Today I have some really easy napkin folding ideas for you. I’ve realised that one of the easiest ways to make my table look dressy is to add napkins to the setting. Now you can just place the square napkins on the plates as they are. Or you can do a little something to make the whole thing special. The ‘little’ in the ‘little something’ is important. The last thing I want to do when I’m organising a meal, is to spend an hour folding napkins! It has to be easy, taking almost no extra time. And these are some of my favourite ways of doing just that. 

6 Easy Napkin Folding Ideas:

(1) Folding Fan:

The first is a basic folding fan. And yet, there are different ways in which you can fold one. We had one way in the post on table setting. This is another way to make it. Open out the napkin and lay it flat on the table.

Start making small zig-zag folds along its length, starting from one end…

… until the full napkin is folded into pleats.

Now fold the entire length in half to join the 2 ends.

Insert the closed end of the fold into a napkin ring.

And open out the fan from both ends.

Place this on your plate, and you’re ready to go.

If you don’t have a napkin ring.. or just for another look, you can use ribbon instead.

Tie it around the base and make a pretty bow. Use a colour that matches or contrasts your colour scheme, the theme of the party, the season or occassion.. or even your mood!

(2) A Pretty Bow:

Place the napkin like a diamond, right side down.

Fold over the lower corner to the top, making a triangle.

Now fold over the top of triangle downwards, about half way through.

Fold the bottom end upwards to meet the tip of the triangle.

Fold it into half once again.

Now turn the right end towards the left to make a 1/3 fold.

Fold the left end over on to the right.

Slide a napkin ring over this…

… up to the centre.

Now pull the 2 ends downwards and adjust to make the 2 ends of the bow.

Turn it over and place on your plate.

(3) Peacock’s Plume:

Start with a triangle, just as you did for the bow. Start making zig-zag folds from the base…

… to the top of the triangle.

Turn it over, and fold in half.

Hold the 2 top ends together and watch the peacock plume spread.

Place this in your plate and you are set.

But if you want to dress it up further, you can take a decorative flower, or even a fresh one..

… and place it in the folds at the base.

(4) A Perfect Pocket:

Fold the napkin in 4, inside out and place like a diamond with the open end up.

Fold the first layer downwards to meet the bottom end of the diamond.

Then fold the second layer similarly, but stop a little above the first one.

Finally, fold the third layer downwards a little above the second layer, to make 3 distinct steps in the folds.

Now flip the napkin over and fold the left end over towards the right…

… and the right end towards the left. You can adjust these folds to adjust the width of the napkin as per your requirement.

Flip it over again and the napkin is ready.

Place it on a plate, and you can use the pocket to keep your cutlery or a fresh flower.

(5) Flower In A Glass:

This fold is not for a plate. For a change, you can sometimes place your napkins in your glassware. Again, start with a triangle as we did in the bow. Take each end of the base and fold upwards, a little away from the centre, so that it looks sort of like a tulip.

Take the bottom end and fold it upwards till about the centre of the tulip.

Now make zig-zag folds in the napkin from right to left.

Insert the folded bottom into the glass.

Open out the petals on top and your flower is ready.

(6) Roll & Tie:

This is the simplest of all the easy napkin folding ideas and my absolute favourite because it is so versatile. Fold the napkin in 4 and start rolling it.

Make a wide, flat roll.

You can either slide it into a napkin ring, or tie it with twine or a ribbon. Place it on your plate and you can stop right there. It’s a sweet and simple napkin fold.

But here’s what I find so fun about this. Slide some fresh flowers into the tie to make it pretty.

Or some greens for a fresh setting.

I’ve put a sprig of curry leaves and a whole red chilli to spice up this setting.

You can get as creative as you want, and it’s great fun!

In fact, there are many ways to get innovative with these easy napkin folding ideas. Change the look of these same folds by using napkins of different colours or bold patterns. You can use bright ribbons or delicate lace. Use bracelets instead of napkin rings. Add fresh or dried flowers, golden gota during Diwali and striped candy canes for Christmas.

In case you prefer it in video form, here it is…

If you want to read more on table setting, we have a fun post right here. Experiment, have fun, and share your easy napkin folding ideas with me too!

Until next time,