Any table, even not a festive one, will look elegant, thanks to the correct setting and some little details. You can set the theme of the feast, create a friendly or romantic atmosphere, and even lift your spirits. You just need to know how to beautifully fold paper napkins into a napkin holder. We will now share these simple secrets with you.

Content:

Arranging napkins in a napkin holder

The shape of the napkin must be selected depending on the model of the design itself for them.

Napkins in different types of napkin holders

* If your napkin holder looks like a cup, vase or glass (that is, some kind of container), then it is better to use large napkins for serving.

Method 1:

1. Fully straighten the napkin and make a triangle out of it.
2. Roll it into a tube and bend it in the middle.
3. Carefully place into prepared container.

Method 2:

1. Unfold the pekhtmal and create folds, like in a corrugation. The optimal distance between folds should be 2 cm.
2. Fold the resulting accordion in half and place the corner in the napkin holder. To create the appearance of splendor, several pieces of napkin material folded in this way will look great.

* If the napkin holder has a laconic flat shape, it will not be difficult to simply fold a large number of napkins into a fan, the offset between them should be 1-1.5 cm. For a rainbow effect, create a composition of several colors. Only the corners should be visible at the top.

Options for laying napkins

Thanks to the implementation of creative ideas and minimal knowledge of origami, you can achieve a stunning table setting.

Advice! When choosing the color and pattern of paper or fabric napkins, consider the theme of the event. If we are talking about a children's party, buy bright napkins with cartoon drawings. When planning to decorate a table for a romantic dinner, place a napkin holder with a composition of delicate and muted shades on the table.

All subsequent presented methods of serving napkins share the following characteristics - ease of implementation, charming design, elegant and festive effect.

Candle

In order to get a beautiful and clear candle shape, you need to take large napkins of the same color and follow the instructions:

1. Place them face down.
2. Bend it to form a triangle.
3. At the bend, fold a strip of 1-2 cm.
4. Twist the resulting “sailboat” into a tube.
5. Place the corner that extends beyond the mold inside.

A real candle inserted inside will look beautiful.

Fan

We discussed the first method of folding a napkin into a fan above. Let's move on to the next technique for creating a fan model:

1. Straighten the material and place it right side up.
2. Make a stripe at the top, about ? the whole square.
3. Place the workpiece with the other side facing you and wrap 1/3 of the entire area.
4. Fold the resulting shape in half, working from the bottom up.
5. Gather the napkin in the form of a corrugation so that you get 5 folds of the same width.
6. Fix the free side with your hand and pull out the accordion that was in the depths. Using both hands, stretch the product in different directions and fix it.
7. Spread your fan.

Sachet

For a lunch with the family or among colleagues, a napkin sachet is perfect:

1. Take a large napkin (preferably fabric) and fold it face down.
2. Fold 1/3 of the top layer of the workpiece down to form a fold in the middle.
3. Turn the other side and fold into shutters, which should touch in the center.
4. Repeat the previous point again.
5. There should be a pocket where you can put a fork, spoon, knife.

Peacock

You can amaze the guests of any feast with the sophisticated shape of a peacock napkin:

1. Lay it out on the table and fold the top corners to the middle to make a house.
2. Fold the resulting roof down.
3. Repeat the process.
4. Rotate the bird following the diagram.
5. Fold into a rectangle to define the neck.
6. Fold the tip of the neck over to outline the beak.
7. Take another napkin and fold it into a rectangle. This is needed to create feathers.
8. Fold in a corrugated shape, excluding the edge (about 6-7 cm). You should get a tail.
9. Turn the work material over, accordion side down.
10. Attach an accordion to the peacock's body near the neck and place it on the table.

Rabbit

Such a funny and cheerful napkin is usually made for children's parties. You can also adapt it to the Easter table:

1. Place the napkin in front of you and fold it in half. Repeat everything (an oblong rectangle should form).
2. Fold it in the middle. Along the center line, fold the corners at the top.
3. Following the dotted line, fold the corners at the bottom.
4. Mark the left and right corner. They need to be bent diagonally.
5. Turn over and fold the corner at the bottom.
6. Direct the left corner back, and do the same with the right.
7. Pull out the ears to make a rabbit. Now feel free to place your work of art on the plate.

Christmas tree

This model will certainly become relevant during the New Year holidays. To do this, use a regular napkin:

1. Fold it in half.
2. We bend the upper and lower corners to the center (see diagram).
3. Fold the triangles over to form an envelope, then unfold it.
4. Fold in half again away from you.
5. Mark the top of the shape. Fold the left corner at the bottom diagonally at one of the squares. Remove to the other half of the same square.
6. Repeat the procedure with the lower right corner.
7. Fold the resulting isosceles triangle in half.
8. Repeat the whole process from the very beginning to get another tier of the tree.
9. Insert the parts into each other and get a New Year's tree.

Rose

The gentle queen of flowers will decorate any celebration:

1. Prepare a napkin by laying it out in front of you.
2. Fold diagonally and get a right triangle that needs to be wrapped as shown in the diagram.
3. Do it again.
4. Prepare another napkin to roll the bud.
5. Fold diagonally.
6. The right angle should be near you.
7. Twist starting from one side.
8. Adjust the rose petals by turning the edges back slightly.

Examples of more complex options

If you can easily make the proposed shapes from napkins, you can try to build something original to amaze your guests with an unusual setting and your skills.

Video instruction

The basis of a festive table setting has always been beautifully folded napkins near the cutlery for each guest.

You can fold napkins in different ways; there are methods that are suitable for both fabric and paper napkins, and there are also unique patterns suitable for certain types of napkins.

We have collected the most beautiful, original and unique ideas on how to fold napkins for modern housewives in one article. Here you will find simple ways and diagrams of how to fold a napkin, video tutorials and a lot of fascinating photos of beautifully folded napkins.

A beautifully folded napkin is another way to surprise your guests and present your versatile skills. Therefore, any housewife should know how to beautifully fold napkins for table setting, especially since doing it is quite simple.

Don’t be lazy, take a couple of minutes to beautifully fold the napkins on the table, it will take a minimum of time and what an effect you will get. will immediately transform and become more festive. It might seem like a small thing, but the guests will appreciate it, believe me.

How to fold fabric napkins - the best ideas and methods

Recently, more and more housewives are choosing fabric napkins when setting the table. The simplest and most popular way to fold fabric napkins is to use special rings. By the way, you can make them yourself. Even a simple ribbon tied around a rolled napkin can serve as a substitute for a ring.

A similar method is often used in wedding settings, selecting napkin rings according to the theme and color scheme of the celebration, decorating the napkin rings with original decor and flowers.

In general, folding napkins according to the theme of the celebration is mega fashionable today. If it's a romantic dinner or Valentine's Day, beautifully folded napkins in the shape of a heart will be appropriate.

For a men's holiday or a man's birthday, napkins can be folded into the shape of a shirt. At New Year's table setting, beautiful Christmas tree napkins will support the festive mood.

Beautifully folded fabric napkins in the shape of a bunny and a rose look original and unusual, ideal for a festive dinner setting.

For simple ways to fold fabric napkins, watch the video, where you can clearly learn how to beautifully fold napkins on the table.

For more photos and diagrams of how to fold napkins, see the photo selection below. In the meantime, we will talk about the features of paper napkins and serving methods.

Beautifully folded paper napkins - ideas for holiday serving

Napkins should also match a beautifully decorated table. If the choice fell on paper napkins, we offer several interesting and beautiful ways to fold them.

Fan-folded napkins are one of the most popular ways to fold paper napkins, but you have to admit, it’s a little boring. I want something new, unusual and creative.

In order to beautifully fold a paper napkin, it is not necessary to learn the origami technique. Beautiful swans, lilies, voluminous stars from paper napkins are made very simply. Want to learn? See diagrams on how to fold napkins and try it right now.

How to beautifully fold napkins into a napkin holder or glass - original ways

It is not necessary to set the festive table for every meal. But napkins should always be on the table. Therefore, the napkin holder will not be superfluous. Even if it’s a simple breakfast, a tea party or a get-together with girlfriends.

In a regular napkin holder, napkins are often folded with the corners in the shape of a fan. Fortunately, today you can find more interesting napkin stands, for example, in the form of a girl in which the napkins serve as a skirt.

If you don’t have a napkin holder, you can put the napkins in a deep salad bowl or vase, after twisting them into separate tubes. Plain paper napkins reminiscent of a rose flower are perfect for this.

In this case, it is better to decorate the composition with green branches, as can be seen in the photo. A similar composition of napkins is ideal for a buffet table.

Napkins are not only placed on a plate or near it; a folded napkin in a glass looks very beautiful. Here's a great option on how to fold a napkin into a glass in the shape of a rose with a step-by-step diagram.

Beautifully folded napkins in the photo - interesting ideas for holiday serving

It’s good when everything is perfect in a person! And in the kitchen too.

In expensive restaurants, the seemingly mundane procedure of folding napkins has turned into a real art: instead of simple napkin holders with modest paper napkins, tables are decorated with fancy paper and linen “sculptures”: lush fans made of paper napkins, elegant flowers made of fabric napkins, all kinds of “stars”, "swans" and so on.

Most ways to fold napkins - be it paper or fabric - turn out to be quite simple, and today we will look at the most beautiful ways to fold napkins for table decoration.

Surprise your guests by elegantly decorating your table

And here is a popular step-by-step option on how to fold a napkin into a fan.

This is quite easy to do, and this napkin looks impressive:

There are many options for folding paper napkins for table decoration.

Step-by-step instructions for folding a Christmas tree napkin:

• Fold the napkin in half to make a long rectangle.
• Bend the edges of the rectangle symmetrically on its short sides
• We bend the resulting sharp corners towards the center of the napkin.
• Turn the resulting square over to the other side
• Fold the napkin in half
• Carefully fold back only the top layer of the left corner of the napkin and bend it so that the edges of the corner touch the upper right corner of the napkin - you should get a diagonal corner on the left side of the napkin
• Now we repeat the same procedure on the opposite side - we bend the top layer of the right corner of the napkin in the direction of the left corner, so that we get a triangle
• Fold the napkin in half again to make a small triangle.
• We repeat all the steps again with another napkin - to make the second “half” of the Christmas tree
• We put two napkins together - and you get an elegant Christmas tree from ordinary paper napkins!

Photo instructions for folding paper napkins

How to fold cloth napkins

The procedure for folding fabric napkins and decorating a holiday table with them, unfortunately, is somewhat more complicated and requires much longer preparation. To begin with, fabric napkins need to be prepared - they need to be carefully ironed so that there is not a single wrinkle. And then start folding:

• Lay the cloth napkin on the table and fold it in half so that the edges match exactly.
• Starting from one edge of the napkin folded in half, gather it into folds approximately 2-3 centimeters wide - in the end you should end up with a kind of “accordion”.
• Hold the folded napkin with one hand, with the other, place a special holder ring on its lower part and pull it up (the ring should be approximately 3-4 meters from the bottom edge of the napkin).
• Spread the folded cloth napkin to form a wide fan. Also straighten the bottom end of the napkin so that this base holds the napkin in a vertical position. Insert the folded napkin into the napkin holder.

To make folded napkins look really beautiful, you can decorate the napkin holder with fresh flowers.

How to beautifully fold a fabric napkin into a flower

To make your festive dinner an unforgettable event, it is not enough just to please your guests with a well-designed menu - setting the festive table is no less important. To decorate the table, you will need the simplest method of folding roses from napkins.

1. Fold all four corners of the fabric napkin towards the center
2. Turn the napkin over to the other side up
3. Once again bend all four corners of the resulting small square towards the center
4. Pressing the corners of the napkin in the center, we pull out the “petals” on the sides - and our “rose” from the napkin is ready!

Step-by-step photo instructions for folding a flower from a napkin:

Napkins - the simplest way to decorate a table

Napkin in a fork

Fold the napkin diagonally, bend the bottom edge 2-3 cm, form 3 folds and insert between the tines of a fork. heart

Fold the napkin lengthwise with the sides toward the middle and roll it up so that the edges are not visible. Bend both ends of the rectangle at right angles so that the free parts are equal. Fold the top corners inward to form roundness.

Pillow with ears

Fold the square napkin diagonally, roll the long side to the middle into a tube, fold the sides in the middle so that the edges protrude 2-3 cm. Turn over, form ears and place cutlery on the pillow.

Frame

Align the two sides of the napkin with the center line, turn the napkin over and repeat the same thing, but with the short sides. Bend the corners outward. If one or two corners are left closed, you can hide a gift under them.

Diagonal envelope

Fold the square napkin 2 times to make a square. Fold the top layer (2 or 3 layers possible) diagonally. Fold the sides inward.

Envelope with border

Raise the bottom side of the napkin to the middle and bend the border 2-3 cm wide, turn the napkin over and bend the top side to the middle. Fold the sides on top of each other and turn the napkin over again.

Torch

Fold the napkin 2 times to make a square. Roll the top layer into a tube to the middle. Fold the side corners inward.

sailboat

Fold the square napkin diagonally, twist the base halfway into a tube. Connect the edges.

Diamond

Fold the square napkin twice to form a square with the free corners facing down. Bend the top corner up. Fold each subsequent layer of the napkin a little less. Fold the corners back to form a pentagon.

Sometimes you really want to surprise the guests of your home with something, be it a delicious meal, a beautifully decorated table, or intricately folded paper napkins. We very often celebrate holidays at home, gathering family and friends around one big table. Beautifully folded paper napkins can be one of those charming details that make up a memorable holiday. A few simple movements - and the faceless square will turn into a completely new figure.

How to fold paper napkins for a holiday table?

There are many ways to fold napkins. Some of them are only suitable for reusable decorative fabric napkins, but we will pay more attention to disposable paper napkins.

For these purposes, paper napkins from larger packages are best suited, since on sale you can find very small square napkins that will not look good when folded. So, in this article we will look at four interesting ways to fold paper napkins.

1. Mithra

Method number 1. Mithra. You can fold napkins this way very quickly if you fill your hand. These napkins will look great on your table.

1. First you need to unfold the napkin to get a square. 2. Then fold it into a triangle. 3. We connect the lower corners of the triangle to its vertex, as in figure number 3. 4. Then we bend the upper corners down and carefully iron the fold. 5. Now bend the upper corner towards the center of the napkin, as in figure number 5. 6. Once again fold the just bent part of the napkin in half. 7. For the third time, bend the napkin to get a triangle. 8. Turn the napkin over. 9. Connect the corners of the napkin together. 10. Bend the corner. 11. Bend the second corner.

2. Petals

An incredibly effective way to fold napkins is to make petals out of them. It is especially beautiful to fold milky napkins in this way. It is very important here to carefully iron each fold and avoid mistakes, otherwise the napkins will look untidy.

1. Unfold the napkin, placing its corner towards you. 2. Fold the bottom corner towards the center of the napkin. 3. Bend it down so that it looks like in Figure 4. Now bend the corner up. 5. Down again. 6. Up again. 7. Now we need to fold the napkin like an accordion, carefully ironing each fold. 8. When the napkin is completely folded, you need to take it by the center and twist it. 9. We straighten our petals.

3. Flower

One of the easiest and fastest ways to fold a napkin beautifully is to roll it in the shape of a flower. This method will not take much of your time, but will definitely please your guests.

1. Let's expand the square. 2. Fold the first corner towards the center of the napkin. 3. Fold all remaining corners towards the center of the napkin. 4. Let's turn our square over. 5. Fold the corner back toward the center of the napkin. 6. Fold the remaining corners towards the center. 7. Carefully pry a corner from the back of the napkin and gently pull it towards you to form a petal. 8. Decorate all the petals and place the finished napkin on a plate.

4. Pocket

A napkin in the form of a pocket is a great way to effectively set a table (read about the rules of table setting). Small napkins are not suitable for such purposes, since cutlery simply will not fit in them.

1. Take a folded napkin from the package. 2. Fold in half. 3. Fold the corner towards the center of the napkin. 4. Bend the bent part in half. 5. Bend it again. 6. Following the example of the first one, we bend another corner. 7. Roll it up again. 8. Turn the napkin over. 9. Bend from both sides to the center. 10. Turn over. 11. Place the cutlery on the plate and place it in the resulting pocket.

• Understanding mastery: where to start?
• Size
• Form
• Colors
• Material type
• Practicality
• Methods: step-by-step guide and diagrams
• Fan folding
• Examples and options

Every housewife wants her holiday table to look perfect. There are many ways to make its decoration beautiful: high-quality dishes, a good tablecloth, sparkling cutlery, neat cutting of food and decorated dishes. But even before the dish appears on the table, I want to dilute the boring placement of cutlery a la “knife on the left, fork on the right” with a little zest. Ordinary napkins will help with this.

This is an indispensable attribute of any feast, be it Christmas dinner, anniversary or wedding, and works great as a decorative element. You can use any serving napkins, the main thing is to fold them correctly.

It's no secret that the ways to give napkins an interesting shape are close to the origami technique. To beautifully fold napkins for table settings, you need to learn some universal basic techniques. The most popular of them:

• "Harmonic". It is needed for such simple shapes as a fan, butterfly or crane. The principle is intuitive, you just need to fold the entire napkin into an accordion with an edge width of 2-3 centimeters;
• "Book". A rectangular or square napkin is folded in half. Depending on the scheme, on the smaller or larger side of the rectangle;
• "Doors". The square is visually divided vertically into two equal parts, both parts must be folded inward towards the fold line;

• Triangle. Two opposite corners are diagonally aligned with each other. Fold on the front or back side as indicated in the diagram. Paper napkins in this form can already be placed in holders;
• Double triangle. The square is visually divided into 4 parts, two sides at the central points are tucked inward, forming triangles with pockets inside;

• "Pancake". It is also very simple to make: just fold each corner to the center point. The pancake can be multi-layered. Each time all the corners are connected at the central point, the napkin is turned over and the procedure is repeated;
• Tie. The napkin should be placed in front of you like a diamond, mark the center line, and align the side corners in the center.

They also sometimes include a double square, a pocket, a boat or catamaran, a “frog”, a “bird” and a “fish”, which in themselves are not yet full-fledged figures, but have common features with them. However, these forms are too complex for a beginner and are not always easy to use.

It is better to practice the technique first on paper, then on a hard starch napkin, and only then move on to serving textiles. But the practical part must be preceded by the correct choice of napkins.

Kinds

The right start to decorating a table is not in mastering origami techniques with textile materials, but in choosing napkins. Therefore, the desire to fold lilies and swallows from pieces of fabric should be postponed until later and carefully study the issue of choosing suitable napkins.

When choosing serving napkins, several criteria are important.

Size

This is the first difference between napkins depending on their purpose and the nature of the meal. So, for breakfast and tea parties, napkins measuring 25x25, 30x30 or 35x35 centimeters are sufficient. Napkins for serving for a lunch or dinner party, size 40x40cm. Sometimes there are larger options, with a square side of up to 50 cm. The most common napkins for decorating a festive table are from 50x50 to 60x60.

The size of napkins is of fundamental importance when using them for table decoration. The most suitable option is medium size. Napkins that are too small are convenient for shaping shapes, but they leave a lot of creases as if the napkin was served crumpled. Large pieces of fabric or paper are also unsuitable for complex decoration.

In the end, a napkin is needed to maintain hygiene and etiquette, and not so that starchy swans or hares take up half the table, no matter how beautiful they turn out.

Form

The classic, most common and most practical shape of napkins is a square. Square napkins are convenient for setting the table, arranging them in different ways and combining them with each other. However, there are other forms that are less amenable to decoration, but sometimes irreplaceable. These can be napkins that have a rectangular shape with sharp edges, elongated with rounded corners, triangular, round and oval.

As a rule, there are no paper ones among them. This extends to textile serving sets, often complementing a fabric tablecloth.

Colors

Color and pattern are very important. Textile napkins should be identical in tone to the color of the tablecloth. It is allowed to repeat the pattern, if any, the presence of textured details, interesting edge processing, double-sided colors. If the design idea involves two tablecloths at the same time to decorate the table, the color of the napkins should match the lower tablecloth.

Only plain napkins are folded. If they already have active decor or a themed design (flowers for March 8, snowflakes for the New Year and other popular colors), it’s quite beautiful to place them in napkin holders. Origami in this case will already look like excess. In addition, if the color is not monochromatic, it is difficult to see the fold lines.

Material type

This factor is perhaps the most important. The type of material determines whether a napkin figure will hold its shape, whether it drapes beautifully, how much it wrinkles, whether the serving element can withstand washing, or whether you will have to purchase a new set after the feast. The following materials are often used for serving:

• Linen. This material is practical, natural, easy to starch, looks beautiful and washes well. It is very convenient to use for folding napkins in non-trivial ways. There are few creases left on the fabric. Linen napkins have a pleasant base color, so they are versatile in all respects.
• Cotton. Different varieties of cotton also have positive qualities. They are easy to care for, easy to manipulate when decorating, absorb sauces and fat well, and are suitable for reusable use. Linen and cotton napkins can be combined with each other to create a beautiful decor on the holiday table.

• Silk. Rarely used due to the high cost and impracticality of the material. However, if the tablecloth is silk, napkins made of the same material are necessary. They do not drape well, figures made of smooth material with a silky surface “creep”, so either a lot of starch or the simplest possible decor is required. For example, various sachets, a lying fan, triangles.
• Synthetics. For decoration, it is considered the most suitable option, but the material itself is unpleasant to the touch, does not absorb sauces or fat well, and may lose color after washing. These wipes are suitable for one-time use. It is advisable to have paper ones on hand as an alternative.
• Blended fabrics. The most practical option for the price. In addition, mixed fabrics drape well and hold their shape, have absorbent properties, and are washable from various stains.

• Paper. It is not customary to fold them into complex shapes. Paper napkins are needed for quick use. The most practical way is to place them in napkin holders on the table or in an accessible area. The modern assortment allows you to choose them to match textile products, made of thick or thin paper, with or without texture.
• Parchment, PVC and bamboo. All three types are designed to protect fabric tablecloths, and they also serve as a stand for plates and cutlery and, as it were, limit the person sitting at the table within the limits of their size. This is very important for situations when a large number of guests gather at the festive table. You won't be able to fold such napkins. The maximum is to roll it into a beautiful roll. But their practicality is very great - such attributes can be easily combined with decorative napkins.

For example, a bamboo hard napkin under the plates looks beautiful in combination with figures made from red napkins. This has the harmony, conciseness and beauty of the oriental style.

Practicality

We must not forget that the decorative function of napkins is not paramount. They are necessary on the table for hygiene and convenience of guests. If you really want to amaze everyone with your skill, then in addition to complex fabric lotuses and boats, there should be ordinary paper napkins on the table, which are convenient for wiping your mouth or fingers if necessary. The same applies to starching fabric napkins. Of course, they hold their shape better, but it will simply be impossible to use these standing napkins for their intended purpose.

Methods: step-by-step guide and diagrams

There are a lot of options for how to fold napkins. Among them are universal geometric shapes (triangles, envelopes, double squares, sachets and others), romantic flowers, themed figures (Christmas trees for the New Year's table, rings for a wedding celebration, Christmas snowflakes, ties, handbags), animals (for a children's party or symbol of the year), non-trivial forms.

Master the technique from simple figures to more complex ones.

Fan folding

A fan is a classic table decoration. There are several variations of it. The first involves the use of auxiliary materials, in addition to a napkin: soft cardboard and beautiful braid or ribbon.

To get a fan with a holder, you need to place a square napkin in front of you like a diamond, so that the corners are in a vertical line. Fold the diamond in half, iron the fold with your fingers, leaving a noticeable line, and unfold. Then, from the center line, in increments of 2-2.5 cm, fold the resulting triangles into an accordion. The resulting fan is inserted into a cardboard holder.

The holder is prepared as follows: an oval 3-5 cm wide and 6-10 cm long is cut out of soft cardboard (or velvet paper). The length and width depend on the splendor of the fan. Holes are made with a hole punch at a distance of 1 cm from each rounded edge of the oval. A ribbon, braid or lace is inserted into the holes. A fan made from a napkin is placed in the resulting holder, the lace is tightened and tied with a beautiful bow or knot. You can decorate the holder with inscriptions for the celebration.

The second common option is a standing fan. It's called "Peacock Tail".

The napkin needs to be laid out on a flat surface, face down, folded in half into a “book”. Turn the narrow side towards the edge of the table and start forming folds from there. Not along the entire length, only to the middle of the napkin. The ideal fold width is the thickness of your index finger.

When the assembly is completed, holding all the folds one on top of the other, you need to bend the napkin in half widthwise. It turns out to be a rectangle with a gather at the bottom and a free edge at the top. The upper left edge needs to be folded diagonally into a triangle and tucked between the folds.

Then the fan can be opened, and the resulting triangle will serve as a stand for it, like a photo frame.

The “Asian fan” looks aesthetically pleasing on the table. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• Place the napkin face down on a flat surface.
• Bend the top edge inward by one-fourth of the width of the napkin.
• Turn over to the front side.
• Bend the bottom edge inward by one third of the width of the already rectangular shape.
• Fold the resulting rectangle in half along a horizontal line.
• From a strip of fabric, gathering it along the width of the rectangle, fold an accordion of 5 identical folds.
• Hold the bottom edge of the accordion with your hand, and straighten the inward edges of the top edge.
• Unfold the fan. If the napkin is starched and stiff enough, it will press the supporting part of the figure with its weight. If not, then the folds need to be secured with a clip, then the napkin will acquire a purely decorative function.

Flower

The “floral” theme in folding napkins is very popular. Flowers look beautiful, do not require special skill to execute, and are appropriate for almost any celebration.

A laconic and elegant option is calla lilies. This simple-shaped flower is performed step by step:

• Fold the square shape into a basic triangle shape, placing the triangle with the single corner facing up.
• Take the upper corner of the triangle by the edge and wrap the entire napkin in a narrow bag with a diameter of no more than 1 cm.
• Turn out the wide part of the bag so that its narrowest part is inside the open bowl of the flower.
• Place the resulting flower on a plate.

It is done as follows:

• Fold the napkin into a basic triangle shape and turn it over with the base facing up.
• Bend the top of the triangle to the center point of the base from bottom to top. In appearance, the figure resembles a simple schematic boat.
• Fold the left and right edges of the “boat” down, slightly overlapping each other, so that the tongue of the triangle’s apex appears in the middle between them. Now the figure looks like two isosceles triangles superimposed on each other, the vertices of which point in opposite directions to the right and left. The horizontal line between them (can be marked visually, or marked with a pencil) is the fold line. Along it, the lower corner of first the upper, then the lower triangle is bent upward.
• The tulip is already visible, all that remains is to tuck the protruding left and right corner behind the “back” of the figure and tuck one end into the other so that the flower does not unfold.

The lily is made a little more difficult. The first step is the same as when forming a calla lily - you need to fold the square into a triangle and place it in front of you. The left corner is point A, the top is B, the right is C. The edges of the napkin need to be turned inward so that the vertices of corners A and C coincide with the vertex of corner B. You should get a rhombus. It needs to be folded in half horizontally, and the top of the upper triangle be bent to the bottom edge. All that remains is to place the napkin on the table or plate and bend the side “petals”.

There is also a more complicated version of the lily - royal. It requires napkins that hold their shape well, otherwise the petals will not be visible. The actions are performed sequentially:

• Fold the square napkin into a basic pancake shape (repeat twice).
• Press the second layer of “pancake” with the bottom of the glass (corners connected in the center).
• Turn the bottom edge of each square outward to form a petal.
• Hold the glass a little so that the napkin takes its shape, remove it and place the lily on the dish.

“Artichoke” is similar to the royal lily, but more original. To get this shape, a square napkin needs to be folded three times with its corners towards the center, turning over each time after all the corners are connected at the central point.

Then, as in the case of the lily, you need to draw out the bottom of all four resulting triangles. It is advisable to hold the middle of the figure with your hand or a handy press in the form of a glass. There is no need to pull out the lower “petals” much. They should rise up slightly. Under the flower you get a square napkin backing. The artichoke is ready.

A common and beautiful way is to fold serving napkins into a rosette.

The procedure is as follows:

• Fold the fabric napkin into a basic triangle shape.
• Starting from the base of the resulting triangle, roll it into a loose “sausage”, leaving the top edge 7-10 cm free.
• Twist the “sausage” from left to right into the snail, tuck the very edge inside the snail so that it does not unwind.
• Take the corners of the protruding triangle and straighten them to the sides.
• The lower petals are formed, you can turn the rose over and put it in the designated place.

All the same shapes can be easily repeated using thick paper napkins.

In the form of an animal

The theme of animals becomes relevant on the eve of Easter (chickens and rabbits) and New Year (the symbol of the coming year in the form of a dog, horse, rooster and other animals). A napkin in the shape of a bunny, fox or raccoon will appeal to children at a children's party.

A simple and accessible figure is a bunny or rabbit. To do this, first of all, you need to fold the napkin in half twice along the same side to a rectangle. Then repeat the following steps:

• Having marked a vertical line in the middle of the rectangle, bend the narrow edges of the rectangle inward so that the upper edge of the right and left sides passes through this vertical line. You should end up with a shape that looks like a blank for a paper airplane with beveled top edges.
• Bend the left and right corners of the base of the figure inward to form a rhombus.

• The previous fold lines formed a straight vertical line down the center of the diamond. Focusing on it, you need to bend the left and right sides of the figure in half so that the lower left and lower right edges of the rhombus coincide with this vertical. The shape now resembles the basic "tie" shape, only it expands from the bottom up instead of the top down.
• The “tie” needs to be turned “backwards” towards you. At the top right and left there will be two most protruding points. They form a horizontal fold line along which the upper triangular part of the “tie” needs to be folded down.
• Turn the figure over to the front side again. It should look like a triangle, upside down. A pocket is formed at each corner of the base.
• The triangle is folded with the edges inward, one edge is hidden in the pocket of the other.
• The figure is turned over from top to bottom and from the front side to the back. At this stage, the “muzzle” and “ears” of the hare are already visible. All that remains is to straighten them with your fingers and place the figure on the plate.

It is also possible to make a rabbit or hare from paper napkins, but without adding volume to the figure. It is not necessary to place such a napkin; you can simply place it on a table or dish. Flat figures are obtained faster, wrinkle less, and the features of a particular animal are easier to discern in them.

You can decorate a holiday table for children or a family for the New Year without much effort by folding a napkin according to an origami pattern with a dog, tiger, rooster, horse or other animal.

Decoration with various shapes

In addition to the universal colors and the occasional use of different animal patterns, there are a large number of figures suitable for completely different celebrations. These can be napkins in the form of candles for the New Year's table, rings for a wedding celebration, tuxedo figurines for a bachelor party, Christmas trees, snowflakes, ties, palm trees, boats and much more. If you use paper napkins rather than fabric ones, you can use absolutely any origami pattern as a basis. Several trainings, and figures of varying degrees of complexity will be obtained in one minute.

If you don't have time to train, then It’s very easy to make a candle without any preparation. With its help, you can beautifully set the table for conservative events.

You will need a square napkin folded into a basic triangle shape, or a triangular napkin. You need to roll it up starting from the base of the triangle. The “sausage” should be made from nine-tenths of the triangle, and the very last part - a small triangle - remains free. Now the “Sausage” is folded diagonally, not strictly in half, but so that one end rises slightly above the other. The fold must be wrapped with the remaining triangle so that the candles do not fall apart.

In this form they can be placed in a glass or napkin holder. The finishing touch is to pull the sharp corners of the “candles” up a little so that they become shaped like a flame above the wick. It is more convenient to twist a single candle from small napkins.

A popular way to celebrate Valentine's Day is to set a table for two using heart napkins.

Step-by-step action plan:

• Fold the triangle with the base at the bottom, smooth it out well so that the corners of the top coincide as accurately as possible.
• First, connect the right and then the left corners of the base with the top to form a rhombus.
• The upper right edge of the diamond is visually divided in half. From the midpoint, draw a perpendicular line to the middle of the opposite side. This will be the fold line. Only the triangle is bent, the rhombus below remains intact.

• Along the fold line, the upper part of the triangle needs to be turned inward, as if hidden in a pocket. Repeat the same steps on the left side. A schematic heart can already be seen against the background of the rhombus.
• Now you need to turn the figure “backwards” towards you. It looks like a diamond without additional lines. This rhombus is bent horizontally in half.
• Turn the figure over to the front side again, and you can place the finished heart on the plate.

It is impossible not to note the figures for the most beloved winter holiday - New Year. Its symbol, of course, is the Christmas tree.

It is correct to start creating this figure with a basic “book”. Then it is folded in half vertically. It turns out to be a rhombus, the lower part of which is turned away into a pocket in 4 layers. Each layer is folded in turn from bottom to top. The new top should move 1-2 cm away from the top of the previous layer. Then the figure is turned over with its back up, face down. The left edge is folded to the right side, the right edge to the left, resulting in a “tie” that tapers towards the bottom. The “tie” unfolds again with the back down, face up.

The shape of the Christmas tree is already visible; it is formed by triangles, the corners of which are directed downwards. One by one, starting from the very first, they need to be folded upward. The corner of the first one remains free - this is the top of the Christmas tree, the rest are tucked under the previous layer.

There should be a total of 4 tiers and a crown. It can be decorated with a bead, bow, star or other themed accessory.

Not too pretentious and complicated, but at the same time original ways to fold a napkin exist to create an envelope with one pocket or several. They are in demand for formal and semi-formal events. These can be all celebrations related to marriage, events where people who do not know each other meet, corporate parties and business meetings.

A horizontal sachet is made up of a basic “book” shape turned horizontally into a rectangle. The rectangle should open from the top.

Having placed it in front of you (the front side is inside), you need to bend the top layer of the rectangle down by one third of the width. Then fold both sides inward so that the edges meet in the middle. Fold the resulting figure inward again and turn it over so that there is a solid pocket on the front side. This pocket holds cutlery.

An envelope sachet with a guest card and cutlery is simply irreplaceable at public events where most guests do not know each other.

Actions are performed in the following sequence:

• Fold the napkin into a book and then in half vertically to make the same blank as for the Christmas tree.
• Place the diamond-shaped blank in front of you with the free edge down. Alternately bend all the free layers from the bottom up, retreating from the previous vertex from 0.5 to 1.5 cm.
• Fold the bottom edge 2-3 cm and iron it with your thumb.
• Fold the edges towards the center of the napkin, tucking one under the other so that the sachet does not fall apart. A card with the guest's name is inserted into the smallest bottom pocket; cutlery can be placed in the top pocket or nearby.

An envelope sachet with a pocket for a guest card without cutlery can be compared to a bag. Performed step by step:

• Make the blank as for a Christmas tree, but place the free edge of the diamond on top.
• Bend the top two layers from top to bottom with an indentation of 1-2 cm.
• Turn the napkin so that its back is facing you.
• Lay the corners of the rhombus on top of each other, tucking the edge of one under the other.
• Return the napkin to its original position. The top pocket is for a name card.

You need to start folding the “bag” for cutlery from the wrong side (in this case, double-sided napkins or options with a pattern look interesting). Fold the napkin into a basic “book” so that the design or front side is inside. Then fold it widthwise into a square again. It turns out the already familiar base for the Christmas tree and sachets for the cutlery.

Unfold the diamond-shaped base in front of you with the free edge facing up. Bend the first three layers from top to bottom with an indentation between layers. Turn over to the other side and bend the corners of the diamond inward so that the edges meet in the middle and you get a “tie.” Turn over again to the other side. The bag is ready, all that remains is to put in the cutlery.

Examples and options

You can decorate a table with napkins in different ways. However, it is important to follow a few simple rules when choosing shapes and materials:

• Napkins must be of high quality;
• The figures unfold without difficulty for the guest;
• Plain napkins always look better than tacky ones;
• Napkins can be of different colors if guests are seated at several tables, but the fabric and design should be the same, as well as the shapes that are made from them;

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Ideas for designing napkins need to be coordinated with the reason for the feast. Complex paper figures (snowflakes, three-dimensional flowers and animals) will be appropriate as decor for home and children's celebrations. In addition to them, full napkin holders should be freely available. Textile strict sachets are an attribute of business meetings and official events.

Replacing the napkin holder with a small vase or serving them, for example, in a glass is also a way to decorate the table in an original way. Some shapes (roses, candles, types of fans) look much better inside a transparent glass than on a plate, and are guaranteed not to unfold.

For large celebrations (anniversaries, weddings), there is a more expensive option that justifies its price due to its aesthetic qualities - a napkin ring. Among them there are products made of metals, wood, glass, ceramics, textiles, paper (disposable). They are made in a wide variety of styles and organically complement both a simply airy, fluffed napkin and any shape, from a double tube to a flower.

To learn how to beautifully fold paper napkins for table setting (6 simple ways), watch the following video.