The choice and use of napkins for table setting
Decorating a table gracefully means turning a dull day into a celebration. Table napkins are a product that will help create a festive atmosphere. In this article, we will consider all aspects of decorative design with napkins.
Varieties of napkins
Since the days of knights and noble ladies, fabrics have been used during meals, to cleanse the hands and face. Thus, people stopped using their own clothes to remove dirt, and napkins became fashionable. In the modern world, there are a great many variations of this product. The classic version is square, white, the most popular size is 50 by 50 cm.
Table setting today is a masterful decoration with various types of napkins. There are two most popular varieties among consumers:
- Fabric. This product is used to protect clothing from contamination while eating (on your knees). In cases where paper napkins are not provided for by a certain table arrangement, the described products are used to wipe hands and lips. They are made from: linen, cotton, silk or synthetic consistency. A variety that in most cases is used for a beautiful design, as a decoration detail.
- Paper. The most popular product on any occasion. The traditional etiquette of our society is formed in such a way that paper varieties are used at dinner at home, in a restaurant. The best disposable face and hand wipes, affordable price, many colors and shapes. This type has a clear practical purpose, but is often used to decorate the table.
Important! On holidays, fabric and paper options are often combined. They complement each other from a practical and aesthetic point of view.
Napkins are also divided according to their intended purpose:
- tea rooms - for breakfast (35 by 35 centimeters);
- canteens - at any meal (46 to 46).
There are many different types of napkins, they differ in color, shape, patterns, material of manufacture. They are selected according to their individual preferences.
How to choose napkins?
Any meal means the presence of napkins. They are a must for a festive dinner, and besides, you need to have an idea of how to properly arrange traditional products.
When choosing napkins, the following points should be considered:
- holiday theme (birthday, New Year, dinner party);
- the interior of the room, the tone of the tablecloth (the color of the product should complement the decoration of the house);
- the form of the holiday (how the event will take place, standing or sitting);
- the preference of the owners of the house.
For any holiday, you can purchase products with a corresponding, original pattern.
Note! In a seated position, guests always wipe their hands or lips more. If the celebration is planned as a cocktail or an aperitif (standing), the proportion of napkins is significantly reduced.
Where and how to place the napkins correctly?
Knowing the correct way to fold table napkins is a sign of good receptionist manners.The correct styling scheme also minimizes the risks of contamination of guests' clothes, or the transformation of the napkin into "greasy matter".
Tips on how to properly lay out napkins:
- use both fabric and paper types;
- when serving food in portions, it is recommended to put a napkin between the devices;
- an interesting option is the availability of dishes for these products;
- for paper, it is better if there is a napkin holder on the table;
- the traditional option for placing textile varieties is under the plate;
- preferable when napkins are combined with a tablecloth;
- you can select products in accordance with seasonal changes, the theme of events;
- it is recommended to fold products beautifully, giving them various attractive shapes;
- beautifully decorated napkins are laid out on a plate;
- you can touch your lips with a napkin before and after drinking wine, so women will not have lipstick on the glass;
- any type of product described is an individual thing (using someone else's is bad taste and absolutely not a hygienic action);
- after a meal, napkins can be left near the plate, slightly curled up.
Additional Information. According to the etiquette, it is forbidden to use napkins as a handkerchief, moisten in a glass for cleaning clothes, and it is not recommended to put waste on a napkin.
How to fold napkins beautifully?
The question of how to fold napkins beautifully is of interest to many people who intend to arrange a reception at home. For special, solemn occasions, it is not enough just to put decorative items on the table, they must be effectively folded.
If the event takes place with the family, details are taken into account less, you can simply use a napkin holder, without elegant styling. And when a lot of strangers are invited to the holiday, you should try to surprise the guests with decorative folding of napkins.
Fabric products can be pre-ironed and starch at the same time. For each celebration, you can choose your own original styling method. How beautiful it is to roll napkins on the festive table, there are many ways.
Candle
This technique is considered one of the simplest, but very attractive:
- The product is folded into a tube.
- Then the napkin folds in half.
- Placed in a container.
Or the appearance of the candle itself can be complicated in another way:
- A triangle is formed from square products.
- The corner of the figure is bent down.
- The top connects to the bottom.
- Bend the corner on the left side - diagonally.
- Again, the left side is rolled using the roll method.
- The corners are refueled.
- Put the "candle" vertically, bring out the "fire".
Carrot, pink, purple, beige shades are great for a stylized candle.
Important! Folding a napkin with a candle is a good setting for romantic events, a dinner for two, and is perfect for Valentine's Day. Church holidays are also good for such decoration: Resurrection of Christ, Christmas. For the New Year, birthday, a candle is also an obligatory attribute.
Herringbone
Laying in this way is an ideal solution for the New Year. A green or light green shade is just right. The decorative Christmas tree should be placed on a plate. A coniferous tree is formed from fabric or paper in a simple way:
- The napkin folds easily - the direction of the corners is downward.
- The lower part is folded up.
- A similar procedure is followed with each layer.
- Each layer should be facing up.
- The craft unfolds in the opposite direction.
- The right vector folds to the left.
- A similar fold is made on the left side.
- In the front part, the top is turned inside out, this is done with all angles.
Instead of the top, you can attach a candy or other object.
Flowers
Flowers will not be superfluous for any holiday. Since the species diversity of the plants themselves is enormous, we will focus on the most popular flowers:
- Lily.She was even on the coat of arms of the French kings. Noble flower. Decorations in this style are suitable for sophisticated banquets.
- Lotus in pastel colors - fits into the wedding atmosphere.
- Tulips - perfect for March 8th or a bachelorette party.
- Rose is a traditional, elegant plant. Suitable for any occasion, with different colors. Fabric or paper is folded in several layers, and then simply turned inside out in the shape of a rose.
Crown
A great way to emphasize the importance of a person on his birthday. Work process:
- The product transforms into a triangle.
- The right corner is attached to the vertex, in this way we do with the left corner - a square is obtained.
- Turn over the craft.
- We connect the top and bottom.
- The lower corners join, it turns out - a circle.
- The creation is placed vertically, the upper corners are folded.
The "crown" turns to face the birthday boy.
Fan
This technique can often be seen in restaurant table setting. It looks representative, a little impressive.
It develops as follows:
- The top and bottom edges of the square napkin are folded in straight rectangles towards the center.
- The craft is folded in half.
- Now the product is transformed into an "accordion".
- You can make corners in the folds.
- We take the lower part, install the fan.
For a family holiday - original decor.
Heart
For any romantic date, heart-shaped decoration is an acceptable option. What does that require:
- We bend a rectangular napkin in half.
- All parts are turned upwards, in the middle.
- We shift the "heart" to the other side.
- On both sides, we make triangular folds of the corners.
- Turn the object over again.
You can celebrate your wedding anniversary with a dinner with these masterpieces.
How to make do-it-yourself serving napkins?
Fabric products have always been used to decorate homes. Today, this function is performed by cloth napkins. Such crafts can be made by yourself, thus saving money on the purchase of these items. Also, a novice craftsman can make a masterpiece according to his desires.
Let's dwell on serving products. The material must be matched to the color of the tablecloth, or taking into account other individual factors at home. Tools for crafts can be found in every home: scissors, threads, iron, needles, ballpoint pen, sewing machine, etc. Immediately you need to decide on the size.
- Schematic strokes are applied to the fabric.
- Then we begin to cut along the markings (this should be done extremely smoothly and accurately).
- It is better to smooth out the fabric with an iron after the cuts.
- Fold over the edges and iron again.
- Further, the segments are unfolded, the folds are marked with paste.
- The corners are cut according to the markings.
- Then a small deviation from the cut (a centimeter and a half), a seam is sewn on a typewriter.
- The final event is ironing the seams. Then the edges are turned out, stitched with a machine. After work, the napkin is washed, starchy and smoothed again.
Note! Plate napkins are made in a similar way, the best material in this case is linen. Ribbons, bows are sewn, the front segment and the seamy part are connected. Washed, ironed. The material can be taken with a picture.
Napkins nowadays perform several functions. The practical purpose of these products has been known for a long time; today they are becoming attractive decorative accessories for table decoration. Hand-made crafts will become original products that can surprise guests.
Video: how to quickly fold napkins for a festive table?