Wednesday, January 02, 2008

How I store: table linens

On New Year's Eve, my husband treated us to Chinese takeout. While he walked home, the kids and I rushed to decorate the table.

I had saved this 25-cent silk sample for months. Since it never magically transformed itself into a pillow, its thin folded size is the only thing that kept it from Goodwill.

I have to tell you, it is a GREAT joy to have linens stored right next to the table, roughly organized for whenever creativity strikes.

Two baskets slide right into a shelf in the TV armoire-that-became-a-china-cabinet.

We placed the Asian silk sample at an angle. My five-year-old unearthed the only two taper candles we own--sage green, from the Big Lots clearance bin--and added our Aldi flower bouquet on top.

It worked! You can click on the links throughout this post to see how I sorted all these linens and how we made a bad yard sale purchase (too big TV armoire) work in the dining room instead.

Each day this week I will fling open the cabinets and show what--and how--I store all this stuff. My husband laughed when I said I'd give you the raw, uncut version.

I told him you'd understand! Isn't it hard to balance simple living with stockpiling for the future?

For more housekeeping hints, see Works-For-Me-Wednesday at Rocks In My Dryer.

10 comments:

Amy said...

Very pretty! You amaze me with your ability to whip up something so pretty on the spur of the moment.

Looking forward to seeing the upcoming posts. I have a hard time balancing my stockpiling of great grocery deals with my desire to declutter and simplify my home.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Meredith.

Like Amy, I'm working to balance stockpile vs storage.

Jora

TJ said...

I too keep table linens and aprons near our dining area. Unfortunately, we do not have a table, so they aren't very useful.

Also any tips for keeping little hands from dragging them out all the time? Seems like every time I turn around Kaia and Mo have a runner or an apron out of the drawer and down the hall.

Daffodil Hill said...

You have so many wonderful ideas! I just love your blog.

Edi said...

When we first got our hutch/china cabinet I filled the top with books b/c I didn't have much in the way of real china - actually I still don't.

But then my MIL came and visited (she's very good at decorating) and helped me set up my red fiestaware on the upper shelves. The drawers I use for school supplies and the bottom cupboards I use for homeschool books, since we do that at the dining room table.

It's great to see beyond a piece of furniture's intended use such as you have done.

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate said...

I'm looking forward to this. Even with all the additional space in the new house, I need to balance my pack rat tendencies with the need for organization.

Anonymous said...

I am lucky enough to own the dinning room furniture that was my grandmother's. There is a table that seats 8, the serving piece, and of coarse the hutch. I love that it belonged to her. Grandma was my hero. I use the pieces everyday just like she did. I look forward to seeing the wonderful things you do with the beautiful things you 'thrift' in the new year. Thanks for the wonderful blog. Meredith you are an inspiration to all. I am lucky to have found your blog. Take care. Roxie

pomo housewife said...

I need some way of keeping them from creasing in the drawer. It seems like every time I get a tablecloth out, I have to put the ironing board up. One idea is to roll them around old wrapping-paper tubes. (haven't tested this out yet). (and storing them in the wide drawers in the Tallboy).

Anonymous said...

I hang mine over the cardboard tube part of the hanger at the bottom. So I still have creases, but only in one direction.

They're not near the table, though, but in a closet down the hall. However, it certainly would be possible to add a closet rod to the pantry. And then maybe scooch all the linens to one side so I can still get to the brooms and things in the back. Hmm, I'll have to think on this some more.

Of course folding them and setting them on shelves in a pantry or cabinet, like I do with the dish towels and the stockpile of sponges, would also be an option.

Lisa said...

You have a great way of putting things together!