How to make toilet paper origami

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Some days are a blur of packed lunches, inbox pings and laundry piles that seem to regenerate and multiply all on their own. When life is so busy, the ever-present longing for a luxurious getaway feels like a pipedream. You might not be checking into a resort, but with a bit of flair, like toilet paper origami, you can bring a hint of that pampered feeling into your everyday. 

There is not a lot that feels fancier than returning to your hotel room after a sun-soaked day by the pool to an entire bedspread of origami towels and a bouquet of toilet rolls in the bathroom. But why should that luxury be reserved just for holidays? Folding toilet paper into something beautiful is simple and easy. 

So go on – give yourself permission to prioritise your peace and do something just for you, that whisks you away to sunnier, sandier climes even just for a few moments. We’ve got three easy toilet roll folding ideas for you to try: a fan, a bow, and a rose. All you need is a loo roll, a few minutes, and a little corner of peace. 

Toilet paper origami top tips before you start

Before we get into our three tutorials, we’re going to share some advice to help you make the most of your artistic moment on the toilet! Here are our essential tips, including how to fold toilet paper into a point and what toilet paper to use:

• When toilet paper folding, it’s important not to slide your fingers along the line too hard, as that could rip the sheet. It’s better to press gently when making your folds.
• The secret to creating a neat, triangular point is to make sure each side meets exactly in the middle. Do this by bringing the two corners together at the same time, to help line them up. 
• Flimsy toilet paper will struggle to hold its shape, so go for strong rolls for your toilet roll origami art.

Now you’re ready to get toilet roll folding to turn your loo paper into beautiful works of art. 

How to fold toilet paper into fans

This involves making a perfect triangle, so you’ll be using our top tip on how to fold toilet paper into a point straight away! Here’s how to make a fan:

1. Begin by tearing off two sheets joined together.
2. Lay the rectangle on a table in a portrait position (rather than landscape). Fold the bottom edge up, to a depth of your choosing, to create a narrow rectangle. 
3. Turn the double sheet over, and repeat the process, so that you have another narrow rectangle of the same depth. 
4. Continue in this concertina/accordion style, turning the sheet over each time, until you reach the end. You’ll now have a narrow, folded rectangle.
5. Fold the rectangle in half, so that the two ends meet.
6. Next, return to your full toilet roll, and fold up the bottom edge of the sheet into a thin rectangle like you did before. Fold it over again (without turning over).
7. Now, lift the sheet up so that you’re working on the back. Fold each corner to join in the middle, to create that perfect triangle point. Lay the sheet flat against the roll.
8. Finally, place the narrow point of your fan into the little triangular pocket on the roll, and spread out the folds.

How to make toilet paper origami bows 

Now for a pretty bow made out of toilet roll:

1. Tear off a length of toilet paper that’s seven sheets long.
2. Fold it under itself on each end of the strip symmetrically, so that half a sheet extends out at each side. Make sure there’s no more than a one-inch gap between the middle folds on the back (they can also meet).
3. Return to your roll, bring forward two sheets, and tear the perforation on the second sheet at either side, leaving a one-inch section in the middle that continues to connect the sheet to the roll.
4. Flip the two sheets backwards over the roll, and fold each long edge inwards to the edge of the perforation, to create a long, parallel rectangle. Flip it forwards again.
5. Go back to the seven-sheet section, and pinch it in the middle to make a bow shape.
6. Place the middle of the bow at the end of the two-sheet section, and roll it up.
7. Pinch the middle to hold it in place on top of the roll.

How to make toilet paper origami roses 

Some scrunch, some fold. But you deserve a rose:

1. With the toilet roll still on the hanger, pull a sheet towards you (keeping it attached to the roll), and fold it upwards in half, lengthways.
2. Place your finger on the end, and wrap the paper around it a couple of times.
3. Using your other hand, lift up some of the attached paper beyond your coil, and push it up underneath, into the middle of the rose.
4. Wind the roll back up, so that the rose can balance and sit on top.

Toilet paper origami might seem like a small thing. And it is. But that’s exactly the point. It’s a simple, satisfying way to step away from the to-do list. To pause for five quiet minutes. And to remind yourself – during a quick trip to the loo – that you’ve got 5-star-review-worthy skills, even on the most hectic of days. 

So, when you’ve finally escaped to the bathroom for a moment of peace – after making breakfast, replying to emails, and still figuring out what’s for dinner – now you know how to fold toilet paper and find some calm in the chaos. A small act of care, for your space and for yourself.

And if finding that quiet moment feels impossible? Try one of our fun craft ideas for kids to keep them happily busy while you reclaim a little well-earned ‘me time’.