Asked on Apr 05, 2015

Storing infrequently used items

Mary Ker
by Mary Ker
Entertaining items, to be specific, fancy dishes, linens, glasses. They are used two or three times a year, vital and too expensive to replace, but what is the best way to store them? And WHERE???
Easter brunch this year...all new stuff, and I don't know just when I'll use this stuff again, just that I will.
  11 answers
  • Carole Carole on Apr 05, 2015
    Vintage suitcases that you can stack. This way you have a decorative look hiding all your rarely used essentials. You rarely need to mess with the stack. I would not suggest suitcases for items that need to be used more frequently. We used to keep our Christmas ornaments in a vintage suitcase on a tallboy in our guest bedroom.
  • Cathy Cathy on Apr 05, 2015
    If you have space between the top of your cupboards and the ceiling you could put them up there. I do it myself but I find they greasy up there. So I'm in the process of putting storage boxes with lids up there. If you search in Pinterest for diy box lid a whole bunch of great ideas come up. Of course with all the talk of minimalism going on you should just get rid of your old stuff - you know the theory one in one out. I don't abide by that theory. :-) Good luck.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Apr 06, 2015
    Like the vintage trunk idea. You can also buy packages of felt to place between plates, etc. to keep them from scratching when stacked. Have you already a buffet/hutch? I have been checking thrift shops for an extra one. That way you could display/store your things.
  • Angela Swain Jackson Angela Swain Jackson on Apr 06, 2015
    Dresser drawers in the spare bedroom
  • Rosemary D. Rosemary D. on Apr 06, 2015
    long tubblewear crates, (not deep) and store in basement. i store my special decorations in individual crates marked: xmas-easter-4th of july-etc.
  • Barbara Barbara on Apr 06, 2015
    I 'rescued' an old 10 foot high canvas cioth wardrobe with a metal frame from my mom. I washed/dried the cover at the laundrymat, resewed a few loose buttons. and placed an inexpensive plastic 3 tiered storage shelf inside. The cover helps things stay clean. We store it in our garage just inside the door for easy access. Linens go in labeled plastic sweater boxes with the little bead packets from new shoes to combat moisture. It provides alot of vertical storage inside and our suitcases are nested and stored on top.
  • Joann Jarvis Joann Jarvis on Apr 06, 2015
    I'm a collector of hat boxes and am lucky to have space over my closets so I decorate and store ant the same time. Have some large covered baskets that are stackable. Really gives me a lot of useful storage but sometimes I forget what is where. Suggest you use labels or an inventory list tacked to inside of a a cabinet to,keep,track.
  • Jody Benge Jody Benge on Apr 06, 2015
    I have several china cabinets in my dining room and most of my various sets of dishes are in them. Of course, there are so many wonderful totes available today, that you can use those and wrap china in bubble wrap, put in the totes and store in garage, basement or an extra closet in a bedroom. You could also cover storage boxes with lovely wallpaper/craft paper/ or material and store all sorts of items in them. They could then be stacked in the corner of a sunroom, or a craft room and it will look like a great display piece. However, when one is a collector of many types of things, it does become a challenge to either find a place to show it all off or to store it. believe me, I know!
  • Mary Ker Mary Ker on Apr 07, 2015
    Thanks for all the ideas?
  • CameronRobertson CameronRobertson on May 06, 2016
    If you've spent a bomb on your dinnerware, then you should have a nice display cabinet for storage!
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 08, 2022

    A storage chest that could double up as a table ?