Christmas Napkins: How to Choose, Fold and Style Them

Of everything on a holiday table, the napkin is the thing your guests actually touch. It lands in a lap, it gets pressed to a corner of a mouth, it gets tucked beside a plate while someone tells a long story. So it is worth choosing well, and it is one of the easiest places to bring a little Christmas without redecorating the whole room.

This is how we think about Christmas napkins: which fabrics earn their keep, when a bit of embroidery is the right call, what to do with napkin rings, and a few folds that take about ten seconds each. If you have already read our guide to Christmas table decor and settings, think of this as the close-up on one layer of it.

Start with the colour you will use again in January

The napkins that get used most are the ones that do not need a holiday to justify them. A soft, neutral linen can sit on a Christmas table in December and a Sunday lunch table in March, and nobody will think twice. A red napkin with a snowflake on it will not get that second life.

That is why we like to build in two tiers. Choose a base set in a colour you love all year, then add one festive set, a few napkin rings or a pair of placemats to say Christmas. Your table looks seasonal, and your linen drawer stays useful.

If you are weighing up a few colours, here is how some of ours behave at a holiday table:

• Stonewashed Linen Napkins in Cream are the quiet choice. They let candlelight and greenery do the talking, and they sit nicely against deep red or dark green plates.
• Stonewashed Linen Napkins in Clay bring a warm, earthy tone that suits a rustic or woodland table, especially next to wood, brass and evergreen.
• Stonewashed Linen Napkins in Slate Blue make a cooler, frostier table. Pair them with white dinnerware and a silver candlestick.
• Stonewashed Linen Napkins in Grey are a calm backdrop when the food, the candles and the people are already colourful enough.
• Stonewashed Linen Napkins in Pale Pink are a softer, less expected choice, lovely with ivory ceramics and a few sprigs of pine.

You will find the rest of the colours in our Napkins collection. If you are searching for linen napkins in Canada, that is the page to start from.

Linen or cotton for a holiday table?

Both work. They just feel different, and it helps to decide which feel you want in the hand.

Linen has a relaxed, slightly crumpled texture that looks right even when it is not perfectly pressed. It softens with every wash. If you like a table that looks gathered rather than staged, linen is the one. It also tends to cost a little more per set, which is worth knowing before you buy for a crowd.

Cotton is smooth, easygoing and a good fit for everyday use. The Calla Cotton Napkins in Seagreen bring a soft, fresh green that reads as Christmas without any holly attached, and the Calla Cotton Napkins in Hemp give you a natural, oatmeal tone that goes with just about anything on the table.

A simple rule: if the napkins will mostly sit on a plate as part of the look, choose linen for its texture. If they will get a lot of use at a long, messy family dinner, cotton is a comfortable, practical pick. You do not have to choose only one, and mixing the two in a single table can look wonderful as long as the colours are related.

When to add a festive pattern

A patterned Christmas napkin is at its best as an accent, not the whole story. The Holiday Toast Embroidered Napkins are a set of four with a toast design embroidered on them, a cheerful detail for a hosting dinner. Because the embroidery carries the festive note, everything around it can stay simple: plain plates, plain glasses, a single colour of candle.

If you are using a patterned napkin, keep these in mind:

• Let the pattern be the busiest thing at the place setting. Choose solid plates and placemats around it.
• Fold it so the embroidery shows. A loose rectangle or a simple half fold keeps the design on top.
• Use it for the first course or the whole meal, but not both a patterned napkin and a patterned placemat at the same seat.

Napkin rings and what goes through them

Napkin rings are the smallest decorative decision on the table, and often the most effective. They tidy up a rolled or folded napkin, they add a bit of metal or colour at each seat, and they are the easiest thing to change between occasions. They are also a quietly useful gift for a host, and they pack flat.

For Christmas, we reach for three kinds:

• Gold and brass for a warm glow in candlelight. The Resin Napkin Ring in Gold has a polished finish that suits just about any napkin colour, and the Brass Flora Napkin Ring adds a little flower detail if you like something with more shape to it.
• Beaded rings for a touch of colour. The Corsica Beaded Napkin Ring in Green sits naturally on a table with evergreen, and the Corsica Beaded Napkin Ring in Yellow is a bright, happy surprise against a deep colour like slate blue or clay.
• A sprig instead of a ring. A small piece of cedar or rosemary tucked into a plain fold does the job beautifully if you would rather not buy anything extra. Keep it dry and clear of candle flames.

One practical note: a ring is only as good as the napkin it holds. A thick, stiff napkin can be a squeeze, so test one before you set the whole table.

Placemats under the napkins

Placemats do two jobs at once. They protect the table, and they give each napkin a frame. If your napkins are neutral, a festive placemat adds the colour. If your napkins are patterned, a plain textured placemat lets them breathe.

The Bon Appetit Embroidered Placemats in Green and the Bon Appetit Embroidered Placemats in Red are sets of four with an embroidered design, and they pair well with cream or grey linen napkins. For a more natural look, the Willa Woven Placemat in Stone and the Maja Maize Placemat in Natural bring texture without any seasonal motif, which means you can use them well past Boxing Day.

If you have a long table, a runner will do some of this work for you. Our table runner guide covers length and overhang, and our tablecloth guide helps if you would rather dress the whole surface.

Three easy ways to fold a Christmas napkin

You do not need origami. A good fold is quick, repeatable and leaves the napkin easy to pick up. These three cover most dinners.

The loose rectangle

Fold the napkin in half, then in half again, so you have a soft rectangle. Lay it across the dinner plate, or to the left of the forks. This is the simplest fold and it shows off an embroidered or patterned corner. It looks best when it is a little imperfect, so do not press it too flat.

The cutlery pocket

Fold the napkin into a rectangle, then fold one long edge up to make a pocket and slide the knife and fork in. This is a good one for a buffet or a casual family dinner, because guests can pick up napkin and cutlery in one go. It works particularly well with a heavier linen.

The ring or band

Roll or gather the napkin loosely and slip it through a ring, with the ring a third of the way along. Lay it on the plate with a small sprig tucked into the ring if you like. It is quick, it looks finished, and it is the fold we reach for when we are setting for a crowd.

Whichever you choose, do all of them the same way. Consistency across the table matters far more than the cleverness of any single fold.

How many napkins do you need?

Count one per guest, then add a few spares. Most of our napkins come in sets of four, so a table of eight is two sets, and a table of ten is three, which leaves you two extra for spills or for someone who arrives with a surprise guest. If you want to change napkins between courses, double the number. It is usually easier to buy one more set than to launder in the middle of a party.

Most dinner napkins run roughly 18 to 20 inches square. Check the details on each product page for the exact size, since it varies by set.

Caring for your holiday linens

A few habits make napkins last for years:

• Check the care note on the product page before the first wash, since different fabrics and embroidery need different handling.
• Treat red wine and cranberry quickly. Blot, do not rub, and rinse with cool water before it dries.
• Wash embroidered napkins on their own, so thread does not catch on anything else.
• Press linen while it is still slightly damp for a crisper finish, or leave it relaxed and a little rumpled for the lived-in look we like best.

Three palettes to borrow

Evergreen and cream. Cream linen napkins, a gold ring at each seat and the green Bon Appetit placemats. Add some cut cedar down the middle of the table.

Red and natural. Hemp-coloured cotton napkins on the red Bon Appetit placemats, with a natural woven placemat layered underneath for texture.

Frost and brass. Slate blue linen napkins with brass rings, white plates and a few pillar candles. It is a cooler, quieter table and it looks lovely in snow light.

For more hosting pieces, including tea towels, embroidered table linens and bottle stoppers, have a look at the Holiday Kitchen & Tabletop collection. If you are also thinking about the kitchen side of hosting, our guide to choosing and styling tea towels is a good companion.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Christmas napkins for a dinner party?

Linen napkins in a soft, neutral colour are the most versatile, with an embroidered or patterned set as an accent. They suit a formal meal and a relaxed one, and they stay useful after the holidays.

Should Christmas napkins match the placemats?

They do not need to match, but they should be related. If one is patterned, make the other plain. Two different patterns at the same seat tends to look busy.

Are cloth napkins worth it for a big gathering?

Yes, if you have the sets for it. Cloth napkins feel nicer, look better and create less waste. Buy an extra set or two for spills, and treat stains early.

Do I need napkin rings?

No, but they make a simple napkin look finished and they are the quickest way to add a festive detail. A sprig of greenery works if you would rather not buy rings.

How do I stop napkins looking too formal?

Fold them loosely, do not press them flat, and choose a relaxed fabric like linen. A slightly imperfect fold looks more welcoming than a razor-sharp one.

A well-set table does not need much. A good napkin, a ring that makes you smile and a little candlelight is plenty for people to settle in and stay a while. You can browse the whole range in our Napkins collection whenever you are ready.