Napkin folding is a fun and elegant way to turn functional elements of a table setting into miniature works of art. We have covered 8 tabletop napkin folds that compliment a place setting, as well as 7 napkin folds that can be displayed in a drinking glass. The 8 folds in this guide aim the bring even more beauty and utility to the table by including useful pockets that can hold anything from silverware to menu cards.

Simple Rectangle

1. Begin by smoothing the napkin on a flat surface. Then, fold the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge of the napkin up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the top layer of fabric down halfway to meet the fold created in the previous step.
3. Carefully turn the napkin over. Then, fold the two ends in a third of the way. You should see three rectangles of approximately equal sizes.
4. Fold the left rectangle over the middle, then the fold in the right rectangle.
5. Flip the napkin back to the front and slide your silverware into the pocket.

Buffet Pocket

1. To create this look, start by folding the napkin in half so the bottom edge meets the top.
2. Fold the napkin in half again, this time bringing the right edge over to meet the left.
3. You should have four loose layers in the upper left corner. Separate the uppermost layer and tuck the corner behind itself. Only tuck this corner about halfway to create the perfect pocket. The top layer should resemble a cut diamond, not a triangle.
4. Turn the napkin over and orient it so the loose layers are pointing up. Then, fold the bottom and two side corners in toward the middle.
5. Fold the piece in thirds, right over left, and turn back to the front. Slide your silverware into the perfect pocket.

Simple Diagonal

1. Start by folding the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the upper right corner down toward the center so the right edge meets the bottom fold.
3. Fold the napkin in half, bringing the righthand triangle over the lefthand square. Turn the piece over.
4. Fold the napkin in thirds, right side over left. Flip the piece back the front and add your silverware.

Diagonal Trio

1. Begin by folding the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the napkin in half again, bringing the right edge over to meet the left edge.
3. You should have four loose layers in the upper left corner. Separate the uppermost layer and tuck the corner behind itself, creating a triangle.
4. Repeat step 3 with the next two layers, tucking each layer slightly less than the last so it peeks out from underneath.
5. Carefully flip the piece over and fold it into thirds, folding the left side over, then the right.
6. Flip the piece back to the front and add one piece of silverware into each of the created pockets.

Leaves

1. To create this look, begin by folding the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the napkin in half again, bringing the right edge over to meet the left edge.
3. There should be four loose layers in the upper left corner. Fold the top layer down toward the bottom right, leaving it just short of the corner.
4. Fold one to two more layers down, leaving each layer just short of the one before it.
5. Carefully flip the piece over, orienting it so all the folded layers are pointing down.
6. Fold the left corner across a third of the way, followed by the right corner. Turn back to the front and slide the silverware into the pocket.

Diagonal Stripes

1. Begin by folding the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the napkin in half again, bringing the right edge over to meet the left edge.
3. You should have four loose layers in the upper left corner. Take the corner of the first layer and fold it halfway to the center. Then, fold it over twice more.
4. Now take the second layer and fold the corner halfway to the center. Fold it once more to line up with the first stripe.
5. Turn the piece over, being careful not the let the stripes unfold. Then, fold the piece into thirds, right over left.
6. Turn back to the front and add your silverware.

Striped Cone

1. Begin by folding the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the napkin in half again, bringing the right edge over to meet the left edge.
3. You should have four loose layers in the upper left corner. Take the corner of the first layer and fold it halfway to the center. Then, fold it over twice more.
4. Now take the second layer and fold the corner halfway to the center. Fold it once more to line up with the first stripe.
5. Turn the piece over, orienting it so the two remaining loose layers are pointing upward.
6. Fold the left corner a third of the way over on the diagonal, followed by the right corner. This should result in an elongated kite shape.
7. Turn the piece over and slide the silverware into the pocket.

Triangle Pockets

1. To start, fold the napkin in half, bringing the bottom edge of the napkin up to meet the top edge.
2. Fold the top layer of fabric down halfway to meet the fold created in the previous step.
3. Turn the napkin over and fold the bottom left corner up to the center, bringing the left edge up the meet the top edge. Repeat on the right side. This should result in a downward pointing triangular shape.
4. Fold the left edge of the triangle over to line up with the center line. Repeat with the right side to create a kite shape.
5. Fold the two loose corners at the top of the kite behind the piece, creating a triangle.
6. Slide the silverware into the two pockets at the front.