10 Festive and Easy Ways to Fold Napkins for the Holidays
Impress your family and friends with these easy Christmas napkin folding ideas.
Sarah Busby
Wow your guests with easy Christmas napkin folding ideas, like this elf hat-shaped napkin.
Hosting for the holidays? Simply whipping up a menu of food can be exhausting enough — not to mention getting guest rooms ready, decorating and setting the table. But fear not! We're sharing six adorable and oh-so-easy ways to fold napkins for your next holiday tablescape. Your guests will only think you spent tons of time on these.
Christmas Bow Napkin Fold
Clara MacLellan
Folding a cloth napkin into a Christmas bow will make each plate at your table merry and festive. It only takes a few simple folds to achieve this Christmas look. To make the most of your Christmas bow fold, use red napkins and gold napkin rings to hold the look together.
Your cooking is a gift, so why not top it with a red bow? Start by folding a square napkin in half to form a triangle (Image 1). Grab the center peak of the triangle and fold downward several times until you're left with one long strip with pointed ends (Images 2 & 3). Fold each end inward at an angle to create a bow shape (Image 4). Hold the shape by sliding a napkin ring into the middle (Image 5).
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Give each tail a quick adjustment to maintain the classic bow shape, then adorn each place setting with your festive creation.
Clara MacLellan
Star Napkin Fold
Clara MacLellan
The perfect way to add holiday cheer to your table is to fold your napkins like a star. This napkin folding technique looks ornate and complicated, but it's actually quite simple and quick to pull off. Ironing the folds of the napkin will help to define the folds and hold the shape.
Fold the top and bottom of a square cloth napkin to the middle, creating a rectangle (Image 1). Turn the rectangle 90 degrees and accordion fold the napkin, pressing with an iron to better define the folds (Image 2). Tuck in the corners of each layer until you're left with an equilateral trapezoid shape, pressing once more with an iron (Image 3 through 5).
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Flip the trapezoid up and pull each layer out until the two sides meet and form a star shape, then press the sides together to hold the shape (Images 1 & 2).
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Christmas Gift Napkin Fold
Clara MacLellan
To make each of your Christmas dinner guests feel warm and welcome at your table, consider folding your napkins into little Christmas gift. This DIY napkin folding technique is super simple and quick to complete, making it easy to finish each place setting before dinner is served.
Everyone loves a beautifully wrapped gift. Start your napkin's transformation by folding it in half, then accordion fold from the bottom to the top (Images 1 & 2). Turn the napkin 90 degrees and accordion fold once more to form a cube (Images 3 & 4).
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Hold the cube together by tying a festive ribbon around it just as you would a Christmas gift (Image 1). Don't forget a gift tag name card for each place setting (Image 2).
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
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Envelope Napkin Fold
Clara MacLellan
This cloth napkin is folded to resemble an envelope, creating the ideal spot for a holiday dinner menu. The napkin folding technique can be left open to reveal the menu or the top can be folded over to give the look of a closed envelope awaiting guests at their place setting.
Start by placing a square napkin on a flat surface and folding it in half to form a triangle (Image 1). Fold each bottom corner inward until the tips meet in the middle (Image 2). Next, fold the sides in so they meet in the middle (Image 3). Fold the bottom upward to create the envelope, then slide your Christmas dinner menu inside (Images 4 & 5).
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Clara MacLellan
Fold down the top to close the envelope or simply leave it open so guests can get a glimpse of the meal to come.
Clara MacLellan
Poinsettia Napkin Fold
Sarah Busby
Impress your guests this Christmas with a festive poinsettia folded napkin.
Start with a red square napkin on a table or flat surface. The napkin should be wrong-side-up. Fold each of the four corners into the center to form a diamond shape (Image 1). Repeat and fold each corner into the center again to form a square shape (Image 2). Flip the napkin over. Fold each of those four corners into the center, creating a diamond shape again (Image 3). Reach under the napkin and pull each corner up to form the poinsettia flower petals (Images 4 & 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
A sprig of greenery makes the perfect topper for this beautiful poinsettia place setting.
Sarah Busby
Christmas Tree Napkin Fold
Sarah Busby
Create this Christmas tree-shaped napkin to jazz up your holiday table.
Start with a green square napkin on a table or flat surface. The napkin should be wrong side up. Fold the napkin in half lengthwise. Fold each corner in to make two pointed ends at the top and bottom of the napkin (Image 1). Next, fold the top and bottom points into the center to form a square shape (Image 2). Fold the napkin in half horizontally so that the triangles are on the outside pointed up (Image 3). Lift and tuck each side under (Image 4). Stand the napkin up and crease along the back edge (Image 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Don't forget a glittery star on top!
Sarah Busby
Treat Container Napkin Fold
Sarah Busby
This napkin treat basket is sure to wow guests at your next holiday party.
Start with a square napkin on a table or flat surface. The napkin should be wrong side up. Fold the napkin in half diagonally to form a triangle with the long side closest to you (Image 1). Fold each corner of the triangle to the top to make a diamond shape (Images 2 & 3). Flip the napkin over (Image 4). Fold the bottom up, forming a small, one-inch border on each side (Image 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Fold the entire top triangle down to the bottom edge (Image 1). Flip the napkin over again, and tuck in each of the two tips of the loose triangles (Image 2). Fold the right corner three-quarters of the way over to the left (Image 3). Take the left corner and tuck it into the right to form a basket (Images 4 & 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
On each plate, stand up the napkin and fill it with treats. We're willing to bet your guests won't mind a few sweets to start the meal.
Sarah Busby
Elf Hat Napkin Fold
Sarah Busby
For extra cheer this Christmas, fold your table napkins into adorable little elf hats.
Start with a square napkin on a table or flat surface. The napkin should be wrong side up. Fold the napkin in half horizontally with the napkin edge away from you and the folded side toward you. Place one finger in the center of the folded side to hold the napkin down (Image 1). With another hand, pinch and roll the napkin into a cone shape from left to right (Image 2). Fold back the bottom edge to hold the cone in place (Image 3). Stand the napkin up (Image 4). For an embellishment, attach a red pom-pom to a toothpick and insert it into the top of the hat (Image 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
What's more festive than topping each place setting with Santa's little helpers' iconic hat?
Sarah Busby
Rose Napkin Fold
Sarah Busby
Add elegance to your holiday table with this folded napkin rose.
Start with a square napkin on a table or flat surface. Fold the napkin at a diagonal and then turn the napkin so that the long side of the triangle is closest to you. Roll the napkin from the bottom about halfway up (Images 1 & 2), then turn the napkin over. Take the end of the left tail and roll it across (Image 3), all the way to the other side. Tuck in the end of the napkin (Image 4). Set the napkin up and pull the two inside flaps down (Image 5). These will be the rose petals. Flip the napkin over once more for a finished rose-shaped napkin.
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
A centerpiece bouquet may only last one dinner, but these red roses will be a hit year after year.
Sarah Busby
Pinwheel Napkin Fold
Sarah Busby
Add a playful vibe to your holiday table with this pinwheel-shaped napkin fold.
Start with a square napkin on a table or flat surface. Fold each of the four corners into the center to form a diamond shape (Images 1 & 2). Turn the napkin to make a square shape, and fold each side into the center lengthwise to create one long rectangle (Images 3 & 4).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Fold the bottom and the top into the center to form a square (Image 1). Take one flap and pull it out to create a triangle (Image 2). Repeat with the next flap (Image 3). Fold the first flap down (Image 4). Repeat these three steps on the opposite side of the napkin (Image 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
This creative fold is sure to leave your guests' heads spinning.
Sarah Busby
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