Kitchen and Dining

Cloth Napkins

Vanessa Shen

25 Sep 2025 — 2 min read

One of the first things I see every morning

Cloth napkins may seem unnecessarily fancy when paper towels exist, but they are worth the investment. They add an air of stability and permanence to the dinner table, like you have settled in to live here. Their thickness and absorbency is superior to paper, so you don't have to go through a bunch of them to mop up one minor spill. And their reusability means they produce less waste and are cheaper over time.

Of course, cloth napkins also mean more laundry. They require commitment. There's more overhead than just tossing it in the trash when you're done. And the cost of a nice set of napkins (like everything else these days) can be off-puttingly high.

After much deliberation, I chose Quince's organic cotton napkins in terracotta. A 12-pack cost me $39.90 plus shipping. Unfortunately, they just recently stopped carrying these! Here are some alternatives:

A burnt orange linen napkin in a wooden napkin ring on top of a white porcelain plate — Sweet Hooligans Design's Linen Napkin (Set of 2) for $20

These are linen instead of cotton, but have the same rust color that I love.

A tablescape with orange linens, a bowl of oranges, and some silverware — Quince's Organic Airy Gauze Napkins (Set of 4) for $29.90

Quince still offers organic cotton terracotta napkins, just with a different texture.

Four olive and white gingham napkins on a white ceramic plate next to some gold cutlery, green drinking glasses, and a plant — Quince's European Linen Gingham Napkins (Set of 4) for $29.90

I absolutely love gingham, and this one is still neutral enough to fit in many different homes.

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Cute Keycaps

Gluten-Free Flour

Paper Planners

Brass Music Stands