Tablescaping DIY; Napkin Rings, What, Where and How
Everything You Need to Know About Napkin Rings: Uses, Types, and Selecting the Right Ones.
Napkin rings are small, usually decorative rings that are a great addition to table decor and a wonderful addition to the dining table setting. They are a perfect addition to the tablescape to help carry out the theme of the table setting. In history the napkin ring was a functional and decorative way of keeping cloth napkins neat and organized and specific to each guest at the dining table. Typically, each person at the table was given their own personalized ring to use during meals, allowing them to easily identify which napkin ring and napkin was theirs. When the napkin was still relatively clean after the meal, it was a place to return your napkin back to, to identify it as yours. Sometimes rings would even hold the guest’s individual salt, poison testing, and other material they would need for dinner. More recently napkin rings are typically uniform in style and decorative in purpose. They can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, or wood.
Why use napkin rings
Napkin rings have a variety of purposes, the most common of which is to keep the napkin from falling off the table. They can also be used to identify which side of the napkin is meant to face up on the plate, as well as a way to decorate the table setting.
This bumblebee napkin ring adds a touch of whimsy to this Bumblebee Tablescape and it is a perfect match for the bumblebee cloth napkin. More information about this tablescape here.
This gold shamrock napkin ring was a great addition to this tablescape. I found the tablecloth first and then searched for gold shamrock napkin rings and got lucky. More information about this St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape here.
These black and white polka dot napkin rings match one of the pumpkins on the tablecloth. I bought them a few years ago because I love polka dots. It was serendipity that they matched part of this Halloween tablecloth that I found. More information about this Halloween tablescape here.
How to select the right napkin ring for your needs
Napkin rings come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Here are a few tips on how to select the right napkin ring for you.
When I started tablescaping I bought napkin rings in all the primary colors slowly over time so I would have the colors that I needed. I knew I would be able to use them over and over again. More information about this Fall tablescape here.
What purpose does the napkin ring serve?
Should the napkin ring be small and simple, placed on the side of the plate to hold utensils and napkins in place; or a decorative piece front and center on the plate?
For this sea shell tablescape I decided to fold the napkin around the shell salad and dinner plates and add the napkin ring. More information about this sea shell tablescape here.
Sometimes when you can’t find the napkin ring that you need to match your tablescape you can just fold the napkin beside the plate and go without a napkin ring. More information about this St. Patrick’s Day tablescape here.
What is your budget?
When thinking about a napkin ring collection, consider your budget. I probably go a little overboard because I really enjoy using different napkin rings for each of the tablescapes that I create. Napkin rings can range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on their type and material. Choose something that fits within your budget without sacrificing quality. Remember that you will be using the napkin rings year after year so that sometimes makes the price more easy to digest. Finally, take into account the style of your table setting, and choose a napkin ring that will complement it nicely. There are a wide range of options available so you are sure to find something that matches your taste and tablescape theme.
I love how this vintage peppermint stick napkin ring matches the theme of this Peppermint Candy Christmas tablescape, more information about it all here.
How to store napkin rings
Napkin rings can be a fun and easy way to add a touch of personality to your table setting, but they can also be difficult to store. Here are a few tips on how to store napkin rings so that you can keep them handy when you need them. If you are not using your napkin rings regularly, it is best to keep them in a craft or storage box. This will protect them from becoming bent or damaged. If you plan on using them often, it is best to purchase a ring holder. This will keep them organized and easy to find when you need them. I use clear shoe box sized plastic containers and I label the end. I like them because I can see what is inside. We bought the containers on Amazon and at The Container Store. If I were a perfectionist I would create and print out labels to use but I just wanted to get them organized quickly so I could find things and I just wrote on the end of the boxes. Before they were scattered all over the house and I wasted a lot of time looking for them. The containers are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I have inventoried all of these napkin rings and place card holders. Each one has a photo and a record of how many I have. I have the photos and information stored in folders on my computer. The folders are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I can easily look at the photos and think about the tablescape that I want to create.
This rattan napkin ring works well with an informal Fall tablescape especially when you have a rattan charger on the table as well. You can find more information abou this Fall tablescape here.
Different types of napkin rings available on the market today
Napkin rings come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from a variety of materials. Here are some of the most common types of napkin rings available on the market today.
wooden napkin rings
metal napkin rings
plastic napkin rings
beaded napkin rings
gemstone napkin rings
novelty napkin rings
leather napkin rings
I only have a couple beaded napkin ring sets but this beaded butterfly napkin ring is a favorite. For several years if I found a napkin ring that was more expensive I bought a few at a time over a period of time until I had the number that I needed. There is more information about this beaded butterfly napkin ring and this table setting here.
I love this red leather napkin ring. It was one of the first napkin ring sets that I bought when I started tablescaping. I really like the simple design, more information about these napkin rings and this tablescape here.
Where to find unique and stylish napkin rings
If you're looking for something a little different when it comes to napkin rings, you might want to check out some of the more unique and stylish options available online. Here are a few places to start your search. I usually buy my napkin rings online after I do a Google search by subject. Etsy is a great place to find handmade napkin rings in all shapes and sizes. You can find everything from simple wooden rings to ornate metal designs. Amazon has a large selection of both traditional and novelty napkin rings, as well as a wide variety of materials and prices. I love finding vintage napkin rings and I often find unique designs on Ebay. I actually buy my napkin rings from all over the Internet, a Google search turns up lots of different sources for great napkin rings.
Sometimes I find a napkin ring that is just perfect for my napkin ring collection and I must have it. I love this silver colored skull napkin ring. Halloween tablescapes are some of my favorite tablescapes to create and when I find the right elements like this skull napkin ring it makes the table setting so much more fun to create. You can find more information about this Skulls Halloween tablescape here.
I created a Farm Animals tablescape this last summer and I found farm animal napkin rings, mostly on Ebay. Each place setting had a different farm animal. I just love these cow napkin rings! More information about this tablescape can be found here.
DIY Napkin Rings
Unique napkin rings can be hard to come by, but they don't have to be expensive. In fact, you can make your own napkin rings with a few simple supplies and a little bit of creativity. Here are some tips on how to make napkin rings on a budget.
Use materials that you already have around the house and a hot glue gun to create one for any occasion. There are tons of materials that can be used for DIY napkin rings, including beads, stones, wire, and even old jewelry.
Get creative with your designs. There are no rules when it comes to making DIY napkin rings - so get creative and have fun with it!
Use recycled materials whenever possible. Not only is recycling good for the environment, but it can also save you money on supplies.
Try out different techniques until you find one that you like best. There are lots of different ways to make DIY napkin rings, so experiment until you find one that's right for you.
I had bought these small crabs on Ebay to use as table scatter on a crab themed tablescape a few years ago but they were shiny red when they arrived. Hubby was going to spray paint them orange-red for me so I could use them as scatter on this table setting. My daughter was visiting and I was telling her about my bad luck finding napkin rings and she suggested that I turn these small crabs into napkin rings, genius! So Hubby bought plain wood rings and spray painted the crabs and the rings and we glued the crabs to the rings and suddenly, cheap napkin rings! Any small object can be glued to a wooden or metal ring to create a simple and easy napkin ring. If the color is wrong it is easy to use spray paint to create the color you need. For more information and photos of this crab themed tablescape please click here.
I was working on a tablescape with a travel theme and I wanted napkin rings with maps or flags and I couldn’t find anything close to that. I finally found some pins with country flags on them and I just temporarily attached them to a simple black napkin ring that I had with Sticky Putty. If you go to a hardware store and wander the aisles you can find many different materials that can be turned into napkin rings, all kinds of rings, pipe, and square objects with holes are available. Small plastic items can be found on Ebay or Oriental Traders online or at any party supply store. For more information and photos of this tablescape, please click here.
I was working on a John Deere tractor and farming themed table setting and I couldn’t find any napkin rings that fit the tractor theme anywhere. I finally looked on Etsy for some John Deere scrapbook paper to buy and download. I found exactly what I needed and then we cut it and taped it to a simple napkin ring I already had. Using this technique the possibilites are endless! You could actually recycle the same napkin ring over and over many different times for different themes (or different colors too). To see more information and photos of this tablescape, please click here.
To see over 260 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my new Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392
If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers in January in the Los Angeles area..
Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.
I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!