easy diy napkin rings!

November 18, 2022/

easy DIY napkin rings are perfect for a modern table!

These easy DIY napkin rings require only 2 materials, no special tools and look so great!

bead and leather napkin ring next to a bowl of wooden beads

do you struggle with table arrangements?

I’m not a big one for table setting. I admire those who can adorn a table with any and all manner of decor. I struggle with things taking up too much room on the table, looking cluttered, and in general resembling one of those Pinterest “fails”.

Fortunately the only 2 times I need to set a formal table are for Thanksgiving and Passover, and I’ll usually deploy pumpkins and gourds for the former and fresh flowers for the latter.

I got excited about this year’s table!

But after a few years of smaller celebrations I was really excited to have a robust crowd for Thanksgiving – and I wanted to do something a little more special for my table. I ordered several items from Uashmama (you can see what I got in this post!), and a new tablecloth. I typically do some sort of place card but I wanted to see if I could DIY my own napkin rings too!

bead and leather napkin rings on linen napkins stacked on a wooden board

I am NOT a diy-er!

Longtime readers know that I am NOT a DIY girl. If I share diy projects they are going to be as simple as they are adorable – with no sewing, drilling, sawing or cementing involved! So I did a quick search of napkin rings. Turns out that there are dozens of napkin ring diy ideas out there – from wire napkin rings to ceramic napkin rings, beaded napkin rings and paper napkin rings. I found napkin rings using a toilet paper roll, flowers and fairy lights.

what materials do you need for these napkin rings?

bowl of wooden beads on a wooden board with leather cording and vintage scissors

With only 2 materials – and a pair of scissors – you can turn out a bunch of these napkin rings in under 30 minutes. Here’s what you need:

wooden beads
leather cording
scissors
ruler

how do you make them?

I found this image while scrolling on my phone so I had to figure out how to make them – this is how I did it and it worked perfectly (be sure to watch the video below, too!):

You’ll start by cutting the cording to your desired length – anywhere from 10 – 12 inches.

Then thread the cord through the bead, and come back around and thread it through again.

bead and leather napkin ring next to a bowl of wooden beads and vintage scissors

Tie knots on the ends of the cord, center the bead and voila! Napkin ring!

bead and leather napkin ring next to a bowl of wooden beads

how do you use them?

To use, you’ll pull on the piece of cording that’s wrapped around the bead. Once loosened you can slide it over your napkin and then pull the ends to secure. It’s really that easy!

where do you get the materials?

For crafts I typically go to my local Michaels – and I linked to exactly what I got for this tutorial. But you could easily find what you need at the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree, JoAnn’s or Amazon. And you can absolutely divert from what I used! These bead napkin rings can be made using any size or kind of bead and whatever cording you like – as long as it fits through the bead opening you’re good!

A quick search of your home might even show up enough free materials for making them!

I love how these turned out – they look perfect with my cloth napkins and are the perfect addition to my neutral toned holiday table.

Let me know if you make them!

bead and leather napkin rings on linen napkins stacked on a wooden board