Fancy Napkin Folding

Folded napkins are one of the easiest ways to add a punch of panache to a tabletop. The 17 fancy napkin folds below are ideal for dressing up wedding place settings, party tablescapes, or the tables at any fine restaurant or event. Each fancy napkin fold features photo and written step-by-step instructions so you can easily create each fold for yourself. Simply click the link below the fold you want to learn to jump right to the instructions!

For elegant and disposable napkins that are perfect for folding, check out our Touch of Color, Linen-Like napkins, and Better Than Linen napkins. Our Flat Pack napkins arive unfolded and crease-free, which means they're ready for you to fold right away.

Birthday Candle Napkin Fold	Boot Napkin Fold	Bunny Napkin Fold
Butterfly Napkin Fold	Fish Napkin Fold	Lily Napkin Fold
Opera Napkin Fold	Pinwheel Napkin Fold	Place Card Napkin Fold
Rosette Napkin Fold	Shirt Napkin Fold	Square Napkin Fold
Star Napkin Fold	Sun Napkin Fold	Swan Napkin Fold
Tropical Lily Napkin Fold	Wave Napkin Fold

How To: Birthday Candle Napkin Fold

The birthday candle napkin fold is naturally perfect for a birthday party celebration.

1. Begin with napkin flat like a diamond in front of you.

2. Fold bottom tip up to form triangle.

3. Fold top tip down a third.

4. Fold down a third again.

5. Fold down a third once again to meet bottom edge.

6. Fold left tip in and under itself. This will be the “flame."

7. Roll from the left side to the right side.

8. Tuck the end on the right side in and prop on a cake plate.

How To: Boot Napkin Fold

This playful boot napkin fold can be used for any number of occasions! It could be a sneaker for a sports party, an elf boot for a Christmas occasion, or a baby boot for a shower.

1. Begin with napkin flat in front of you.

2. Fold bottom and top halves to center.

3. Fold in half along center line so open edge is toward you.

4. Fold ends in to center with the left end a little longer than the right end.

5. Fold left and right corners in leaving a finger's width in the center.

6. Fold in half to create triangle.

7. Fold top layer up and tuck corner in.

8. Fold bottom layer up to match top layer and prop on plate.

How To: Easter Bunny Napkin Fold

The Easter Bunny napkin fold makes a playful addition to any Easter meal table.

1. Pre-make a napkin band from a ribbon and a cotton ball.

2. Fold bottom edge up a quarter.

3. Fold bottom up again another quarter.

4. Fold bottom up again another quarter.

5. Fold bottom up to meet top.

6. Fold right end up.

7. Fold left end up.

8. Fold left and right corners in.

9. Fold right side in to center.

10. Fold left side in to center.

11. Roll right and left sides in and slide on napkin ring.

12. Turn over and pull up tip. Prop on plate.

How to: Butterfly Napkin Fold

This playful napkin fold is great for spring and summer or a kid's birthday party.

1. Fold napkin in half like a triangle with point toward you.

2. Fold point up to upper edge.

3. Fold right side down to center.

4. Fold left side down to center.

5. Fold bottom under napkin to form triangle.

6. Fold bottom half up leaving about an inch tip at the top.

7. Pull triangles down from underneath.

8. Fold up center and situate wings to look like a butterfly.

How To: Fish Napkin Fold Fold

The Fish Napkin Fold is a fun addition to a summer tabletop or a themed kid's birthday party.

1. Begin with napkin flat in front of you.

2. Fold each corner in.

3. Fold in half so the folded edge is on the bottom.

4. Take top left corner and fold it down to bottom right corner.

5. Turn over and fold top right corner down to bottom left corner. It should be a triangle.

6. Fold top layer of left side to the center.

7. Fold top layer of right side over top.

8. You can stop now for a larger fish. Keep folding for a smaller fish.

9. Turn around so point is on bottom. Fold left side in.

10. Fold right side in.

11. Fold left and right tips down.

12. Turn over and prop on plate.

How To: Lily Napkin Fold

This elegant fold is a great way to tie together the napkins and goblets.

1. Fold napkin in half.

2. Fold in quarters.

3. Fold accordion-style with corners facing up.

4. Fold in half and place in goblet.

5. Fluff out sides.

How To: Opera Napkin Fold

This elegant fold reminds us of the Sydney Opera House, but it also resembles a skirt, perfect for a little girl's birthday party or a bridal shower.

1. Fold in half with closed edge toward you.

2. Fold in quarters and turn so napkin is a diamond in front of you with open edge up.

3. Fold bottom up.

4. Fold left and right sides in to center.

5. Fold bottom corners under napkin.

6. Gather napkin at bottom and fold along center line.

7. Pull each layer down.

8. Fluff each layer so it's curved down and prop on plate.

How To: Pinwheel Napkin Fold

Your guests will delight in this playful napkin fold! It's perfect for any number of festive occasions.

1. Fold each corner of the napkin in to center.

2. Fold in half.

3. Turn so napkin is long-ways in front of you and fold bottom half up.

4. Fold top half down.

5. Pull out top right triangle.

6. Pull up top left triangle.

7. Pull out bottom left triangle.

8. Pull down bottom right triangle. Prop on plate

How To: Place Card Napkin Fold

This fold is ideal for an upscale dinner party or wedding where guests receive seating assignments.

1. Fold napkin in half.

2. Fold in half again.

3. Fold right end up to center.

4. Fold left end up to center and turn over.

5. Roll left side up.

6. Roll right side up.

7. Fold left roll to center.

8. Fold right roll to center, prop on plate, and insert place card in the slot.

How To: Rosette Napkin Fold

The rosette napkin fold is a pretty addition to a baby or bridal shower tabletop!

1. Fold Fold napkin in half like a triangle with long edge toward you.

2. Roll from bottom to the top.

3. Start at one and start coiling napkin in.

4. Finish coiling napkin in and tuck end into the rosette.

5. Push center of rosette up a little from the bottom.

6. Prop in bowl.

How To: Shirt Napkin Fold

This fun napkin fold is great for a boy's baby shower or a Father's Day celebration.

1. Begin with Fold napkin flat in front of you and fold each corner into center.

2. Fold right and left sides in halfway.

3. Turn over.

4. Fold top edge down about a quarter inch.

5. Turn over.

6. Fold top right and left corners in to meet at center and form the collar.

7. Fold bottom right and left corners out.

8. Fold bottom up and tuck it under the collar. Prop on plate.

How To: Square Napkin Fold

This simple and elegant napkin fold is ideal for any occasion. Set this fold in the center of a plate and tuck silverware inside.

1. Begin with Fold napkin flat in front of you and fold bottom edge up to center.

2. Fold top edge down and each corner in.

3. Fold right and left corners in to center.

4. Turn over.

5. Fold each corner in to center.

6. Turn over, insert silverware, and prop on plate.

How To: Star Napkin Fold

The star, or starfish, napkin fold looks great placed in the middle of a dinner plate on any festive tabletop.

1. Begin with Fold napkin flat like a diamond in front of you.

2. Fold top corner down.

3. Fold right corner down.

4. Fold left corner down.

5. Turn over.

6. Fold bottom corner up.

7. Fold up along center line.

8. Push bottom left corners down and fluff top flaps out to be the “arms" of the star. Adjust and set on plate.

How To: Sun Napkin Fold

The sun napkin fold is a festive way to celebrate an alfresco dinner party.

1. Fold Fold napkin in half and unfold to create a center line.

2. Pull up a section of the bottom half.

3. Fold up to center line to form a pleat.

4. Pull up a section of the top half and fold down to center line to form a pleat.

5. Turn over and situate so napkin is long-ways in front of you. Begin folding accordion-style from the bottom.

6. Fold accordion-style to end.

7. Tie a string or ribbon around the center.

8. Fan out the top and bottom halves to form a sun. Prop on plate.

How To: Swan Napkin Fold

The swan napkin fold is based off the traditional swan origami fold. It's perfect for any elegant party or wedding table setting.

1. Fold napkin in half with open edge toward you.

2. Fold in quarters.

3. Turn so it's a diamond in front of you with open corners to the bottom. Create a crease along the center line.

4. Fold left corner over center line.

5. Fold right corner to meet the other side.

6. Fold top flap back to meet right edge.

7. Fold bottom flap back to meet left edge.

8. Fold top tip down a little past the bottom tip.

9. Fold the tip up to create a beak.

10. Fold in half along center line.

11. Pull body and neck of swan away from each other.

12. Spread out base and set on plate.

How To: Tropical Lily Napkin Fold

This is a simple napkin fold that looks elegant, like a tropical lily.

1. Fold napkin into a triangle with long edge toward you.

2. Fold right and left sides up to center.

3. Fold bottom corner up about an inch.

4. Fold tip of corner back down to base.

5. Fold top layer down and tuck under.

6. Fold next layer down and tuck under.

7. Turn over and roll into circular shape.

8. Tuck ends into each other and prop on plate.

How To: Wave Napkin Fold

The wave napkin fold has a ruffle down the center to add dimension to an elegant place setting.

1. Fold napkin in half.

2. Fold in quarters.

3. Fold top layer of napkin accordion-style until it reaches the center.

4. Situate so napkin is a diamond.

5. Fold in half to form triangle.

6. Turn over.

7. Fold in half.

8. Pull together to form circular shape and tuck one end into the other. Prop on plate.