My husband calls me an organized hoarder, mostly just about napkins and table linens. But here’s the thing — I believe they’re an essential part of a table setting, they store easily, they’re simple to swap out, and they make me happy.
Regardless of the type of hosting you most enjoy, every hostess needs a good napkin collection. Here are some tips that I have amassed over the years… just like my napkins.
Must-have napkin staples
Whites and neutrals are always winners in my book
~Invest in some nice white cotton dinner napkins. They instantly dress up a table, no matter what you’re serving. I like Pottery Barn’s Caterer’s Napkins. Find them here. They are sturdy, white, relatively wrinkle-free, and they hold up wash after wash.
~Linen napkins add a cool, casual vibe to your table, but make sure you’re okay with the wrinkled, lived-in look. Having to iron these every time you use them is a pain. Instead of ironing, I take them out of the washer and hang them over a chair. Alternatively, the steam cycle on your washer can work wonders for this. H & M washed linen napkins are a nice price point, and a great place to start your napkin collection – get them here.
Best bargains for colors and prints
Yellow is super versatile — pair it with black & white for a crisp look, blue for a French Provencal style, purple & pink for a colorful Spring fete
~If you want the biggest bang for your buck, napkins in your party color are great way to go. Check out World Market’s buffet napkins for an incredible color palette — at $9.99 for 6, they’re a bargain.
Red and orange napkins courtesy of World Market
Shades of blue for every occasion and theme
~Napkins with a classic print can go a long way. Black & white stripes or navy & white polka dots are patterns that can used in many settings and themes. I like browsing the home departments at Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx and Home Goods for these.
This beauty is one of my favorite napkins. Find these Black Broad Stripe Napkins here
Non-fabric options
~Don’t overlook paper placemats and runners. They’re a great way to change up your table setting and if someone spills, just toss and tear out a new sheet! Twoscompany.com, kitchenpapers.com and hesterandcook.com are good sources for paper options. A nice place to start your collection might be plain Kraft paper placemats, a chalkboard paper table runner roll, and maybe something with a whimsical print like sprinkles or confetti for those special celebratory occasions.
Black & white striped paper table runner — easy to roll on, easy to roll off. Buy it here.
Great advice! I love table napkins & have a collection growing & now need to figure out better storing options. How many do you usually buy per set- 4? 6? 8? xo Kyranna
Hi Kyranna!
Great question! I usually buy 12 napkins, because I have a large family and I never seem to have enough of a certain kind when I really need extra. It also depends on how many come in a set. If you entertain a lot, I would say a minimum of 6. You can always use extras for a bread basket, or underneath serving platters as additional decor. Happy to know that others collect napkins too 🙂
Xoxo
Lory
LOVE fabric napkins, too… but the stains! Any tricks or hints on removing food, lipstick and wine stains? XOXO
Hi!! Yes, those pesky stains can be a bugger. I’ve found that the Oxi Clean Max Force Gel Stick has worked wonders for my napkin stains. Rub it on the stain and let sit for 10 minutes, then wash in warm water (I like Tide with a bit of Oxi Clean detergent). I always hang my napkins dry so that if the stain isn’t gone, I can try again and the stain will not have set in the dryer heat. Also, I will let my white napkins dry in the sun for extra brightness. For red wine stains, there’s a spray product called Vino 911. I’ve had success with that too! xoxo
Do you have any type of pointers for creating posts?
That’s where I constantly struggle and I simply wind up gazing empty screen for very long time.