The process of decorating a dining room for a special holiday, gathering or dinner party can be exciting choosing a themed centerpiece, whipping out chic glassware and switching up your table settings are all part of the fun. If you’re looking to take your hosting skills one step further, try some new napkin folding techniques.
Whether you’re designing a holiday table arrangement, preparing for a birthday party or just hosting close friends for the night, there are plenty of ways to dress up a table with unique napkin designs. Test a tree-shaped napkin fold or an easy candy cane bow napkin fold for Christmas — the choices are endless. Even if you’re not decorating for the holidays, you can still get in on the fun. We’ve included classic napkin knots and flower folds for an elegant look and time of year.
If you’ve never tried origami or crafts that involve lots of folding, don’t worry. We’ve included step-by-step instructions and links to tutorials. You may be surprised by how simple some are to recreate! With just a few napkins and your own two hands, you can elevate your dinner table in no time.
Cookie Cutter Napkin Fold
Planning the perfect Christmas table can feel overwhelming especially when you want it to look beautiful but don’t have hours to spend on fancy décor. If you’re tired of complicated napkin folds or expensive table settings, here’s a solution that’s simple, smart, and surprisingly charming:
The Cookie Cutter Napkin Fold.
It’s not really a fold more like a festive hack. All you do is roll up a napkin and slide a cookie cutter over the center. That’s it. In under 10 seconds, you’ve got a cute, creative napkin ring that adds a personal, handmade touch to your holiday table.
Want to try this look at home? Grab a set of festive cookie cutters here.
Bow Tie Napkin Fold
Simple yet sophisticated, these bow tie napkins suit any occasion. Fold a napkin accordion-style and pinch in the center. It’s as easy as that! For a holiday look, use red or green napkins. You can go pink for Valentine’s Day, pastels for Easter or orange and black for Halloween.
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built »
Elf Hat Napkin Fold
Whether you go with a green, red or blue napkin, you can recreate this funny elf hat napkin in less than one minute. Start by folding your napkin in half, then roll it. Fold up the bottom to form the brim of the hat, and you’re finished!
Christmas Tree Napkin Fold
Looking to bring festive magic to your table this Christmas without going over the top? The Christmas Tree Napkin Fold is one of the most creative and charming ways to dress up your holiday place settings and the best part? You don’t need to be a crafting expert to pull it off.
What Is It?
This folding technique turns an ordinary cloth napkin into a mini Christmas tree, complete with layers, texture, and even ornaments if you want to take it up a notch. It’s the perfect blend of holiday spirit and hands-on charm — ideal for Christmas dinners, winter weddings, or cozy family brunches.
How to Do It:
- Start with a square cloth napkin, preferably green (for that classic tree look).
- Follow a simple folding technique that layers the napkin to form a tree shape.
- Tuck or adjust the layers so the triangle looks like tiered branches.
- Optional: Add mini ball ornaments or bells at the top or in between folds.
- For texture, use a fringed napkin and fan the fringe outward — it mimics pine sprigs beautifully.
Styling Tips
Mix this with cookie cutter napkin rings on other place settings for variety.Stick to green for a realistic look, or go bold with metallics, reds, or plaid.Add a gold star topper, a small pinecone, or cinnamon stick for an elevated feel.
Want to try this at home?
You’ll need a napkin that folds well and holds its shape.
👉 Click here to get the perfect green fringed napkins for this fold.
Tassel Napkin Fold
Gather tassels and feathers for this elegant napkin design. Simply fold a napkin into a rectangle shape and carefully pinch the center. Tie a gold tassel around to hold it in place. In the center, there should be a shallow pouch. Stick a feather or pom-pom in for a stylish touch.
Eight-Pointed Star Napkin Fold
This clever star shape adds elegance to any occasion, no matter what color scheme you choose. Go bright with a festive red or green, or keep it calm with a pastel pink or warm orange. Start with a standard 20″ cloth napkin, fold it in half and then press it with an iron to create a crease. Continue folding and pressing until you’ve created a trapezoid shape. Tip: Use paper clips to keep the sides together as you go.
Rabbit Nose Napkin Fold
Possibly the cutest napkin fold ever, these bunny years require a bit of rolling and folding. Using an all-white napkin to mimic the look of a rabbit, roll the napkin and then fold it in the middle so that there are two ears of equal length. Tie the middle using burlap string or raffia ribbon with a wooden bead for the nose.
Get the tutorial from It All Started With Paint »
Candy Cane Bow Napkin Fold
There’s more than one way to tie a festive bow. For this simple and stylish place setting idea, fold a red and white striped napkin into a neat bow — just as you would your shoelaces. Carefully tie a red ribbon in the center to secure it.
Candy Popper Napkin Fold
Adults and children will love this exciting napkin folded to look like a candy popper. You could fit flatware inside, but for a fun surprise, sneak in a piece of candy, block of chocolate or breath mint.
Get the tutorial from @Hauz.and.Co »
Furoshiki Table Gift Fold
Impress your guests by recreating this Japanese wrapping technique. Rotate a cloth napkin diagonally, and place a small rectangular gift in the center. Fold the top and bottom corners snuggly around the gift. Gather the excess fabric and tie two knots. Dress up the present with a sprig of greenery, candy cane or personalized card.
Bow Knot Napkin Fold
Go for a timeless look with a simple bow knot napkin, versatile enough for any occasion. Once you learn this easy technique, you can use it time and time again — just swap the napkins to pair with the current season or holiday.
To get that perfect bow shape, you’ll need napkins with the right balance of softness and structure — linen or thick cotton works best.
Shop Elegant Linen Napkins for Bow Knot Folds
(Soft, reusable, and perfect for year-round styling)
Get the tutorial from @Kyla.Malkani »
Playful Napkin Ring Fold
Napkin rings are your best friend when it comes to place settings. Tighten up the top of a napkin and slide a napkin ring towards the middle. Fluff out the ends for a playful, loose napkin design.
See more at Design Improvised »
Turkey Napkin Fold
For your best Thanksgiving table yet, pull out this trick from Jenny W. Chan — the brains behind the YouTube channel Origami Tree. Note: You’ll need two cloth napkins to make a bird for each place setting — but they’ll both come in handy when it’s time to spoon on the gravy!
Bat Napkin Fold
We would never forget about Halloween! These spooky bat napkins are really easy to fold. Just be sure to press over your final creation with an iron to keep it secure.
Envelope Napkin Fold
Whether you fold a personalized card or a tiny letter inside, this simple envelope is a great way to address your guests. After you make a few simple folds, place a gem or pretty button on top for a touch of glam.
Get the tutorial from @Hauz.and.Co »
Daffodil Napkin Bouquet Fold
Fold your napkin to act as a vase, then cut a paper flower to fit inside for a pretty place setting. For a bit more dimension, use a napkin with a fringe border.
You’ll need a napkin that holds shape but still feels soft and elegant. Fringed edges add the perfect finishing touch.
🛒 Click here to get soft fringe-edge napkins perfect for floral folds.
(Set of 4 | Cotton-linen blend | Available in multiple colors for all seasons)
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built »
Bunny Ears Napkin Fold
Another take on a bunny-themed napkin fold, this vibrant design will add a bit of color to your Easter brunch or dinner. Follow these steps to recreate:
- Fold a cloth napkin in half to make a triangle, then roll it into a long strip and fold it in half again.
- Thread a 6″ pipe cleaner through a bead and secure it around the napkin.
- Insert three 3″ pipe cleaners through the beads to resemble whiskers.
Atrium Lily Napkin Fold
Take your party to the next level with this deceptively easy technique. You’ll definitely want to use square cloth napkins so the shape holds better. To construct the atrium, create three layers by folding the points you’ve made into one another. It’s so much easier than it looks!
Leaf Napkin Fold
Turn an average paper napkin (we suggest a shade of red or orange) into beautiful fall foliage. Start by folding your napkin in half, then accordion fold the entire thing. Connect the two longest points while pinching the connected center together, and you’ll soon reveal the leaf shape.
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built »
Bunny Napkin Fold
Here’s a playful idea for your Easter day table. Start by laying the napkin upside down, with one point toward you. After a series of folds and flips, adjust the ears to your liking.
The Good Fortune Napkin Fold
You may not typically host a dinner party for Valentine’s Day, but these cute fortune napkins might inspire you. Once you’re finished folding, print sweet messages onto small slips of paper to act as good fortunes.
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built »
Flower Napkin Fold
Think outside the vase with this special twist. Take a cloth napkin in the color of your choice, and fold it into a square. Then, flip it over and fold in the corners. Finally, pull out the bottom edges and you’ve got yourself a lovely flower.
Rose Napkin Fold
Give your table just a touch of romance with a lovely rose that’s sure to wow. For this look, take a red washable serviette and fashion it into a long, thin roll. Next, hold the left corner down to make a right angle. Then, start twisting the cloth into a rose. Finally, flip it over and tuck the loose ends into place.
Double Star Napkin Fold
Get twice the glam with a bright “double star” at every setting. To create this look, you’ll need square napkins in the color of your choice. After a couple of quick folds, firmly pull down the sections between the folds until they each form a V-shape. You’ll repeat this step on the other side. Once you achieve your desired shape, allow the napkin to unfold into this beauty.
