the napkin over and fold its corners towards the center. Place the structure vertically, straighten it for stability and bend the top corner down.

From two napkins different colors It’s easy to make cute sushi, and using a single-color napkin you can use the same method to create a small candle with a burning flame. Fold the square napkin diagonally, roll it into a rope, starting from the base of the triangle, and roll this rope into a tight roll. Tuck the tip down, under the base. If you are making a candle, release the corner of the napkin from the center up. If you are making sushi, wrap the rolled napkin with another folded one in the same way.

In the same way, a luxurious rose is made from a napkin: fold the napkin diagonally at an angle away from you, gently twist it into a rope, without making sharp fold lines. Roll this cord into soft folds, tuck the tip inward and place the rose in a glass or cup. If you decorate a napkin with a green leaf, the resemblance to a living rose will be striking.

And if you stop twisting the rose, not reaching 10-15 cm to the end, and thread the corner down, you will get a stable structure - a rose with a leaf.

To fold a napkin into the shape of an unopened lily with 4 petals, fold the napkin in half with the edges facing you. Lift the bottom right corner and slide the top right corner underneath it all the way down. In the same way, lift the lower left corner and draw the upper left corner to the bottom. A wide triangle will lie in front of you. Fold it along the middle line, place it vertically, smooth out the folds. If you make this figure from a green napkin and decorate it with a star, you will get a New Year tree.

Another type of lily - heraldic - is made a little more complicated. Fold the napkin diagonally with the corners away from you. Bring up the side corners and join them to the top corner to make a square. Bend the bottom corner of the square up, not all the way, and bend it down to the base. Turn the structure over to the other side, bend the corners and thread one corner into the other so that the structure holds firmly. Place the napkin vertically and bend the side petals down.

To make a sailboat out of a napkin, take a thin, well-ironed napkin, fold it twice to make a square, and then fold it diagonally with the free corners away from you. Connect the sides to the center line so that the corners are at the bottom. Tuck the bottom corners inward, fold the structure in half so it can stand stable, and release the top corners.

A napkin folded in the shape of a fantastic flower looks luxurious. Place the unfolded napkin on the table, bend all the corners to the center to make a square. Fold the corners of this square to the center, turn the structure over and fold the corners to the center again. Holding the center of the napkin, carefully bend and release each corner. Decorate the center of the napkin with a flower or candlestick.

As you can see, all the methods of folding napkins listed in this article are very simple and do not require special skills. With just a little practice, you can decorate your table with napkins for any occasion.

Every housewife wants to surprise her guests at a dinner party; for this purpose, delicious dishes are prepared, the room and table are decorated. One of the original techniques for giving a table a festive look is unusually folded napkins, because table setting always attracts attention. If friends are coming to visit, you can get by with paper ones. But for a more formal event, it is advisable to use fabric ones. As a rule, they are folded into a triangle and carefully placed under the edge of the plate. However, this will not surprise anyone, so for an effective design you should give preference to more complex, but at the same time quick options.

Introduction to Etiquette

Napkins appeared in everyday life at a time when food was taken without cutlery. Hands had to be wiped, and it was forbidden to do this on the tablecloth or clothes, so handkerchiefs were used. Later, special materials specifically for fingers appeared, and then disposable paper options.

When decorating a holiday table, it is not enough just to fold the napkins beautifully; you also need to know some of the subtleties of etiquette. It is recommended to serve with both linen and paper products.

It is advisable to choose fabric options from cotton or linen, as they do not wrinkle much and will retain a neater appearance until the end of the event, unlike silk or viscose materials.

The textile product should first be washed, starched and ironed well. Under no circumstances should tablecloths be laid out wet or not at all. washed hands, since the material gets dirty quickly and even the most beautiful way styling will not be saved by a dirty look. And of course, before directly laying it on the table, it is recommended to practice well and hone the skill of beautiful folding, so that at the last moment everything turns out just right.

Beautiful design napkins - very interesting activity for both adults and children. The process has a beneficial effect on development fine motor skills, therefore, involve the child in the matter, he will not only be busy with useful work, but will also rejoice at such responsible assistance to adults.

The rules of etiquette dictate not only the options for serving fabric napkins, but also their use. First of all, you should remember that they cannot be tucked into the collar of clothing; the material should lie open on your knees.

You should not wave the cloth too much or wipe your lips too thoroughly - this is a sign of bad taste. If you need to leave the table temporarily, it is recommended to carefully place the scarf near the plate or hang it on the back of the chair.

How to choose suitable napkins?

When serving, you need not only to fold the napkins beautifully, but also to be able to choose them correctly. You should choose based on the following factors.

Material

Based on the material, napkins are divided into two types: fabric and paper. The first option is placed directly on the plate, the second - under it. Some housewives prefer to fold paper napkins inside glasses; this method is also not prohibited; on the contrary, it gives the table an even more festive look.

For fabric tablecloths, it is preferable to choose linen or cotton, since these two materials retain a neat appearance longer and do not slip when folded, unlike synthetic ones.

Sizes and shapes

The shape of textiles for table setting is usually square, measuring 40 x 40 centimeters, however, some prefer to take rectangular pieces of fabric. It all depends on the folding method, one requires square shape, the other is rectangular. Such a product can be sewn independently from any rag material.

Color

According to etiquette, when decorating a table with napkins, their color should be combined with the main shade of the tablecloth and dishes.

White is considered the optimal tone for fabric products, as it is neutral and suitable for any occasion.

If you are organizing a themed holiday, you can use your imagination and select fabric tablecloths in any combination. Some folding methods also require original colors. For example, a rose or Christmas tree will look much better in a red or green shade than in white.

How to fold beautifully?

Folding fabric items for table settings has a huge number of options. Below are the most popular step by step methods, which will become useful knowledge in the arsenal of any housewife.

Candle

This option is perfect for romantic dinner together. This method can be used to fold both a cloth and a paper napkin. It is very simple and does not require much time:

1. First, you should unfold the product, placing it face down on the table;
2. then it is carefully folded in half into an equilateral triangle, the fold of which is folded a couple of centimeters, after which the entire structure is rolled into a roll and a tube is obtained;
3. for a tight fixation, the outer corner should be folded inward;
4. If the candle turns out to be too high, you can also tuck the top part.

To give the dinner even more originality, a real candle is placed inside the resulting figure and lit, however, such beauty will need to be monitored, since it is highly flammable.

Fan with stand

This folding scheme is one of the most popular. The napkin unfolds face up and gradually turns into a fan in the well-known way:

1. starting from the top, a small strip is folded down, then the material is turned over and the action is performed again;
2. the process is repeated until the last strip is folded, after which the fabric napkin from below is folded in half into an accordion;
3. this is how the fan itself is ready, and to make a stand, you should hold it in your hand and carefully pull up the inner fold on both sides;
4. the resulting structure is fixed and dissolved.

Sachet

This option will be an excellent addition to a table set for an official event. Outwardly, it looks like a pocket for cutlery. It is not difficult to wrap a textile product in a sachet; to do this, you need to place it face up. First, the square material is folded in half, then the top third of the material is folded down to create a central fold. The structure flips over and its two edges join together to form a neat center line. The procedure is repeated on this side, after which the sachet is ready and cutlery can be placed inside.

Christmas tree

On New Year the table is always decorated with special scrupulousness and taste. A great addition for festive table setting will become cloth napkins, folded in the form of a Christmas tree:

1. the napkin is folded in half into a rectangle, each corner of which is folded towards the center;
2. the resulting bevels are wrapped towards the center to achieve a square shape;
3. the material is turned over and similar actions are repeated on this side;
4. in the upper part, the left corner is bent diagonally and hidden in the opposite side of the square, the same is done with the lower right corner, after which an equilateral triangle is obtained, which is also folded in half;
5. to get a full-fledged Christmas tree, you need to make two such parts and connect them together.

It is advisable to use napkins green and decorate the product with sequins, beads or other decorative elements.

Ideas for spectacular design

In addition to standard options for folding fabric napkins, there are also more original ones that guests will remember for a long time. You can decorate the table with handmade flowers from napkins, various shapes or a peacock.

Napkins have a centuries-old history in their utilitarian meaning. IN Ancient Greece fig tree leaves served as napkins, with which slaves wiped their master’s lips. Cloth napkins were first mentioned in Ancient Rome. During the Middle Ages, napkins also appeared in Europe.

Nowadays, when setting a festive table, the hostess will never forget to place a napkin near each guest’s plate. Currently, two types of napkins are used: fabric and paper. Fabric ones are usually placed on the knees, and paper ones are used to wipe the lips and fingers.

Sometimes paper napkins are not served on the table, but only fabric ones. In this case, one napkin is used both to protect clothes and for wiping.

Today napkins are a table decoration!

Here are some ways how to fold cloth napkins beautiful when setting the table:

• Lily

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Align the left and right corners with the vertex of the triangle. 3. Fold the napkin in half along the horizontal axis. 4. Bend down the top triangle.

• Royal lily

1. Initial form - the napkin lies face down. 2. Bend all its corners one by one towards the center. 3. Turn the napkin over. 4. Fold the corners towards the center again. 5. Holding the corners in the center, pull out the corners from below so that they form “petals.”

• Artichoke

1. Initial form - the napkin lies with the wrong side up. Fold all four corners towards the center. 2. Fold all corners to the center again. 3. Turn the napkin over. 4. Fold all corners towards the center again. 5. Pull out the tip of the napkin that is inside the quadrangle. 6. Pull out the remaining ends. 7. Pull the remaining four corners out from under the folded figure.

• Handbag

1. Initial shape - fold the napkin in half vertically (fold on the right). 2. And fold it in half again from bottom to top. 3. Fold two layers of the upper left corner towards the center. 4. Fold the upper right corner towards the center. 5. Bend the resulting triangle down along the line just below the middle. 6. Fold the upper right and left corners towards the middle. 7. Bend the resulting triangle down onto the first triangle.

• Horizontal sachet

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded in half with the front side inward (fold at the bottom). 2. Fold a third of the top layer down to create a center fold. 3. Turn the opposite side towards you. Fold the sides over so they meet in the center. Fold it the same way again.

• Diagonal sachet

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded in four. 2. Fold the corner of the first layer of fabric back 2 inches (5 cm) and repeat. 3. Fold the second layer of napkin, tucking the corner under the diagonal roller to form a second roll that is 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. 4. Fold the napkin at the top and bottom and place it on the table, orienting it vertically so that the folds remain diagonal.

• Tiered corners

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded in four. 2. Fold the first layer of napkin fabric diagonally so that the corner is at the left point. Fold the second layer back so that the second corner is 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the first. 3. Repeat the above with the third and fourth layers of fabric so that all corners are 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. 4. Fold the sides down and place the napkin on the table.

• Everest

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded in half horizontally (fold on top). 2. Fold the top corners diagonally towards the middle. 3. Align the sides of the triangle so that their sharp corners are at the bottom. 4a. Turn the figure over and bend the ends, which will become a support for it. 4b. Bend along the vertical axis with the folds inward. 5. Place the napkin vertically.

• Calla

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded diagonally with the right side out (fold at the bottom). 2. Complete the upper corner, forming a “bag” 3. Turn out approximately 1/3 of the “bag”. 4. Straighten the resulting figure and give the napkin a vertical position.

• Column

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Bend the base up, then back about 2-3 cm. 3. Starting from the left, roll the napkin into a tube. Place the remaining edge into the bottom folded edge of the napkin.

• Hat with lapel

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded with the wrong side inward (fold on the left). 2. Fold the napkin in half again to form a square (fold at the bottom). 3. Fold the lower left corner, leaving 2-3 cm to the top. 4. Bend the side corners inward and secure them to each other. 5. Place the napkin vertically to form a “hat” with a folding collar; bend one of the upper peaks down.

• Fan in a ring

1. Initial form - the napkin, flattened, lies face down. 2. Fold the napkin like an accordion (2a). 3. Bend it in half in the middle. 4. Tuck the napkin into the ring (or place it in a glass) and spread it out like a fan.

• Table fan

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded in half with the front side out (fold on top). Gather three quarters of its length into an accordion, folding the first fold down. 2. Fold the resulting shape in half so that the folds are on the outside on the left side, and not the folded part on the right. 3. Take the napkin in your hand so that the open ends of the folds are facing up. 4. Fold the unfolded part of the napkin diagonally to form a “stand”, as shown in the photo. After this, tuck the “stand” between the folds and place the napkin on the table.

• Fish

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded diagonally (fold at the top). 2. Bend the bottom corner up. 3. Bend the left protruding corner down. 4. Fold the right corner in the same way. 5. Left side fold to the middle vertical line of the figure. Bend it in the same way right side. 6. Turn the shape over and decorate it with a small shell.

• Shirt

1. Initial form - the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Fold up a small strip of fabric at the base of the triangle and turn the napkin over so the right side is facing away from you. 3. Fold the right corner down to the left, and the left corner down to the right. 4. Straighten the corners strictly symmetrically and bend the bottom edge back. The “shirt” can be decorated with a bow or candy.

Have a nice holiday!

Napkins are an indispensable attribute of table setting. Without this attribute, it is impossible to keep the table clean, as well as maintain your evening dress.

It should be borne in mind that it is strictly forbidden to tuck a napkin into the collar or neckline of a dress - this is a sign of bad taste. The napkin should be placed on your knees; the only thing you can do is blot the corners of your lips with it.

When folding napkins for hygiene purposes, try to touch them with your hands as little as possible, and from an aesthetic point of view, they will be less wrinkled when unfolded. When preparing napkins for breakfast or lunch, use the most simple techniques folding napkins, folding them in half, in a triangle, in quarters, etc. And for especially special events, more complex forms of folding napkins are acceptable.

1. 
   2. Align the left and right corners of the triangle with its vertex.
   3. Fold the figure in half relative to the horizontal axis.
   4. Connect the right corner with the left corner at the back of the napkin and place one inside the other.
   5. Rotate the figure. Pull the sharp corners facing upward to the right and left respectively. Place the napkin vertically.

1. Fold the napkin diagonally.
   2. Align the left and right corners with the vertex of the triangle.
   3. Fold the napkin in half along the horizontal axis.
   4. Bend down the top triangle.

1. Place the napkin with the wrong side up.
   2. Fold all corners one by one towards the center.
   3. Turn the napkin over.
   
   5. Turn the napkin over.
   6. And once again bend each corner towards the center.
   7. Pull out the top right corner.
   8. Then all other corners. Lightly smooth the napkin.

Junk

1. Fold the napkin in half (fold on the right).
   2. Fold the rectangle in half again.
   3. Bend the bottom half diagonally upward.
   4. Bend the left corner forward. Bend the right corner forward in the same way.
   5. Fold both protruding corners back.
   6. Fold the napkin along the longitudinal axis back.
   7. Holding the folded corners with your hand, pull out the edges of the “sail” napkin one by one.

1. Place the napkin with the wrong side up. Fold all four corners towards the center.
   2. Fold all corners to the center again.
   3. Turn the napkin over.
   4. Fold all corners towards the center again.
   5. Pull out the tip of the napkin that is inside the quadrangle.
   6. Pull out the remaining ends.
   7. Pull the remaining four corners out from under the folded figure.

1. Fold the napkin like an accordion into six strips, the top of which should be directed away from you.
   2. Place the upper right corner inward.
   3. Do the same with the two corners below it.
   4. In a similar way, lay all three corners on the left side.
   5. Bend the third part of the figure on the left to the right.
   6. Bend half of the folded part back to the left.
   7. Repeat the same operations (steps 5 and 6) on the right side. Raise the top corners.

1. Initially, the napkin lies with the wrong side down. Approximately 1/4 top. bend the parts down.
   2. Turn the napkin over. Fold approximately 1/3 of the bottom up.
   3. Fold the napkin in half from bottom to top.
   4. Fold the resulting figure into an accordion shape so that there are five even folds.
   5. Holding the open side in your hand, pull out the deep folds in the upper part in opposite directions and fix them.
   6. Open the fan.

The selected option of folded napkins is placed on the appetizer plate for each guest.
It is possible to replace linen napkins with uncut paper napkins.

A few photos of napkins when setting the table:

It's not only interesting creative process, but also useful for the development of motor skills.

Both adults and children.

Beautiful, solemn, neat and useful.

"Tiara and Lily"

1. Initially, the napkin is folded diagonally (fold at the bottom)
2. Align the two side corners with the top.
3. Fold the napkin so that the bottom corner is 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the top.
4. Bend the top corner down to the fold.
5a. Fold the sides back and insert one into the other to form a circle at the base.
5b. Place the napkin straight.
6. Lily style
We perform operations 1-5 (see above).
To fold the napkin in the lily style, fold the top two corners down.

"Sachet corners"

1. Initially, the napkin is folded in four with the front side facing out (open corners in the upper right part)
2. Fold the first layer of napkin fabric diagonally so that the corner is at the bottom left point.
3. Fold the second layer of fabric so that its corner touches the central fold. Fold the first corner from below so that it touches the corner at the central fold.
4. Fold the bottom right and top left corners back.
5. Place the napkin on the table in the direction of the cutlery away from you.

"Flame"

1. Initially, the napkin is folded diagonally.
2. Fold the resulting triangle like an accordion, leaving a small triangle on top.
3. Secure the accordion with the top.
4. Now fold the shape in half.
5. The resulting figure can be secured with a ring or decorative elements.

"Royal Robe"

1. Initially, the napkin is folded diagonally with a downward angle.
3. Bend them up.
4. Fold the top of the top of the two bottom triangles up to the middle.
5. Fold in half again and again, going over the top half of the napkin. Bend the lower part (the remaining triangle) back. Fasten the side corners to each other and pull out the points.
6. Bend the points of the “royal mantle” down and secure them behind the welt.

"Royal Lily"

1. Initially, the napkin lies face down.
2. Bend all its corners one by one towards the center.
3. Turn the napkin over.
4. Fold the corners towards the center again.
5. Holding the corners in the center, pull out the corners from below so that they form “petals.”

"Twisted tent"

1. Initially, the napkin is folded in half (fold at the top).
2. Align the lower left corner of the napkin with its lower right part to form an isosceles triangle on top.
3. Move the right corner to the right.
4. Repeat step 2, move the lower right corner to the left.
5. Bend the right half of the triangle to the left.
6. Roll the napkin from left to right.
7. Place the napkin in a vertical position without unfolding it completely.

"Lily"

2. Align the left and right corners with the vertex of the triangle.
3. Fold the napkin in half along the horizontal axis.
4. Bend down the top triangle.

"Trail"

1. Fold the napkin diagonally.
2. Align the left and right corners of the triangle with its vertex.
3. Fold the figure in half relative to the horizontal axis.
4. Connect the right corner with the left corner at the back of the napkin and place one inside the other.
5. Rotate the figure. Pull the sharp corners facing upward to the right and left respectively.
Place the napkin vertically.