THE BEAUTY OF CLOTH NOT PAPER

THE BEAUTY OF CLOTH NOT PAPER
Over the years, we have hosted quite a lot of events, parties and meals here at FrenchGardenHouse. We’ve had birthday dinners for over 50, holiday brunches, lunches and dinners for our family, girlfriend get-togethers, cocktail affairs, wedding and baby showers, children’s parties and more. For all of these, I've worked really hard on eliminating all plastic and paper from our entertaining arsenal.

Antique French Napkins

Cloth Napkins are one of the things that truly elevate your event. Your table setting always looks exquisite if there are "real" cloth napkins. I know, paper is easy. But I think you will agree that there is nothing that compares to how linen napkins feel. Even when we have a large group of people over for a casual dinner in the garden, I choose cloth not paper. We've had sit-down dinners here for over 50 guests, family and friends, where each one had a beautiful cloth napkin.

Antique French Napkins | Antique Double Fan Napkin Ring

My trick for that? I use all white for large groups, so I can throw all of them in the washer and dryer, until next time. The beauty of using all white napkins is a great trick, because you can happily mix and match napkin sets that are antique with new.

Sterling Silver Napkin Rings

As long as they are all white, they all will look uniform and delight your guests. For smaller groups, there is such a range of luxurious, beautiful colored cloth napkins!

Blue Linen Napkins

I love cloth napkins so much, that I am an equal opportunity admirer of both antique napkins and new napkins. These navy blue linen napkins were the star of last year's Thanksgiving Dinner Setting >

Natural Linen Bee Striped Napkins

It’s just so much nicer for your guests to be able to use real dishes, forks, and napkins, they are more substantial, and say “you are special.” Which brings me to another reason I prefer cloth napkins.

Antique Fern Napkin Ring

Napkins that are cloth can be washed, and you will find that your guests, who will think nothing of using 2-5 paper napkins for a meal, will be quite satisfied with just one cloth napkin. Ultimately, a good quality cloth napkin is less expensive than paper, and of course there is our environment to consider.

Antique French Monogrammed Napkins

For your family table, you could adopt the "napkin ring system" used by my European Mom. Each one of us had our own silver napkin ring, so that we always used our "own" napkin at the table until it was time to wash them and replace them with a freshly laundered one.

Antique Lace De Venise Napkins

Some of you have emailed and asked about the how to's of using and cleaning cloth napkins, so here are a few tips. {And yes, I know, most of you are probably thinking...no...duh. } But hopefully there is some encouragement to be found in these easy "tips' for serving up your table settings in luxurious style.

Ruffled Linen Napkins

TIPS FOR USING CLOTH NAPKINS WITH STYLE AND EASE: 1. I’ll admit, for the linen napkins I use, I don’t iron them. I take them out of the dryer right away, and fold, and store. that’s it. I don’t mind if they are a little rumpled. 2. I set the table with one napkin per place setting. These days, napkins are so pretty, that it’s a shame to just fold them, I like them on top of the plate. 3. I put a few extra napkins on the table near me, because they can do more than wipe and cover. I use napkins at the table to line the breadbasket, to use as potholders for a serving dish that is a little warmer than comfortable to hold, and I also dispense napkins as needed to guest who may want/need more than one. {as is often the case when my darling little people are over.} 4. After the party is over, I gather the napkins in a pile, and check if there are any big stains that need attention. I will spray or rub a stain remover on the spot {although this is almost never necessary} and either put the napkins in the laundry room in a bucket of water to soak, or directly into the washer. That’s all there is to it! I'm giving you a little preview peek at my latest napkin obsession: these gorgeous linen napkins embroidered in red for the holidays! {Coming soon - I love these, and am very excited to be able to get them for our FrenchGardenHouse French Holiday Collection.} I hope you will consider switching from paper to cloth... and enjoy the luxurious feeling of linen at the table. DO YOU USE PAPER, OR HAVE I SWAYED YOU TO USE CLOTH? Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com

34 comments

Rhonda, so happy to meet a fellow “pretentious” friend…I am not a big fan of anything plastic.

I actually asked for a “real” cup for my cappuccino in a breakfast restaurant here in Newport the other
day, I figured if I’m paying 5.00 for a coffee I would like that to be in a real cup!

Lidy

I’m one of the few people in my family who cannot stand plastic cups, and plastic utensils, and paper plates! And yes, I get laughed at, lol. I’ve been known to carry my own fork & spoon with me, haha! Paper plates are ok for sandwiches & chips, but real plates for everything else, haha!! And yes on the cloth napkins! And yes I get accused of being pretentious- but so be it!! Thanks for the timely post!

Rhonda Bridges

Cloth all the way…fabrics and linens are my weakness and I’m always on the look out for runners and cloth napkins to use on my table as we entertain quite a bit. I find contentment in washing/ironing them and putting them away for the next time to use. =)

Sue Malizia

Thanks Lidy, I see you’ve answered that!

Ginger Valdes

Ginger: I’ve found that for lipstick stains, if I gather the napkins after our guests have left, and soak them overnight in a bucket of warm water with Oxo-clean, then wash in the morning, they come right out! You have to make sure the napkins won’t bleed (colorfast) but this really works.

Lidy

Alice, my grandmother in Europe did this too, and you are right, it works a charm!

Happy Monday, friend!

Lidy

I must admit, I use paper when home by myself, but ALWAYS use linen when I have guests. I’m also concerned with lipstick stains. Pinky’s idea is a good one, but also wondering about your take on that problem.

Ginger Valdes

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, Elaine! I sometimes use paper too, mostly on holidays for drinks and appetizers or dessert,
but love the linens. You are right, they are easier in many ways!

Lidy

Thank you so much, Sherry! I agree with both your Moms!! xo

Lidy

Lidy, I agree with you! My mother and my mother-in-law say that you should always have cloth napkins when serving a meal. I have hosted Thanksgiving at my house for over 20 years and I always think of them when I pull out my napkins. Your napkins look beautiful!

Sherry Cole
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