Who doesn’t love a well-folded napkin? It’s such a great way to add a special touch to any table.
As interior writer @fernandezjo says: Paper napkins are so passé. Cloth napkins have a reputation for being high-maintenance, but they actually require little prep work, and the end result is well worth a little ironing. (Plus, they're elegant and eco-friendly).”
If you’re keen on making the most of the table settings at your next dinner party but don’t feel particularly creative – after all, not many of us are origami experts – then don’t worry. Instead, just take a look at these five fantastic napkin folding ideas. They’re so simple, grab a pile of linen napkins and you will be up-and-running in no time. And believe me, if we can do it, so can you…
- Fold a large square napkin in half so that you have a rectangular shape.
- Starting at the short end, fold into one-inch accordion pleats. As you approach the opposite end stop around four inches away. The last pleat should be folded at the bottom edge with the rest of the pleats sitting neatly underneath.
- Fold the napkin in half lengthwise, ensuring half of the pleats are on the top.
- Fold the upper left corner down and tuck behind the central pleat so that the design is triangular in shape.
- Let go and fan the pleats out.
- Stand the napkin upright.
- Fold a linen napkin in half once and then half again so it’s a quarter of its original size.
- Lie the napkin flat in a diamond shape with the corners facing you.
- Fold the open corner's top layer so that it reaches the opposite corner. Repeat this with each following layer so you are descending down.
- As you go down, tuck each layer into the fold above.
- Repeat this with every layer, tucking each one into the upper fold.
- Turn the napkin over so that you are looking at the other side of it.
- Fold the napkin into three so that it makes a kite shape.
- Turn the napkin over again to get the right side facing you once again.
- Fold the upper layer to the top of the napkin and repeat with each layer, again tucking it into the previous fold.
- Finish by tucking the bottom layer underneath.
- Fold a corner of a square napkin into the centre then do the same with the other corners so that you end up with a diamond shape.
- Turn the napkin over (to stop it opening up again lightly pinch the corners you’ve just folded over in the centre of the napkin.
- Repeat what you did folding over the corners into the centre with this side of the napkin too. Once again you should end up with a diamond shape.
- To create the petals of your lotus, pull the flap from the corners so that it’s facing you.
- Next, turn up the edges of the petal and pull up the ‘flower’ of the napkin. Do this for all the corners and, hey presto, you’re finished.