More and more I find myself striving for the beauty and freedom of simplicity. I am trying to pare down, have less and really enjoy what I have rather than being overloaded with so many things. One of the ways I’ve simplified is to use the same dinner dishes for everyday as I do for entertaining at parties or holidays. And not only do I use those same dishes for all occasions where I serve food, I use them for decorating every day. The beauty of this simple plan is that I can mix, match and use what I have no matter what the need is. It saves money, space and time! All things I always seem short on!
For the past ten years or so, I have pared down to having only white dishes. No more fancy china or holiday sets! I enjoy the freedom to accessorize with colored napkins and putting together more creative centerpieces rather than pulling out a whole new set of fancier dishes. I think this might also indicate that my lifestyle has settled into a more casual, comfortable and less fussy routine. My white dishes go with everything, and even if I decide I want to paint the dining room a new color, my white dishes will still work!
I love having glass cabinets in my kitchen. With my collection of all white dishes, I can have them stacked behind glass and they look pretty every day. I don’t have to worry about matching the room or coordinating patterns. My dishes serve two purposes; they add character and decoration to my kitchen as well as actually being used when it comes to mealtimes.
With my one set of dishes, I can even use the specialty pieces for multiple uses. A sugar bowl can hold anything from sugar in the kitchen to jewelry in the bathroom. A soup tureen can be a centerpiece one week and actually serve soup the next. My white pitcher can hold tulips or it can serve water.
For many years now I have also collected white serving platters. It doesn’t matter to me if they are pure white or off white, I collect them all. Some of them have pretty scalloped edges; some have a seashell design and some have a scroll pattern. Instead of stuffing platters in that dark deep cabinet above the refrigerator where I forget I even have them, I put them out where I can enjoy them every day! I hang them on walls or I stand them up with plate stands on my buffet or countertops. And when I need to serve brownies, a simple white platter is always handy to use for serving.
Striving for simplicity means I have less and use what I have creatively, rather than buying something new or storing a lot of options “just in case” I might need them someday. I have found that I don’t need fancy extras or multiple sets of dishes, I can get by very well with my simple white set!
What are some of the ways you are striving to live a more simple life?
For more decorating and homemaking ideas visit The Inspired Room.
©2009, Melissa Michaels