Alpha Living Home Harvest Leaf Napkin Rings, 12-Piece

There is something truly special about a formally-set dinner table. Whether it’s for a religious celebration like Christmas or Hanukkah, a family milestone like a birthday or wedding, or just a Tuesday when you want to take out the fine china, the meal feels more special when extra care is taken in the table setting. In addition to using beautiful dishes and flatware, having cloth napkins with napkin rings adds an old-world touch.

There are two main types of napkin rings: standard and figural. A standard napkin ring, as the name suggests, is a fairly basic design consisting of a ring-shaped vessel in which a cloth napkin is pulled through. A figural design is more ornate, with a small sculpture sitting on top of the ring. The figure can be something concrete, like a butterfly or a bird, or abstract, like a pattern of jewels. Both kinds of napkin rings can be made from a variety of different materials, including metal, wood, glass, porcelain and more. Setting your table with napkin rings elevates the entire meal, bringing a sense of sophistication and elegance.

• A napkin ring may be a small table accessory, but it brings with it a lot of classic charm. The materials and style of the napkin ring you choose will help to showcase the style of your dinner table. If you like a casual or bohemian style of tableware, opt for napkin rings made from wood. Their natural feel brings an outdoorsy vibe to your table. If you prefer vintage or more classic tablescapes, then go with a metallic napkin ring that has a delicate design. A leaf figure or an abstract pattern in the metal looks delicate and sophisticated.
• Consider how many napkin rings you will need for your table. They come in different groupings, such as 6, 8 and 12. If you have a large group of family and friends, then opt for a larger package of matching napkin rings.
• Keep in mind that you can also mix and match napkin rings — not everyone needs to use the same kind. For an eclectic table setting, you could provide guests with two or three different styles of napkin rings: Choose rings with varied figures on them or ones that are made from different materials.