Christmas Plates and Napkins for a Complete Christmas Table

You match christmas plates and napkins by keeping your plates and repeating 1 plain napkin color that echoes a plate color or contrasts with it at all 8 seats. White plates suit burgundy or dark green, patterned plates suit white, and cream plates suit brown. One color, used 8 times, reads as a complete table.

Houseland offers plain cotton napkins in 100% cotton at about 16 x 16 in (40 x 40 cm), sold as 1 piece per order. That single-piece sale lets you buy exactly 6, 8 or 12 in white, burgundy, dark green or brown.

How do I match christmas plates and napkins for a complete Christmas table?

Start with the color already on your plates, then choose 1 napkin color that repeats it or contrasts cleanly with it. Set out 1 dinner plate at about 10 in (25 cm) and 1 smaller salad plate to judge the pairing in real light. White plates take burgundy or dark green well, patterned plates need the napkin to pick up 1 of their 2 main colors, and plain brown suits cream plates. Keep the napkin plain because the christmas tree, christmas lights and wider christmas decor already add pattern and shine around the room.

Repeat your 1 napkin color in at least 2 other spots on the table to tie every setting together. Follow these 3 steps for 6 to 8 seats.

1. Place the same napkin color at all 8 seats, with no second color mixed in.
2. Add 1 runner or tablecloth in a neutral shade so the napkin color stands out against the plates.
3. Echo the color once in a centerpiece ribbon and once in 2 candles, then stop adding new colors.

That repetition helps you decorate dining table for christmas without buying new plates for christmas dinner.

What criteria matter for size, color and material when matching napkins to plates?

A 16 x 16 in (40 x 40 cm) square in 100% cotton gives enough cloth to fold, use on a lap and sit neatly beside a plate. Houseland lists this size in a plain-colored, classic style, so 1 napkin can be folded in half, rolled, or laid flat under cutlery at a 10 in (25 cm) dinner plate. Cotton has more weight than a thin disposable sheet, which helps it stay in place across 2 courses. Check the square shape first, since a much smaller 8 in (20 cm) napkin disappears beside christmas holiday plates.

Keep each setting to 2 main colors plus 1 neutral and the plates and napkins will not compete. For example, use white plates, burgundy napkins and a cream cloth as the neutral across 8 seats, or dark green napkins with brown chargers and white plates. Test 1 full setting under evening light for at least 5 minutes before deciding, because warm bulbs can deepen reds and greens. Leave patterned pieces to 1 item only, such as a christmas garland down the center, while napkins and plates stay plain.

How should I choose between white, burgundy, dark green and brown napkins?

Choose white for patterned plates, burgundy or dark green for plain white plates, and brown for cream or wood-toned settings. Houseland offers these cotton napkins among 13 colors, from White and Beige to Burgundy, Dark Green and Prussian Blue, so these 4 Christmas shades sit inside a wider range. Each napkin is handmade, so dimensions may vary slightly and colors may look lighter or darker on a screen. Order 1 sample color first if your plates sit between 2 shades, then compare it beside a christmas wreath or other decor you already own.

Decide in this order: plate pattern first, table color second, and grandchildren at the table third.

• Patterned plates for christmas: pick white, the calmest of the 13 color options, for a simple look.
• Plain plates on a dark wood table: pick burgundy or dark green so the napkin shows against both the plate and the wood.
• Meals with 3 or more young grandchildren: pick brown or dark green, since darker cotton hides marks better between washes than white across a 2 hour meal.

What are the tradeoffs of cloth vs paper napkins at a Christmas table?

Cloth napkins trade a little laundry for reuse across many meals, while paper trades reuse for no washing after 1 meal. These cotton napkins give a reusable alternative to disposable napkins, helping cut down on single-use table waste over 2 or more gatherings. Soft cotton also stays within reach through a full christmas dinner for 8 guests.

Read this guide to choosing paper or cloth napkins before you decide for 12 guests.

Paper suits a drop-in gathering of 20 or more, while cloth suits a seated family dinner of 6 to 12. Cloth napkins make a strong impression at special occasions, and folding 1 design per person adds flair across a 3 course meal. Disposable napkins are easier when guests move between rooms for christmas games and snacks over 4 hours. Many grandparents keep both: cloth for the main christmas day table at noon, and paper near drinks and desserts where spills and extra napkins are most likely.

From the shop

Christmas Cloth Napkins, 100% Cotton Table Napkins, 40 x 40 cm, Reusable Single Piece

The Classic Cotton Cloth Napkin fits this plan: each plain 16 in (40 cm) cotton piece is sold singly in 13 colors, so you can repeat white, burgundy, dark green or brown at every seat.

View the classic cotton cloth napkin — 4 sizes & current price

How do these plain cotton napkins fit the plates already in my cupboard?

These plain cotton napkins fit plates you already own because 1 solid color adds Christmas color without adding a competing pattern. Houseland describes them as bringing a soft, classic touch to dining tables for holiday meals, weddings, home gatherings and parties. Each order includes 1 plain-colored napkin, so you can choose individual pieces in the colors you want rather than replacing a full set. That helps when you own 8 good plates but only need color at the setting, for a christmas dinner or a smaller christmas eve supper for 4.

You can build the exact number you need because each of the 13 colors is sold as 1 individual piece. Use this 3 part build to decorate dining table for christmas settings around plates you already own.

• Pick 1 cloth napkin color for all 8 seats: choose white for a simple look, or match a colored option to your gathering.
• Repeat that cloth napkin color at every seat, or alternate 2 colors, burgundy and white, in a strict 1 to 1 pattern around a table of 8.
• Add 2 extra pieces later for a larger table without changing plates or buying a new full set.

How do I fold and place napkins with plates for each place setting?

Build each setting from the bottom up and put the folded napkin either on the dinner plate or to the left with the fork.

1. Lay a runner down the center, then set 1 dinner plate of about 10 in (25 cm) at each seat.
2. Add 1 smaller salad or dessert plate on top if you serve 2 plated courses.
3. Fold the napkin in half once and place it on the plate, or set it to the left under the fork.

For shaped folds, see these christmas napkin folding steps and ideas for all 8 settings, one of the simplest christmas dinner ideas for anchoring christmas table decorations at each seat.

A simple half fold works for every seat, and 1 shaped fold per setting is enough extra detail for adults. Fold each napkin in half and place it on top of the plate or to 1 side beneath the fork, a method that takes under 1 minute per napkin for 8 seats. A tree fold echoes the christmas tree theme without new tableware. Keep folds low, under about 4 in (10 cm) high, so grandchildren can see across the table and reach their plates. More folding ideas sit in this festive napkin table setting guide for 2 simple styles.

How many single napkins should I order for 6, 8 or 12 guests?

Order 1 napkin per guest plus 2 spares, because each package includes only 1 napkin in the selected color. That means 8 napkins for 6 guests, 10 for 8 guests and 14 for 12 guests, counting the spares for drops or an extra grandchild. Houseland sells the piece singly, so the count you order is the count you receive, with no hidden set size to divide. Keep all spares in the same 1 color so a replacement at seat 7 still matches the other 11 settings at the table.

Allow for slight size differences, because each handmade napkin measures about 40 x 40 cm, or 16 x 16 in, and dimensions may vary slightly. A difference of a few millimeters will not show in a half fold at 8 seats, but it can show in a tight multi-layer fold repeated 12 times. Fold 2 napkins first and compare their finished widths side by side on 1 plate. If they differ, use the simpler fold for all 12 so the finished shapes stay even across the table.

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