The best Christmas napkins for your festive tablescape

'Tablescaping' is all the rage right now, and Christmas is the perfect time to make a particularly special effort to dress your table. Along with a Christmas tablecloth and eye-catching centrepiece, napkins are the great way to set a jolly mood at your Christmas dining table.

We’ve picked a range of beautiful napkins, from luxury embroidered sets to budget-friendly paper napkins, as well as eco-friendly washable fabric napkins, from high street names including M&S, John Lewis, Tesco and more. Read on to find your perfect match!

The best Christmas napkins to buy in the UK

Sophie Allport Highland Stag napkins

• Buy now from Amazon

Sophie Allport is one of our favourite destinations for cute but classy homewares, and this set of four Christmas napkins is a great example of what makes the brand so appealing. The pretty reindeer illustrations sit against a backdrop of on-trend slate teal. Made of 100% cotton, these napkins are machine washable.

• £19.50 for four

Christmas Joy Peace & Joy Lunch paper napkins

• Buy now from Emma Bridgewater

There's no mistaking the festive spirit of these paper napkins by Emma Bridgewater - emblazoned with 'joy' and 'peace', rocking horses and Christmas trees, all in resplendent tones of red and green.

Plus, at just £3.95 for a pack 20, it's a budget-friendly way to bring Emma Bridgewater's iconic look to your table!

And don't miss our round-up of the best items in Emma Bridgewater's Christmas 2021 range!

• £3.95 for 2o

White embroidered cloth napkins

• Buy now from Etsy

These beautiful pure linen napkins by Etsy maker HimmelbergHome are embroidered with a fabulous detailed illustration of a traditional Christmas tree, decorated in classic style and surrounded by gifts.

They might be a little bit more expensive than what you could find on the high street, but we think the enjoyment you'll get out of them for years to come is more than worth it!

• £32.00 for four

Blush & Glitter Napkins

• Buy now from Cox & Cox

Nothing says Christmas like a bit of sparkle - and that's exactly what you'll get with Cox & Cox's Blush and Glitter napkins, made of powder pink three-ply paper with a magical scattering of shiny gold stars. Pair with luxurious gold or rose gold cutlery, and opt for a candle centrepiece to bring out that festive sparkle.

• £9.50 for two packs of 2o

Embroidered Nutcracker Napkins

• Buy now from M&S

These 100% cotton napkins from M&S are a charming nod to Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, the 1892 ballet which has become a staple of Christmas repertoires for troupes all over the world.

We love that of the four napkins is adorned with its own distinctive Nutcracker figure - why not let younger guests pick their favourite for a fun personal touch?

• £12 for four

Christmas Puddings Fabric Napkins

• Buy now from Emma Bridgewater

If you're looking for fabric Christmas napkins that can brighten up your table year after year, this set of two cotton napkins from Emma Bridgewater could be the answer. Printed with a cute Christmas pudding design, they are machine washable on a 30 degree gentle cycle, so you'll be able to reuse them for many Christmasses to come.

• £20

Nordic Nomad Fair Isle Napkins

• Buy now from Dunelm

Named after the Scottish island famous for its distinctive style of knitting, these Fair isle napkins are decorated in a charming red and white pattern inspired by the island's famous jumpers. With its clean, simple lines, these would make a fabulous final flourish to a Scandi-style Christmas table.

• £8 for four

Leaf Pattern Gold and White Cotton Napkins

• Buy now from John Lewis

• £20

Gold is one of our favourite colours for Christmas decorations, bringing with it an aura of indulgence - something most of us are all too familiar with at this time of year!

This set of four gold leaf print napkins comes from John Lewis' Gemstone Forest theme, a collection inspired by fairytales and magical forests. We love that they're not explicitly seasonal, so you can use them for a special occasion at any time of year!

12 Days Of Christmas paper napkins

• Buy now from Tesco

If you're looking something cheap and cheerful, we'd say this set of paper napkins from Tesco fits the bill! A pack of 20 will set you back just £1. Patterns available at the superstore include Christmas puddings and reindeer, but we're partial to this busy and bustling scene inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas.

Extra points for being home compostable, when so many of us are consciously trying to cut down on single-use throwaway purchases.

• £1 for 20

Robin Napkin Gift Set

• Buy now from Not On The High Street

These handmade cotton napkins are more than a table accessory - we think the intricate screen-printed robin illustration makes them a work of art, too. This set is sure to be admired when your guests sit down to dinner, and comes in a lovely box for gifting to a loved one or simply for easy storage.

• £42 for 6

For more festive inspiration, visit our Christmas hub for our ultimate guide to planning - and enjoying! - the holiday season.