Getting Organized

 

 

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is a constant inspiration for many of us with her decorating abilities and getting projects done to make her home a constant thing of beauty.  Today I’d like to share a project that recently helped me on this Met Monday.

 

 

I try to participate in Susan’s Tablescape Thursday as often as time allows and I always enjoy setting a pretty table.  In my constant quest to be more organized, I realized that setting the table beautifully would be much easier if my napkins, dishes, napkin rings, etc. were more organized, so I went to work.  Organization unfortunately is not second nature to me and this should have been done a long time ago.

 

I have a little nook off my dining room that I call my “Butler’s Pantry”.  Yes, I know it isn’t really a Butler’s Pantry but I like the sounds of it.  LOL!  It has a pretty, lighted cabinet up above and then drawers and storage beneath.  I’d hate to show you all the things I’ve stashed in there from time to time.  Often times it was totally unusable because of chaos! 

 

 

 

 

 

I emptied out the bottom storage as well as the drawers in my hutch and other random places I had stashed napkins, rings and all sorts of things that seemed needed to be paired together.

 

 

My hutch drawers were really in need of a makeover!

 

 

No rhyme or reason, I’m ashamed to say….

 

 

Magnolia was just appalled and watched carefully until the job was completed.  To be quite honest, this took me about three days!

 

 

First off, I placed many of my salt and pepper shakers together in one drawer.

 

Of course I have many, many candles of all shapes and sizes, but decided to keep my tapers and votive candles together in a drawer of my hutch.  Oh, it’s feeling better already!

 

 

This is the area beneath my Butler’s Pantry.  All of my silver that I chose to store here was nicely polished before being put away.  I also made the decision not to place too much in here.  It’s easier to get to things when it isn’t overcrowded, plus I learn that I break things when an area is over filled with dishes.

 

 

My napkin rings and napkins were placed in plastic bins for ease of pulling out and going through to decide what I needed for a particular tablescape.

 

 

I found I had so many white and off white napkins that they earned a drawer of their own.  They were all ironed too before being put away.  This project forced me to iron a laundry basket almost FILLED with napkins!  I actually enjoyed doing this.

 

 

I hope that I have perhaps inspired some of you to take hold of your linens and dishes in anticipation of feeling more prepared for company or even setting a nice table for your family.

 

Before I close this post, let me say how excited I am that I won a giveaway Susan sponsored in honor of her one year blog anniversary!  I’m THRILLED!  Thanks Susan!!  And thanks for your excellent blog that inspires me in so many ways!