Napkin Folding Techniques

Setting a dinner table with beautiful linens, place settings, and gorgeous centerpieces can really liven the ambiance. The guests will appreciate the hard work that you put in by turning the occasion into a festive meal for all. There are many ways in which you can decorate a table without purchasing expensive centerpieces and china. Something as simple as dinner napkins can help you into making the transformation for your party. You can definitely turn your casual celebration into a fabulous party with this unique style of table decoration. Why leave them plainly on top of the place settings with a napkin ring fixed in the middle? You can be creative and make fancy napkin decorations that will get you compliments from the guests. Now you too can learn beautiful napkin folding techniques in just few minutes, and here's how.

Different Techniques Used to Fold Napkins

While decorating your living room or table for a dinner party, table napkins can do more than just sit around idly. You can create variety of napkin designs to make the entire table look fantastic. Here are some simple techniques to folding a napkin that doesn't take much time, but sure makes your guests wonder.

Arrow Napkin Fold

• Place the medium-sized white, or any colored napkin on the table. Fold it in half in such a manner that the open end is facing you.
• Take the right corner and fold it toward the center, bringing it in. The shape now should look like as if the left side is a square and the right side is an upside-down triangle.
• Repeat the previous step on the left side as well. Now your napkin's shape resembles a large triangle.
• Take the right flap and diagonally fold it outward. The outer edge should be lined with the far edge of the napkin.
• Repeat the previous step on the left side as well. Now slide both the sides together, so that the napkin bends inward on each side. The center part will come up in a slight loop and your napkin is shaped like an arrow.

Heart Fold

• Place an ironed medium-sized white, or any colored napkin on the table. Fold it in half in such a manner that the open end is facing you.
• Make one more fold in the middle so that you are left with a long rectangle-shaped napkin. Fold the right side upward and vertically.
• Repeat the previous step on the left side as well. The bottom of the napkin will become a pointed triangle.
• The shape of the napkin will resemble the heart. All you have to do is tuck the flaps in the corner underneath the napkin and you're done.

Bird of Paradise Fold

• Place the medium-sized white, or any colored napkin on the table. Fold it in half in such a manner that the open end is facing you.
• Now again fold the napkin in quarters so that it resembles a square. Next, fold it half diagonally, which will make a triangle shape.
• Point the triangle in such a manner that the open tip is facing your side. Hold the napkin with your left hand and diagonally fold the right corner towards you. The fold should line along the center-line and the tip should be pointing in your direction.
• Repeat the previous step on the left side as well. To make the hold stay, place an iron on it for few minutes. You can see that the napkin has taken the shape of a diamond.
• Fold the two flaps together so that you have the original triangle shape again. Place an iron on it again to hold it in place.
• Fold this triangle in half so that the center seam is facing you, leaving the ends to fall.
• To give your bird some feathers, hold the base and pull on the four flaps upward that the corner of the napkin has created. There you have it, your bird of paradise is ready.

Diamond Fold

• Place the medium-sized white, or any colored napkin on the table. Fold it in half in such a manner that the open end is facing you.
• Now again fold the napkin in quarters so that it resembles a square. Next, fold the top layer of the napkin diagonally. Just pull it up and move it to your left.
• Follow the previous step with the second layer but stop slightly before the last fold. The folds should look even, yet giving a staggered effect.
• This way you will have to make four even folds, stopping at even distance from each other. Take the napkin in your hands and fold both sides under it to create the shape of a diamond.
• Make sure it is as flat as possible and your diamond fold will be ready.

Pinwheel Fold

• Place an ironed medium-sized white, or any colored napkin on the table. Take all four tips and fold it inward, toward the center.
• Make a fold right down the middle, vertically. The shape should resemble a vertical rectangle.
• Take both the halves and fold them halfway up and down, towards each other. Make both the edges meet on the centerline. You can see that both the sides' open flaps are facing up.
• Take one flap from the bottom-half and pull it out to the right side and to make a point. Repeat the same thing on the left side as well.
• Take the open right flap and bring it down, towards you. Turn the napkin upside down and repeat the previous steps on the other two flaps.
• Your pinwheel fold is ready with all the four corners pointing outward.

Rose Fold

• Place an ironed medium-sized white, or any colored napkin on the table. Take all four tips and fold it inward, toward the center.
• Flip the napkin upside down. Fold all four pointed corner and make them meet on the centerline.
• All the tips will be folded about ¼ square size on top of the napkin. Now, before we go to the next step, place a glass upside down in the center of the napkin.
• Put some pressure on the glass with your left hand and pull the flaps out from underneath the napkin. These flaps will look like petals for your rose fold.
• Once all four flaps are out, take the glass off your rose and place it in the middle of your dining table.

Whether you choose a cloth or paper, your work will definitely speak for itself. Folding a napkin is definitely easy and can be learned in a short amount of time. So go ahead and call your friends over to teach them these fancy designs. Don't forget to boast about all that you've learned!