Features of serving napkins on the table

Each housewife makes sure that she always has order, especially when receiving guests and eating. Table setting is an integral part of good manners and etiquette. Serving items can tell a lot about the household and about the hostess herself. In this article, we will consider the features of serving napkins, what they are for, what materials they are made of, and also consider design options and tips for choosing.

To move on to the features of serving napkins on the table, you need to understand what they are generally intended for. Napkins have two main tasks:

• update the interior and make it more original;
• exclude the possibility of hot or any other liquid getting on the surface of the table or clothing.

There are different variations of napkins:

• special napkins for plates, they are also called substitute mats for hot dishes;

• wipes to protect from food, they are usually placed on your knees to protect clothing from stains;

• hygienic, in order to dry your hands or blot your lips.

Depending on the purpose, napkins are made of various materials.

In this article, we will focus on the stand napkins.

There are a large number of different napkins on the market for certain needs. They are distinguished by size, purpose, materials, as well as the price segment.

Since the world does not stand still and many live in a frantic rhythm, everyone wants to make life easier for themselves, so more and more often it is difficult to find a tablecloth in the kitchen or at family tables at normal times, it is usually replaced with table napkins or coasters.

Consider the popular materials from which the coasters are made.

The napkins are made of genuine leather, they are ideal for hot plates, since the leather is very dense, therefore it helps to keep the varnished surface of the table not heated. At the same time, these accessories can act as a small accent in the interior, complementing the overall style of the room.

Such napkins are eco-style. They are hypoallergenic, safe and extremely durable. They have a large number of design interpretations. Suitable for both everyday receptions and celebrations. Also suitable for hot meals or for serving a tea table.

Ideal for daily use. Napkins are easy to wash, clean, do not take up a lot of storage space, are light in weight, and also have a different design (you can find monochrome, with a pattern). The base of plastic napkins is vinyl.

After all, low-quality vinyl or vinyl with a large amount of impurity is not suitable for hot objects. At first, there will be no change, but the longer something hot is on the surface, the vinyl will begin to bend there more. This can be attributed to the minus of this material.

The napkins have good heat transfer, that is, they can withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees. They are easy to clean, and do not slip on the table surface at all. They have no pattern and are often completely transparent.

Such a person perfectly absorbs sound; the knock of dishes and cutlery against the table surface will not be heard. The disadvantages of this material include the fact that direct exposure to fire is undesirable, since the material is deformed. Another feature is that the silicone can be pierced or cut easily. Therefore, it is better to refrain from any manipulations with sharp objects directly on the product itself.

There are several other types of materials that are used to make napkins.

• Paper napkins. They play more of a decorative role, but they can also protect the table from moisture. Used to wipe hands and lips. Suitable for single use, for example, for a picnic.

• Cotton coverings. As a serving item, they are not used so often, but all due to the fact that they get dirty very quickly, and stains are difficult to remove. Hot food is not handled so well, cotton heats up quickly and transfers all the heat to the countertop. Most often, cotton is used for decorative purposes or as a stand for salad bowls or a tea set.

• Felt napkins most often act as a decorative element. Small elements are cut out of felt, for example, New Year's snowflakes, and they decorate the table, hot coasters.

• There are also other materials for making. Straw napkins look original, as well as a bamboo covering, belong to eco-style. There are homemade napkins woven from twine, beads and vines, knitted from threads. Such coatings are not mass-produced, but are made by artisans.Beaded napkins are most often found in small sizes, therefore they are used to decorate a tea table. You can sew a napkin yourself from the remaining scraps of fabric using the patchwork technique. Here there is a chance to individually approach the features of the interior, choose the color scheme you like more, and also make a non-standard size of the canvas.

• Wooden stands show themselves well in use. They have a long lifespan and withstand hot meals well. The main disadvantage of such stands is that they take up a lot of space, they cannot be rolled up or folded.

Napkins for hot dishes have a wide variety of types. They differ in size and shape. The most popular forms are:

• circle;
• square;
• rectangle.

Less commonly, you can find an oval and a triangle.

Most often, it is square napkins with a size of 30x56. This is the optimal size for a plate, you can easily put cutlery next to it. For breakfast or tea drinking, the sizes of the coasters are 30x30 or 35x35. For a festive feast, 50x50 napkins are suitable. For a small home party, 40x40 coasters are suitable.

Round and oval napkins are selected by diameter, the minimum for the first option is 27 cm, and for the second - 30 cm. They will not be too long and large, but they will be able to accommodate everything you need. If it is necessary to choose a certain diameter, then you can calculate using the following formula: the largest plate is selected and 3-5 cm are added to its diameter, the result obtained will be the required diameter of the napkin.

Beautiful serving options are considered taking into account several factors.

• Subject. It can be everyday use, festive table setting, New Year. Knowing exactly for which event napkins are selected, you can find the necessary option.

• Number of persons. There are packs of coasters for 2, 4, 6 persons.

• The purpose of use is direct or decorative. The direct purpose of serving napkins is to protect the table surface. A decorative purpose is to decorate an empty space in a thematic design. The napkin can be folded with a lotus flower, herringbone or pocket. Also, the name of the guest is put in such napkins. Especially at a big event.

Further, everything will be limited only by taste preferences and interior design, because the coasters are chosen based on the color scheme of the kitchen space and cutlery.

You can also choose a seasonal table setting. For example, in winter, during Christmas Eve, New Years and Christmas, you can lay white napkins with gold intersperses, which will harmoniously overlap with curtains or pillows on chairs. In summer, you can use natural shades - green, yellow or blue. An openwork or lace napkin made of thread or twine will do.

It is worth considering the rules of etiquette. For example, if the meal is held in the morning, then the cutlery and decorations should be calm and light colors. For holidays, anniversaries, brighter colors are suitable.

Old existing napkins, such as cloth, can be renewed.

Serving napkins can be purchased individually or as a whole set.

Many companies, in addition to the production of cutlery, are also engaged in the manufacture of coasters for hot dishes.

• For example, the Chinese company Royal Aurel renowned for its porcelain, the company follows a tradition that has been followed for 15 centuries. But not everyone knows that the manufacturer also presents serving napkins. Unfortunately, they do not come with the purchased service, but they can be purchased separately.

• Famous Polish company Cmielow manufactures porcelain tableware and accessories. Among the accessories there are napkins made of various materials.

• Another Chinese company Lefard makes tableware from ceramics and porcelain, and also has a special section for tableware accessories. In this section, you can find serving napkins, as well as rings for them.

To determine the choice of these or those napkins, you need to pay attention to some factors.

• For what purposes is the stand purchased - will it be everyday use or a festive option.
• An important point is the material of the product. It should be in harmony with the surface of the table, interior items, as well as with dishes.
• In this case, it is worth remembering for what period of time napkins are bought. If this is a one-time event, then you can use paper coverings, if for daily use in a large family, then it is best to choose leather, bamboo or PVC coverings. Silicone and cloth napkins are suitable for the holidays.
• Sizes, colors and patterns are purely individual preferences. Someone needs bright colors in the interior to diversify it. Others love minimalism.
• It is best to choose trusted brands in order to use the purchased product longer, since large companies definitely have all the certificates in stock.