NAPKIN ETIQUETTE

Nothing says more about your table manners than the way you use your napkin. The napkin is a beautiful accessory at the dining table and there is definitely napkin etiquette to be followed y'all!

Most napkins are square...cocktail napkins are 4 inches, tea serviettes are 12 inches, luncheon napkins are 14-16 inches, and dinner napkins are 22-26 inches.

In formal tablesettings, the napkin should be white, ivory, or a pastel color, matching the tablecloth. In the formal setting, the napkin must be placed in the center of the service plate with the monogram facing the diner.

Here's a formal placesetting with the napkin in the most proper place...on top of the plate.

For informal settings, napkins may be any color or pattern...gingham, polka dots, floral, et cetera--to add color or to coordinate a theme. In the informal setting, napkins may be placed to the left side of the plate, left of the forks {not under the forks}. They may also be placed under the plate, in the goblet, wrapped around flatware, or any other place the hostess chooses to display them.

Here's an informal placesetting, with the napkin to the left side of the forks...

Here's a proper Afternoon Tea Setting. The tea serviette is adorned with a teapot-motif napkin ring...with the point of the serviette facing the diner.

There are numerous books written about napkin folding and fancy folding styles. The rule of thumb to remember is that the fold should always be closest to the plate. However, this isn't really all that important. What is important to remember is that you should not iron the napkin folds flat {iron the napkin but not the folds} and that all the napkin folds on your table face the same way!

Here's a napkin wrapped around the flatware and adorned with a paper napkin ring which coordinates with a golf theme...an informal tablesetting.
Here's an informal tablesetting for children--using paper napkins folded with the folded edge nearest to the plate and placed to the left of the fork...

This rooster motif napkin was used at an informal breakfast setting and is folded in such a way as to display the cute little rooster...

Napking rings are one of my favorite table accoutrements. They make a lovely adornment for napkins and are only used at an informal tablesetting.

When using napkin rings, set the table with the point of the napkin facing the diner. After the napkin has been removed from the ring, the ring should be placed at the top left side of the placesetting. At the end of the meal, the napkin should be placed back in the napkin ring, with the point facing the center of the table.

I have a confession to make y'all! While I was looking back at photographs of my tablescapes, I noticed that I have not always placed napkins in my settings facing the correct way! GASP!!!!

This is incorrect...

Again, incorrect. Cute, but incorrect!

A holiday display...incorrect!

Fourth of July bash...incorrect!

How did I make those mistakes? Who knows? I'm so rushed with everything I do in life and I have no excuse. Except for the pink & green one...I wanted to show that Lilly pattern! Does it matter? To me, absolutely! I am a perfectionist and certainly don't want to confuse any of you who may be learning to set the table properly. So I dearly apologize!

Now, sometimes I do get everything right...

This is the correct way a napkin should be placed inside the napkin ring...

I was having a good day when I placed this napkin inside the cute snowflake ring...

Correct placement of the red napkin inside a Christmas tree-motif napkin ring...

Totally organized at Halloween when I placed this solid black napkin inside the cute witche's hat napkin ring--the correct placement...

So remember y'all, this the way the napkin should be placed after the meal is complete...facing the center of the table!

Whether you are dining at McDonald's or at the Ritz...here are some napkin etiquette rules you need to know:

~Wait for your host or guest of honor to take their napkin and place it on their lap. Then pick up your napkin and place it on your lap. Fold large napkins in half and place the fold towards your body. Open small napkins completely.

~Do not open your napkin by shaking it; open it discreetly under the table.

~Do not block your lipstick on your napkin, use a tissue.

~Do dab the corners of your mouth with your napkin--don't wipe your mouth!

~Unless you are eating lobster, wearing a bib around your neck at the table is totally tacky! {Only children under the age of 5 wear a bib!} You may take a napkin and spread it across your chest and then use the other hand to eat really messy foods...that is acceptable.

~Please don't use your napkin as a handkerchief...that is just gross!

~If you need to leave the table during a meal, place your napkin on the seat of the chair. A napkin is never returned to the table before the meal has ended!

~At the end of the meal, the hostess will pick up her napkin and place it loosely on the table, to the left of the plate. At that time, you should also place your napkin on the table. If napkin rings were used, return the napkin to the napkin ring, with the point facing the center of the table, to the left of the plate.

So that's it for napkin etiquette! I hope you have learned something new and useful to YOU today. Remember, it is never correct to point out an etiquette faux pas that someone has made. That would be tacky! However, I simply had to tell y'all about my napkin etiquette faux pas!

Thank you for visiting with me today.