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Ina Garten is the queen of hosting, from welcoming friends into her home with freshly baked goods to throwing a dinner party featuring her famous Perfect Roast Chicken; she is always cooking up something delicious for her guests. Food aside, there’s another area she has long perfected over the years: her table setting.
As she has mentioned before, she prefers to keep it simple with one big “dramatic” element in the center—often beautiful flowers. Her tablescape always feels elegant yet unfussy, a combination that is hard to master! As I studied her tablescaping skills more, I noticed there was one detail I had somehow overlooked for years as a fan: her use of linen napkins. Recently, that changed.
On a weekend trip to visit a friend outside San Francisco, I noticed my friend exclusively uses linen napkins. They were neatly folded in baskets in her kitchen cabinet, always ready for anything from a casual dinner to a special gathering with friends. I’d admired the habit before, but this time I connected the dots between her style and Garten’s effortless approach to hosting: fresh ingredients, relaxed entertaining, and those ever-present linen napkins.
While I may not know exactly why Garten chooses to accompany her meals with this specific accessory, my friend says that they’re a sustainable and stylish way to make a meal feel more elevated. After use, she just throws them right into the laundry, so it never feels too overwhelming. Garten would likely approve of this mindset, noting that this small bit of effort makes a big difference in presentation. After our visit, I bought my first set of linen napkins and skipped the paper options at the grocery store entirely.
It’s no surprise that my friend and Garten were right: Linen napkins are worth the investment. Every meal I’ve had thus far, even a girl-dinner serving of apples and cheese, has felt fancier. I don’t miss the wastefulness of paper napkins, and I’m already looking forward to how much softer the linen material will become in time.
It might seem like Garten’s version of idealized adulthood is rare, and perhaps it is. But the components of her world are up for grabs—even the parts that don’t make it to the plate. Maybe I won’t always have the energy to cook from scratch on a Wednesday night, but linen napkins can be used for takeout. Perhaps friends won’t always be available for a feast, but a solo meal can still feel intentional. The easy charm brought by a linen napkin does the trick.
Want to give this sustainable accessory a try? Here are a few linen napkins that I’m sure Garten would approve of.
These linen napkins come in so many different colors, but if you’re going for a neutral option, the detailed stitching on the edges keeps them from feeling too plain and boring.
Garten usually keeps her tablescapes simple and classic, which means that she’d likely give a thumbs-up to these linen napkins that are clad in a neutral shade.
For a playful option that still feels timeless, this gingham set from Quince can dress up a table with color.
Casual dinners can have a touch of luxury on a budget, thanks to these linen napkins that come in a kaleidoscope of options. This gray chambray set would pair well with Garten’s affinity for white plates.
It's smart to stock up on a big set of linen napkins if you have a larger household or simply don't want to do laundry as often. These feature a minimal design in a neutral color and are the perfect foundation for a growing cloth-napkin collection.
Understated yet no less striking, these flax linen napkins come in sets of four or eight in rich colorways. We can see these playing a stylish supporting role for all your family dinners and holiday meals.
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