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Organizing Your China Cabinet February 2008 Issue - Better Homes & Gardens
 Avid entertainer – Occasional dinner guests – Yearly family holiday dinners
No matter which category you fall into a well-organized china cabinet is your secret weapon to a successful event.
The following are a list of suggestions from the February 2008 issue of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine.
Set The Scene: Make dishes stand out by lining the back of the cabinet with decorative paper affixed with double-sided tape. Think In Layers: Lean plates against the back of shelves and display other items in front. Group like materials, such as crystal for a well-ordered look.
Stack It Up: Make the best use of vertical space by stacking cups with their saucers.
Bottom Heavy: Store large items on the bottom shelves for easy access and visual balance
Hostess Kit: Keep a pretty box in the cabinet filled with tableside necessities, such as: lighter and snuffer for candles, cork screw and stopper for wine.
Plate Divide: A helper shelf - these are typically plastic coated which can be found in any discount store – will give you extra storage on the shelves underneath. Coffee filters between plates will help prevent nicks.
Boxed In: A sturdy cardboard box with dividers and handles keeps small tabletop items, such as napkin rings and votive candles at the ready.
Cheat Sheet: Store large or seldom used pieces, such as a punch bowl or extra place settings, elsewhere. Hang a reminder list inside the one of the bottom doors, where a quick glance will tell you just where the pieces you need have been stored.
Divide And Conquer: Drawers stay organized when every item has the right size spot. Spring-loaded dividers customize any size drawer for storing neat stacks of cloth napkins and orderly rows of candles.
Rack It Up: Trays are great for serving, yet they can be clunky, odd-shaped nightmares to store. A rack meant for pot lids keeps trays upright and easy to get to – much handier than lifting a heavy stack. Store the rack inside a lower hutch cabinet for easy access.
As long as your emptying out the cabinet, why not take this opportunity to take stock of what you currently have. You may find items that are no longer used or sets that are incomplete. You may even find things that really don’t belong in the cabinet.
At this point you can either complete or donate partial sets of dishes or glassware, donate or give a friend the unused items. Then find the correct home for the non-related items that have crept in over time.
Weather your hosting an large dinner party or a simple dinner for family being able to easily find just what you need will take out the stress allowing you to focus on the meal and enjoy the company.
Handy Resource List:
Pacific Connections USA – Hostess Kit Boxes
Container Store – Cardboard Boxes & Pot Lid Racks
Stacks And Stacks – Drawer Dividers
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