The Fan Fold

For a more formal table, consider folding your cloth napkins into a fan.

This is true of a bird in paradise fold or a fan fold.

Others, such as pocket folds, will lie flat on the table.

Orange cloth napkin folded in a ring on top of white plate

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

In these cases, they should be set to the left of your cutlery setting.

Simply folding your napkin flat is the easiest way.

It is also very simple to roll it up and secure with a napkin ring or tie.

A stack of Bedding Craft Cloth Napkins in Roasted Pecan color on a beige background

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Begin by placing the dinner plate in the center of the place setting.

The spoon should be set to the right of the knife.

Finally, place the water glass in the top right corner, above the knife.

Orange cloth napkin folded in half with silverware placed inside fold

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Orange cloth napkin slid into ring halfway down

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Orange cloth napkin unfolded with accordion folds fanning out

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Orange cloth napkin rolled and slid through napkin ring

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Elegant dinner table with napkin envelope fold

Studio-Annika / Getty Images

The drape napkin fold

Shaw Photography Co. / Getty Images

Double diamond napkin fold

El Arte de Doblar / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED

silky gray napkin in a bow tie fold

@crystal.belle.home/ Instagram

Four-Leaf Clover Napkin Fold

The Spruce

Bunny folded napkin

Bogdan Kurylo / Getty Images

Triple Pocket Fold Napkin

Nalata Nalata / Getty Images

Lotus napkin fold

Guy-ozenne / Getty Images

The knot napkin fold

annabogush / Getty Images

Leaf napkin fold

Luis Diaz Devesa / Getty Images

Fan napkin fold

RelaxFoto.de / Getty Images

Heart fold napkin

eleonora galli / Getty Images

Bird of paradise napkin fold

pawcio601 / Getty Images

Napkin folded into a rose on plate

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

Napkin folded into a Christmas tree

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

White and black linen striped square fold napkin

Anna Kurzaeva / Getty Images

Triangular napkin fold

Westend61 / Getty Images

Conical napkin fold

neirfy / Getty Images

Star napkin fold

Andrei Zonenko / Getty Images