I Tried Ina Garten’s Favorite Tablescaping Essential—and Now I’ll Never Go Back

Ina Garten has always represented, to me, the picture of graceful adulthood. Back in college, when I first tuned into her serene East Hampton lifestyle, I became convinced that true grown-up living meant casually putting together lunches for friends who might stop by midday—and having a husband who magically appeared just in time for dessert. For over a decade, I watched her cook, entertain, and set beautiful tables, soaking up her advice like cake absorbing syrup.

Several of her recipes have become staples in my kitchen, and I often channel her influence when arranging flowers, mixing cocktails, or proudly serving a bakery-made dessert because, as Ina says, “store-bought is fine.” Still, there was one detail from her iconic table settings I had somehow overlooked for years: linen napkins. Recently, that changed.

On a weekend trip to visit a friend outside San Francisco, I noticed she 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 we're sure Ina would approve of.