IIf you follow me on Facebook, you might have seen a recent Instagram photo of the dishes on my dining room wall. The room is starting to come together, but my baker’s rack felt like it was floating on the wall and the four plates nearby looked isolated. Every time I photographed that wall I disliked the arrangement. To create more balance and connection with the baker’s rack, I decided to add four more plates.
As I hung those dishes and took pictures, I realized how much of my daily life revolves around dishes. I walked around with my phone photographing plates and reflecting on simple daily rituals.
I love plates on the wall. Perhaps it feels old-fashioned to some, but there’s something uncomplicated and lovely about the look. I’m not a fussy decorator, so simple, clean dishes appeal to me—whether they hang on the wall, sit on a baker’s rack, or are stacked on open shelves. They suggest order and beauty.
My dishes also carry memories. Over the years I’ve collected a variety of white plates in different shapes and styles. Those white dishes remind me of family and holidays at home. I enjoy small daily rituals: filling my morning coffee mug, grabbing cereal bowls before school, bringing out dinner plates at night. Those little privileges could be taken for granted, but they mean a lot to me. I’m grateful to have them.
While clean dishes bring me joy, dirty dishes have the opposite effect. I don’t like piles of dishes in the kitchen. More plates on the wall or on display? Yes. More dishes left on the counter or in the sink? No. Dirty dishes can smell, and a smelly kitchen is not acceptable to me.
My husband dislikes dishes on the counter, so when we’re too busy to run the dishwasher he sometimes stacks them in the sink. I don’t like a sink full of dishes—the tipping, the potential splash when they tumble. I’ve realized the creative energy used to pile the sink would be better spent loading or unloading the dishwasher.
Over the years I’ve learned that if I don’t load the dishwasher at night, I wake up cranky. I’d rather spend a few minutes at night dealing with dishes than start the day irritated. I love that my white dishes fit perfectly in my new dishwasher; it’s so well designed that loading it is actually pleasant. Those small design details matter to me—life is too short to wrestle with dishwashers.
That ease is why I enjoy open shelves for my dishes. It’s simple to unload the dishwasher and place clean plates on an open shelf. I also loved seeing dishes behind glass cabinet doors in our old house and hope to have glass-front cabinets again someday. I remember the feel of the glass knobs and how beautiful a row of clean plates looked behind the glass. It’s a simple memory, but those small comforts made me happy.
dishwasher incident at my old house: blogged about way back in 2007
We’ve had our share of dish-related learning moments. For example, dish soap and dishwasher detergent are not the same thing—learning that the hard way once is messy enough; learning it twice gave us bubbles down the hallway. We still laugh about that day.
As much as I like seeing dirty dishes stacked in the dishwasher, I love emptying a clean dishwasher even more. When the last dish is put away I pause and admire the empty machine. That small accomplishment early in the morning gives me a boost and makes the day feel conquerable. It doesn’t take much to make me happy.
So fess up. I want to know.
Have you ever put dish soap in your dishwasher? Ha, ha. Good times.
It may seem trivial to find joy in everyday routines like setting the table or cleaning up in the evening, but moments like these feel especially important when tragedy strikes elsewhere. In light of the tornado devastation in Alabama, I’m reminded to treasure ordinary moments at home. If you’re able to help with Alabama disaster relief and recovery, please seek out reputable local resources.
This post is part of a six-part series on homemaking sponsored by Electrolux as part of Homebuzz. I received an Electrolux appliance for participating. The opinions here are my own; my old dishwasher will be donated.
The other posts in this series are: My New Dishwasher, Order from Chaos, 3 Truths and a Lie, How to Organize a Kitchen.