We’re Hosting Dinner Parties Just so We Can Use These Cloth Napkins

Most of the time when I throw a dinner party, I put out a roll of paper towels in the middle of the table—an effective way of supplying my guests with something to wipe food off of their faces and hands. Sometimes, I even rip and fold individual pieces for everyone! I own nice glasses, proper plates, and real silverware, which is plenty to make my place settings look sophisticated enough.

Or so I thought. A while back, someone gifted me a set of rosey pink linen napkins and forever changed my hosting game. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not setting these out on every occasion. There is still a time and place (and a number of people…) for paper. But now if I want to play dress up, I can.

Sure, there is an ease to the trash can, to simply throwing out your napkins and forgetting all about them when dinner is over. But sometimes, it’s not about ease. Sometimes it’s about going the extra mile.

Below are some of my favorite picks for cloth napkins, whether you want to make a statement or keep things simple. Some are sold singularly, some in sets, but regardless, if you want, say, eight (an ideal dinner party number), think about mixing and matching colors, or even overall designs. The world is your tablescape, as they definitely don’t say, but probably should.

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