12 Pretty Napkin Folding Ideas for Your Holiday Table

These easy techniques will instantly elevate the decor of your dinner party.

There's a lot of pressure nowadays to create the perfect tablescape for dinner parties and holiday gatherings thanks to social media. It's all about getting the shot for your feed. However, we believe it doesn't have to be this way! You should decorate your table how you like best and without a ton of stress—your guests will be happy to sit at your table regardless. But if you do want to kick up your table settings just a notch, and with minimal fuss, you can easily accomplish this with some beautiful napkin folds. It's a simple element, but it can pack a huge punch! We rounded up some of the prettiest examples you can copy for your next celebratory meal.

Related: How to Set a Table: Basic, Casual, and Formal Table Settings

A Simple Knot

This table set-up, created by Hawaii-based party planning company For the Good Events, is eye-catching because of the jewel-like, amber-colored hobnail glasses, brass silverware, and woven chargers. But what seals the deal? The simple and elegant knotted napkin resting on the plate. So it doesn't feel too sparse, and to add another dash of color to the palette, a few herb sprigs are placed alongside it.

French Fold

For the Good Events also styled this setting; ceramic bud vases and a woven charger offer a relaxed vibe, as well as the casually folded napkin (similar to a French Fold) beneath the dinner plate. Though it's placed diagonally, as shown above, it still looks neat and very intentional.

Wrapped Plate

For the Good Events offered even more inspiration with this very autumnal tablescape they designed—the various shades of orange don't overwhelm because they're broken up by the woven raffia charger and cream dinnerware. We love how the orange napkin, which is wrapped and knotted around the appetizer plate, perfectly matches the table runner!

Linen Pumpkins

For your Thanksgiving table, or any fall-themed gathering, try this sweet pumpkin napkin arrangement. Sherry of Undertheaspen on Instagram managed to make this by cleverly bunching up a linen napkin around a napkin ring. The real stem leaf is a beautiful, natural touch. To get this exact look, you can watch her recreate it here.

Christmas Tree Folds

When it's merry, merry season, consider this slightly more elaborate napkin for your setting. This Christmas-themed tabletop created by Kelley of Coastal Kelder is taken to the next level with the tree-shaped, linen napkins. They add a fun, festive shape to the table, and keeping them the same color as the placemats prevents the table from looking too busy. There are lots of tutorials out there for this type of nakin fold, but TODAY has a video that's easy to follow here.

Tucked Herbs or Greens

If you have quality linens, you should definitely show them off. Here, SFERRA highlights one of their gorgeous napkins by folding it with some foliage tucked into the "pocket." We think this short video tutorial on Youtube from RMBO Collective is pretty helpful for recreating this look!

Diamond Pocket

Here, a white SFERRA napkin looks anything but plain thanks to the sophisticated diagonal folds. It looks complicated, but RMBO Collective demonstrates how to easily get the look here.

Fortune Cookie

Okay, have you ever seen a fortune cookie-shaped napkin?! If you haven't until now, you can thank Robin Baab of Olazko Interiors. It's a fun, multi-dimensional way to display your linens, and the name tag is a clever detail. Fortunately, you can learn how to do with with this handy how-to video she created.

Furoshiki Bundle

This is Robin Baab's take on the classic Japanese gift wrapping technique called Furoshiki, and it's a brilliant way of enveloping a gift or party favor! Plus, it's so easy to bundle up your souvenir—no real instructions are necessary!

Bow Tie

If you really want to push the gift-giving angle of your festivities, opt for this bow tie napkin fold created by Sarahli Wilcox of Hauz & Co., which is held together by a napkin ring. You can watch her assemble this fold in her Instagram reel.

Love Letter

A very sweet alternative to the Furoshiki Bundle, use this "love letter" fold to conceal a note or tiny gift for your guests! We love how Sarahli Wilcox of Hauz & Co. added a little "seal" to make it look realistic. (You can also watch her put this one together in the Instagram reel we mentioned earlier.)

Draped Napkins

Perhaps one of the easiest things you can do to really fancy up a table is simply drape a folded napkin over the edge! We love how event space Willow in St. Louis, MO used bright yellow napkins to pop against the white tablecloths here.

Related: How to Plan an Epic Dinner Party on Any Budget, According to a Chef

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