How to beautifully fold paper napkins into a napkin holder: from a lush fan to a complex lotus

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Any housewife knows that the mood and atmosphere of the event depends on the table setting. There doesn’t have to be some kind of celebration to fold the napkins beautifully, because during a simple dinner it’s also nice when the table is decorated beautifully.

Napkin table decoration plays a significant role in proper table setting. There are many ways to fold paper napkins beautifully and attractively. Depending on the type of napkin holder, there are a lot of options for how to design it, and in cases where there is none, you can also “get out”.

Every woman, if desired, can learn the art of folding napkins, starting with the simplest and most common methods, then master this skill and become a real pro! The most pleasant result is a great appetite and a great mood!

How to beautifully fold paper napkins into a flat napkin holder

Just putting a small pack in a napkin holder is boring, but quick. Therefore, you need to understand: it will take time to fold paper napkins beautifully.

Napkin holders also come in different varieties, depending on its type, you can choose the method of installation.

You can place napkins in a flat napkin holder in the following ways:

Lush fan;
Crown;
Like a bird.

Lush fan method

To beautifully arrange napkins like a fan, you need to fold the square of the napkin so that you get a triangle, and then, by placing the napkins on top of each other, form a fan.

To make the fan magnificent, you need to insert two fans into the napkin holder: on one side and on the other, then it will be more convenient to pull them out.

It is better to choose the color of napkins based on a combination of colors: you can choose plain, delicate colors, you can alternate colors and play with contrast, or you can create a fan using the amber technique - that is, a transitional range of colors from darker to lighter.

“Crown” styling option

The method of folding napkins into a paper crown is not very different from a fan. It is also necessary to fold triangles from napkins and place them in a napkin holder so that the two sides “look” at each other, and insert three triangles into the middle with the point up.

Another interesting idea for laying napkins - in the shape of a bird.

Making a bird is a little more difficult and takes longer. To fold napkins in the shape of a bird, you need to take a paper square, put it in a diamond shape and bend the opposite corners, and then fold it in half again - this will be the tail.

Depending on how many such trapezoidal blanks are made, the bird’s tail will become more magnificent.

To make the bird look attractive, you need at least 10 blanks for the tail, but no more than 15. Next, you need to twist one square of the napkin into a rope, and bend its small edge to the side - this is the neck and head.

In order to assemble a bird from blanks, you need to insert the trapezoids into each other, forming a fluffy tail, and insert the neck and head into the napkin holder.

Another type of napkin holder decor is a paper rose. If you fold the napkins into a fan or a crown, you can add some zest and decorate with an unusual rose, which is not that difficult to do.

It will be much more effective if the color of the napkin for the rose contrasts with the rest of the napkins in the napkin holder, for example, a red rose and a white napkin fan, or a pink flower and a yellow crown.

To make a rose you need to follow the following algorithm:

Take a paper napkin and unfold it;
Fold the napkin in half to form a rectangle;
Bend one of the short sides of the rectangle a couple of centimeters from the edge;
Wrap the bent side around your finger so that the edge is at its base;
Place the second free finger of the same hand and hold the future bud with your thumb;
Without pulling out your fingers, begin twisting the stem to the middle;
Towards the middle, bend one layer of the remaining napkin and form a leaf, then continue rolling until the end;
Spread the bud, turning out the petals, forming it into a rose.

The drawing below will serve as a hint for twisting the rose.

Such a rose can be inserted into a napkin holder where napkins are already folded just for decoration; it is unlikely to be suitable for fulfilling its direct function.

Simple layout methods

When setting the table, in addition to fabric napkins, paper napkins are often used. Napkin holders are used to place them. This is a special device that comes in a wide variety of variations in terms of color, shape, and materials. The following product forms are especially popular:

square;
triangle;
seashell;
abstract figures.

The layout does not depend on the type of stand. Before you decide how to beautifully fold napkins into a napkin holder when serving, you should familiarize yourself with the most common methods.

Fan

You can beautifully fan fold napkins into a napkin holder - this is a simple and quick method. It is usually used if there is a casual lunch or get-togethers with friends. You can create a more vibrant figure by using beautiful products in different shades. There are two ways to fan out:

single;
double.

Creating such a figure is quite easy:

First you need to bend the paper squares diagonally into a triangle.
Then you should lay out the napkins one on top of the other in a stack.
Then slightly move the corners of the product, forming a fan.
All that remains is to place them with the base in the napkin holder.

The number of napkins depends on the stand: the products should be placed there freely so that they are convenient to take when necessary.

The double method provides the same placement order, but with some differences:

The elements are folded into a triangle.
Form a fan. To do this, the short side of the first napkin is placed horizontally, the long side will be at an angle of 45º. The following parts are positioned with a slight offset. As a result, the long side should stand vertically.
Fold the second fan in the same way.
The resulting elements are placed in a stand so that one overlaps the other.

Crown

This figure is made up of nine triangles, which must be distributed evenly across the napkin holder:

Three figures are bent at the top, forming an internal fold.
Three even parts are placed in the center of the composition.
The remaining triangles are placed on the right side.

Laying out the crown is not difficult - it is only important to carefully fold the napkins in accordance with the algorithm.

Yellow paper napkins laid out in the shape of a crown look great.

Corners

This method is perhaps the simplest. Simply fold the napkins diagonally and place the items on the stand. It is better to take several shades and alternate them. One of the short sides should be laid horizontally, the long side at an angle of 45º. The long part of the first product is directed to the right, the second - to the left, the third - to the right again, and so on. The short parts are in a horizontal position and aligned with each other.

Sail

Creating such a figure is not at all difficult. To do this you will need:

Unfold the napkin completely and arrange it in a diamond shape.
Fold the element in half to form an isosceles triangle. The angle should “look” down.
Bend the top layer of the figure - you get a new triangle, the corner of which is directed upward. Between these two parts a distance of 1.5-2 cm should be maintained (the base of one element is superimposed on the base of the second).
The next layer also creates a triangle pointing upward. The base of this figure should be at a distance of one centimeter relative to the base of the previous one.
Do the same with the remaining two layers.
Turn the resulting figure over to the left and fold it in half.
Place the napkin on the table and straighten the layers, carefully separating them from each other. The result will be a figure resembling a sail.

Bird

To implement this layout method, you need to perform the following steps step by step:

Napkins for the bird's tail need to be bent into a trapezoid.
Then put all the parts on top of each other, forming the tail part.
A rolled-up piece of paper is used as the head, the end of which is bent and turned to its side.
All parts must be installed in the napkin holder.

To create a bright, colorful bird figure, it is recommended to use paper products of different colors.

Carefully placing napkins in a napkin holder-glass

Previously, cups served as napkin holders. The most common way of placing napkins in a glass was "Sultan". Laying with a plume is not complicated; you just need to connect two opposite corners of a square napkin to form a horn. We insert this horn into the glass, the next horn can be turned in the other direction, the next one in a third direction - this way the design will look more voluminous and interesting. In total, you will need 10-15 of these horns.

The “tower” method of folding napkins is not very different from the “sultan” method. Napkins are also folded into a cone and arranged in this way: three napkins are directed in one direction, the next three in the other, and so on.

Not only can you insert a “bird” into flat napkin holders, you can also insert a “peacock” into a glass. To assemble a peacock, you need to fold one napkin like an accordion and open it halfway in the form of a fan, and from another napkin fold a triangular neck, the corner of which is bent forward - this is the head and beak.

You can also put a rose in the glass, which can be folded according to the diagram in the figure presented above and placed individually for each person. Perhaps such a paper napkin will not be used for its intended purpose, but it will set the atmosphere of the meal and the mood of its participants.

Placement in glass

It happens that a napkin holder is not at hand when you need to set a festive table. In such a situation, you can beautifully fold paper napkins into a glass. There are several interesting ways of this placement:

Candle. The paper product must be folded into a triangle, leaving about two centimeters from the edge. There should be a triangle underneath. Next, the workpiece needs to be turned over and carefully twisted, forming a candle. The material can be folded evenly, and there will be a straight candle, or you can do it slightly obliquely and place the figurine in a glass.
Fan. To implement this method, you need to build a rectangle from a napkin. On the wide side, you need to fold the product like an accordion, forming a fold in the central part. After this, you should place it in a glass, straightening the edges.
Cone. This method requires thick napkins to make the figure beautiful and elegant. To create a cone, the product needs to be folded into a triangle, and then bent like an accordion - about four folds. After which the corner is placed in a glass.
Flower. To implement this method, a napkin is lowered into the glass, covering the walls. The following paper products are distributed similarly, filling the space inside the bowl. A bud formed from a napkin is placed in the very center.

To create a bright table decoration, any of the following methods will do. At the same time, the table setting will look beautiful and original, even if a special stand is not available. It is important to show imagination and lay out the napkins as neatly as possible.

Fan

Cone

Candle

Flower

Neat folding of napkins using origami technique

Sometimes folding paper napkins turns into the whole art of origami. There are many ways to beautifully serve paper napkins that can be placed directly on each person’s plate.

Bright Aster

To serve napkins in the shape of an aster folded using the origami technique, you must adhere to the following algorithm:

Lay out the napkin completely in one layer and place it in front of you;
Bend the opposite sides towards the middle and turn the resulting rectangle across;
Fold opposite sides toward the center again;

The folds must be carefully pressed down so that the flower holds a strong shape.

Now you need to return to the second point, spreading out the napkin, where you get four even folds, dividing it into 4 rectangular parts;
From the finished four rectangles you need to make 8 - these will be aster petals;
Fold the napkin like an accordion, starting to fold it towards you, then away from you;
To prepare aster petals, you need to make three-dimensional triangles from the resulting folds;
Next, the edges of the folds are tucked inward and bent into a petal;
If all the edges of the folds form triangles, you can connect the two outermost ones, and the aster will be ready;
Carefully transfer to a plate.

For this serving method, it is better to choose thicker napkins and brighter floral colors.

spinner

In 2021, few people do not know what a spinner is; the popularity of spinning toys is rapidly gaining momentum. So you can use this figure in table setting by folding a napkin using the origami technique.

First, you need to lay out the napkin in one layer and place it on the table in front of you;
Each of the four ends of the square must be bent towards its center;
Then fold the napkin in half;
Place the folded napkin so that it lies across the table and fold two opposite sides towards the middle.
All that remains is to move each triangle in its direction in the following direction: upper right - to the right, left - up, lower right - to the right, lower left - down.

The spinner is ready, it will look better on a plate, but since it is not bulky, you can make several of these spinners and fold them into a flat napkin holder.

Swan

The most romantic way to serve with napkins is to fold them into birds. The origami technique can help turn an ordinary meal into a romantic evening by folding a couple of swans from napkins.

There is no need to lay out the napkin, but the corner in which all four corners are free should face down.

Fold the napkin diamond in half to determine the middle;
Lay it out again into a rhombus and fold the right corner into the center along the fold line;
Also fold the left corner and turn the workpiece over to the other side;
Bend the same sides to the middle, and bend the top corner to the very bottom;
Form a swan's head by bending a small part towards the top;
Now you need to unfold the bird blank and make a fold along its body;
Straighten the swan neck and place it at an angle at your discretion;
Using the wide part of the bird's body, you can install it by aligning its head;
Form a swan's tail using the top layer of a napkin, lift and straighten;
To make the tail fluffy, you also need to straighten the remaining layers of the napkin.

Swans look good on a plate, and you can choose any color; swans in contrast are especially interesting - when the lower part of the napkin is white and the upper part is colored.

How to fold paper napkins if you don't have a napkin holder

There is a very chic way to fold paper napkins beautifully without a napkin holder. You can put a napkin near the plate or directly on the plate individually for each person, or you can collect a magnificent lotus and place it in the center of the table. This decoration made from paper napkins is suitable for special occasions.

To make such a lotus, you need to prepare:

Scissors;
Colored paper napkins: it can be green and red, yellow and pink and other colors at your discretion;
Threads and a needle are needed to fasten the base so that the structure is stronger.

For a three-dimensional flower, you need to make 12 blanks of green color or another shade of your choice - this is the base. For the flower itself you will need 96 pink (or other color) blanks.

A folded four-layer napkin should be placed in a diamond shape towards you;
All sides, starting from the top corner, need to be collected in the center;
Turn the napkin over and fold the corners up;
Fold in the middle outwards - the workpiece is completed.

It is still necessary to make 11 such parts. As soon as the modules are assembled, they need to be strung with a thread and a needle so that you get a circle - a wreath of blanks. The flower stand is ready.

Now you need to collect the flower itself. Flower petal blanks are made according to the same principle as for the stand. As soon as the petals are ready, we place them on the stand, helping with a flat object so that the upper part fits into the lower one.

After the first row, the next layer needs to be slightly raised up and built in a checkerboard pattern, alternating and filling the space with boat petals.

You will get approximately eight rows; if you need a smaller flower, the stand will need to be made smaller in diameter. Then you will also need fewer napkins.

Using the same principle, you can collect not only a lotus flower, but also a pineapple!

Secrets of success and choice of materials

To make the composition work, listen to these recommendations:

You will have to spend some time creating the composition. It is recommended to practice before serving so that you can do everything quickly on the appointed day.
Choose a color scheme. Every detail must be harmoniously combined. If it's hard to decide, choose neutral white.
Wash your hands before starting work, because the canvas will be used by guests in the future.
Dry the dishes first so that your paper compositions do not get wet.
If you can’t do it the first time, it is not recommended to use the craft. The paper loses its neat appearance. Start making a new product.
Don't choose complex patterns if you are a beginner. Focus on simple options. Over time you will get better at it.
For serving, you can use either paper or fabric napkins. From each product you can create a masterpiece.
Try to place the napkin holders so that a person can easily reach the cloth at the right time.

Every detail must be harmoniously combined.
Before a big feast, buy the product so that you have a supply. Everyone should have enough of an important element for hygiene. The patterns listed above are just some of the serving options. Master simple options, after which you move on to experiments. Follow the instructions and everything will work out.

Variations of festive arrangement of paper napkins

Paper napkins can be folded beautifully in a variety of ways, even thematically. Depending on the type of celebration, you can choose the appropriate option for laying out the napkins.

For the New Year

The main attribute of the holiday is the Christmas tree. So you can put a beautiful Christmas tree out of a napkin on your holiday table. For this you need:

Fold the green napkin in half, then in half again - you get a small square;
Place it in front of you in the shape of a diamond and bend each layer of the napkin upward, leaving no more than 2 centimeters between the folds;
Turn the workpiece over, holding its bent parts;
Bend the right and left corners towards each other so that the ends overlap each other;
Turn the workpiece over again and, starting from the top, bend each corner and lay it under each other to the bottom.

For Valentine's Day or Wedding Anniversary

Serving napkins in the shape of hearts is perfect for a themed holiday dedicated to love. To make a heart you need:

Fold a square of paper napkin in half to form a triangle;
The right and left corners of the triangle must be bent towards the middle and up;
Turn the napkin over and bend the top corner to the center, and on the contrary, bend the remaining corners to the sides.
Round the heart by bending the top corners and turn it over to the other side.

For such a “Valentine” made from a napkin, bright colorful colors are suitable: pink, lilac, crimson, red, orange or purple.

On Defender of the Fatherland Day

On men's day, you can serve napkins in the form of a tie, wrapping a fork or spoon in it. The color scheme is best defined in blue, purple, green or light blue. It's good if you have blue checkered napkins.

Place the napkin with the front side (where the design is) down in the shape of a diamond;
Fold the top left edge about a third towards the center and do the same with the top right part so that they are folded symmetrically
Now fold the lower left corner up to the middle, and do the same with the right;
Fold the top part diagonally to the right perpendicular to the bottom part;
Turn this part and go around the tie so that it is already turned to the left;
Place this part to the bottom, forming a knot on the tie, now you can fold the device into this knot.

For Easter

For Easter, you can make an Easter bunny, which is also suitable for children's parties.

Fold the napkin square in half to form a rectangle, fold it in half again to determine the center;
Bend the top corners along the center;
Also fold the bottom corners, and bend the left and right diagonally;
Turn the workpiece over and bend the bottom corner, and wrap the left and right corners into each other, like in pockets;
Pull out the ears and place on a plate or table.

On the eighth of March

A woman will be pleased to receive not only fresh flowers, but also creatively folded roses, lotuses and other flowers made from paper napkins.

Effective patterns for folding napkins

Choose only high-quality napkins to decorate your holiday table. It’s beautiful if the decorative element echoes the theme of the celebration. For example, to decorate a child’s birthday party, use bright colors with unusual pictures. For a romantic dinner, choose calmer, solid colors.

Get creative with the serving process. Don't be afraid to experiment. Depending on the occasion, the product can be given different shapes. The implementation of some schemes is possible only with fabric models; for others, paper options are suitable.

Pay attention to the following compositions that are easy to master at home:

Candle. To do this, you will need thick, plain napkins. Fold the fabric in half to make a triangle. Start twisting the piece starting from the blunt end. The tube is ready. For reliability, secure it at the bottom. Now all that remains is to put the resulting components into a glass.

For reliability, secure the candle at the bottom.
Sachet. Fold the cloth napkin in half to form a rectangle. Fold the top edge so that a pocket is formed. Turn the element to the other side. Fold the ends over the center. Now insert the cutlery into the hole.

Insert cutlery into Sasha's hole.
Peacock. You will have to make an effort to ensure that such a napkin becomes a real highlight of your holiday table. To complete this you will need to take two products. Take a napkin and fold the two edges towards each other to form a house. Repeat the procedure again. Bend in half - this is the neck. Now bend the tip perpendicularly. Form a tail. To do this, fold the napkin into a fan. Assemble the structure. Now you can put it on the dining table.

You will have to make an effort to ensure that such a napkin becomes a real highlight of your holiday table.
Rabbit. This will be a decoration for the Easter celebration. To do this you will need a square napkin. Fold it so that it forms a thin rectangle. Fold the top edges in to mark the center point. Now connect the top and bottom corners. Turn the bottom edges. Thread a string into the resulting pocket. Pull out the ears. Place the craft on a plate.

The rabbit will decorate the Easter celebration.
Christmas tree. Such a decorative element will create a festive mood and delight your guests. Fold the napkin in half to form a rectangle. Fold the top and bottom edges like this. To make a house. Fold the structure again to form a square. Repeat the procedure until you get a regular triangle. Connect the structure. The Christmas tree is ready to decorate the New Year holiday.

Such a decorative element will create a festive mood and delight your guests.
Rose. A universal option for any holiday. Lay out the napkin and fold it diagonally. Now fold this triangle in height. Repeat the procedure. To make a flower, you will need another napkin. Form a rectangle and start wrapping along the axis. The bud is ready. Place the composition in a glass.

A universal option for any holiday.