Easy Valentine’s Day Napkin Folds (Three Adorable Step-By-Step Ways)

The little scrap of fabric sitting right in front of dinner guests can be the perfect opportunity to make a tablescape more special.

The unassuming napkin can be used not only to add color and texture to the dinner table, but it can also make each place setting shine with the theme.

And with Valentine’s Day around the corner, do you want to set a table that shows how much you care? These three different creative napkin folds only take minutes, and are an easy way to add charm, whimsy, and romance to any kind of Valentine’s Day table setting!💕

What you need to make Valentine napkin shapes.

First of all, you’ll need square fabric napkins. Cotton and linen napkins hold their shape best (iron them before if needed). Silky polyester, wrinkle-resistant fabrics will be harder to work with because they’ll always want to lay smooth. And while these napkin folds could technically be made with square paper napkins, the result would be quite small and they wouldn’t lay the same way.

You don’t necessarily need to invest in new cloth napkins just for this one occasion. You may have red napkins from Christmas. And for Valentine’s Day, you’re not limited to only red. Try white or any shade of pink. I bought these affordable hot pink cloth napkins, knowing I can reuse them for spring and summer. Plus I thought they’d look super cute for a girls’ Galentine’s Day gathering!

How to make an envelope napkin fold.

Transform the napkin into a special Valentine at each place setting with this DIY napkin envelope. “Seal” the envelope napkins with a heart sticker or pretty bauble. Or insert a place card, menu, or special message for each guest.

1. Lay a square napkin out flat in a diamond in front of you.

2. Fold up the bottom point to meet the top, making a triangle.

3. Fold the left point of the triangle into the center.

4. Fold the right point of the triangle in to meet the left.

5. Fold the right side into the center.

6. Fold the left side in to meet the right.

7. Fold the bottom up to the top of the side folds.

8. Fold over the flap to close the envelope. (Or leave it open and insert a Valentine’s message or gift!)

How to make a heart napkin fold.

There are several ways to fold a napkin into a heart, but this draped heart fold is my favorite because it’s quick, elegant, and frankly doesn’t have to be as precise.

1. Lay a square napkin out flat in a diamond in front of you.

2. Fold up the bottom point to meet the top, making a triangle.

3. Start at the long edge of the triangle and make an accordion fold: fold about two inches of fabric down.

4. Flip the napkin and fold that two-inch fold back the other way stacked on top of the first fold. Continue back and forth until you have about a two-inch point left (usually about four folds).

5. Lay the napkin in place on the table. Hold the stack of pleats together in the center with one hand and bring the right side straight up with the other hand.

6. Repeat with the left side (it will look like bunny ears at this point).

7. Continue to hold together the middle and tightly twist the top corner right point of the napkin.

8. Tuck the twisted point up under the rounded heart curve that formed when you twisted the end.

9. Repeat with the point on the left side. Puff and adjust the shape and drape folds until you’re happy with the heart shape.

How to make a rose napkin fold.

This romantic rose napkin fold is not only elegant for a Valentine’s Day dinner but is also perfect for Mother’s Day, a bridal shower, or any special occasion where you want to add a pretty, feminine touch.

1. Lay a square napkin out flat in a diamond in front of you.

2. Fold up the bottom point to meet the top, making a triangle.

3. Starting at the long edge, fold in the very bottom. The width of your fold will determine how tall the rose will be. A thin fold will make the rose a little taller, and a wider fold will make the rose shorter.

4. Roll the napkin up toward the point, roughly keeping the width of that fold. Leave a bit of the point – about double the height of the rolled-up part.

5. Flip it over so that the point is right side facing up and the rolled napkin is lengthwise in front of you. Starting at one end, roll the napkin all the way up until you reach the other end of the napkin.

6. Pick up the rolled napkin and hold it together in one hand.

7. With the other hand, tuck in the outer, loose end into the back to hold the rose together.

8. Flip the rose over face down and gently pull apart the two points left sticking out to form the “leaves”. Take care not to pull the rose apart.

9. Flip it over and place it on the plate, in a cup, or a wine glass.

Move over Miss Fancy Centerpiece, it’s napkin’s time to shine. You’re not the only one who can set the stage for Valentine’s Day. 💖

Don’t forget to pin this one to your tablescape ideas board for reference when you need it. And I’d love to see some of your Valentine tables in the comments!

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