The details of a tablescape are like ribbons on gift baskets. Although a gift basket is impressive on its own, the visual impact is immediately elevated when it’s styled with a simple ribbon. The same concept applies to the details of a tablescape. We love adding candles for warmth and gold flatware for a bit of elegance; however, we’re focusing on one underrated and overlooked detail that happens to be one of our favorites: the addition of cloth dinner napkins.
Upgrading from paper napkins to durable dinner napkins instantly increases visual interest and elevates your entire tabletop aesthetic. How to style dinner napkins, however, can sometimes feel like a mystery, so we’re sharing our favorite napkin folds and styling tips. Now you’ll always have go-to options when designing a tablescape!
#HostfulHack: How to Fold & Style Dinner Napkins
1. Napkin Fold: The Classic
The most commonly used dinner napkin fold, The Classic is as simple as it gets! Fold your napkins into a simple rectangle and then place on the left of your dinnerware. This is our quick-and-easy go-to fold for a clean and classic look for any tablescape.
2. Napkin Fold: The Square
A spin on The Classic, folding a dinner napkin into a simple square and then placing it onto a dinner plate or bowl is an elegant way to style this detail. If using white dinner napkins, we love to add decorative greenery as a nod to the season or special occasion.
3. Napkin Styling: The Knot
If you’re looking for an added piece of visual interest, the knot is the perfect styling option! Instead of a more traditional napkin fold, The Knot is easy to create, yet gives you more options for creativity for your place setting. Pair with complementary fresh, dried, or faux greenery, or let the simplicity of The Knot speak for itself.
4. Napkin Styling: Napkin Rings
Another option if you don’t want to go with a traditional fold is napkin rings. These entertaining essentials are fantastic to have on hand and can add visual interest by including different textures. Simply take the center of a dinner napkin and pull through the napkin ring until you have your desired effect. We love using our Natural Leather Napkin Rings as an easy way to instantly elevate a tablescape design.
5. Everyday Styling
Complete your dining room shelving decor or your dining room table centerpiece with a simple napkin accent. The easiest way to do this is by stacking your favorite dinnerware and then styling a dinner napkin in The Knot (Styling Tip #3, above!). We mean it when we say the simple beauty of this decor will speak for itself! Complement your dinnerware and dinner napkin decor with greenery and a pop of color. (Check out how Shannon used this styling tip with her dining room table centerpiece for inspo!)
6. Accentual Hues with Dinner Napkin Styling
When wanting to pull in the colors of the season, dinner napkins are a great way to achieve this goal. We love including soft, muted accentual hues through cloth napkins. During the autumn, pull in the colors of foliage. In the winter, incorporate festive holiday hues. Springtime calls for pastels, while the summer is all about the light and airy colors.
An Opportunity for Creativity
When it comes down to it, dinner napkins are an opportunity to get creative and find fun, interesting ways to add visual interest to your tabletop design. Switch it up by changing the fold or styling, add an accentual hue, or add a knotted dinner napkin to your dining room table centerpiece.
Have you styled your napkin in a different way? Tried one of our styling tips above? We’d love to know! Tag us @thebusybee.co or share on social with the hashtag #hostfulhack or #hostfulatheart so we can see how you bring your style and creativity to your dinner napkin design.
Hap-Bee Hosting, Busy Bee!
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