I have to be clearly honest with you. I have a problem with cutlery trays. I was lured over to the other side around a year ago. No matter how hard I tried I could never keep my cutlery tray free of crumbs. Crumbs always took over!
Now just humour me, but I’m thinking this is a typical day in the life of a cutlery tray. It starts something like this. Beware, I’m going in to full-blown rant mode and maybe even some run on sentences….
The cutlery tray starts by having you organize the small spoons in the small slot, the larger coffee spoons in that slot, and the even larger spoon set for what? – when Big Bird comes over for Tea?
Then on top of that, the small appetizer fork for small bites like gherkin pickles, etc. and the small forks for the children, then the GIGANTIC forks that I can’t imagine who’s mouths those fit into properly? I have a small mouth, so I feel for all of you out there. Sorry… now where was I? O.k. so we are now at knives. So there are smaller butter knives, for you know butter of course and those LARGE knives that everyone puts out at dinner parties that most people barely use. Oh, and then there are even more knives. Steak knives, cheese knives, and not to mention all the small paring knives as well. Do I really have to go on?
WOW!! that was a lot of words…. You get my idea?
So I was desperately in need of a solution when I noticed the idea of storing all your flatware in any jar or antique pail. This can basically be any small vessel high enough for the cutlery. I got (actually stole) this idea from a POTTERY BARN book. I was instantly drawn to it. I got tired of reaching for a spoon in my cutlery tray to find crumbs and other foreign particles, etc. Gross! I find this idea so simple and family friendly. Everyone can sit down for any meal and know that the cutlery item they need is at their finger tips.
Not to mention this idea comes in handy when I go to empty our dishwasher. No sorting for this girl! Saving me time that can be better spent on something else. Like a nap once a year…. well sort of.
These are also some other great products out there as well. This one would be great to take outside for summer BBQ’s. Condiments and napkins could both fit in there together?
and this one… I love its sleek, modern, clean design. Both these flatware organizers come from Organize.com. Love them!
Why did I make this switch you ask? I like to approach ideas like this one simply to challenge how I do things. Just because every store in the world sells cutlery trays, doesn’t mean that I have to use one. Sometimes there can be a better way for you to think. Maybe this idea is for you, maybe it’s not. One way or another, your flatware has to go somewhere. It might as well look good and be functional as well along the way.
Do you have any great ideas for storing your flatware? I would love to hear about them.
Wow!
Did you just make a Big Bird reference?
That was awesome.
Oh yes I did! I’m Thinking outside the box.
Love this! I am always cleaning out the crumbs too! Argh! But I think the cutlery will still stay in the drawer, but I have a galvanized pail where I have all my cooking utensils stashed!
Glad you found it amusing. Hey, what ever works for you I say…. 🙂
Oh girl! I am SO doing this!! Today! I have our dishes on a pretty dish stand in between the kitchen and dining area but never thought to put my utensils there! Boy, I feel so silly.
Now what shall I put in the empty utensil drawer??
I’m glad you thought it was a great idea. To most people, they think this is crazy because it’s not the conventional way.
As for your empty drawer, it could be used office supplies, paper work, pens, etc. in a flat organized tray?
If you use lots of spices then they could go lying flat in the drawer if they were organized?
Does this work at all, if not I could come up with some other ideas.
Awesome idea! Where did you get the wood box to put it all in?
Hi Melissa, I found the bin at my local antique store! It was an old carpenter’s toolbox. Good luck!