The kitchen or dining room tables are typical sources of clutter and stress. Despite one's best efforts, mail piles up, and projects linger. The table is ideal for holding things because it's big and seldom used for formal dining occasions. Many of us carve out space on the table, eating a meal surrounded by our stuff.
My mom has a unique approach to keeping her dining table clear. She keeps it set all the time for a formal occasion. Tablecloths, chargers, and linen napkins are not just functional for her, they spark joy. She has tried to instill upon me a love of a beautiful tablecloth and coordinating placemat. However, cleaning and caring for placemats isn't my cup of tea. After a recent visit to her house, I saw an additional benefit to her beautiful set table. Clutter can only develop on the table if there is room for it. Her table setting brings her joy and keeps the table a clutter-free zone!
Ready to transform your dining or kitchen table into a clutter-free zone? Here's a simple experiment to try. Clear off the table for yourself and set it up for a special meal. Find that dormant tablecloth in your house, and set out some dishes, flatware, and glasses. If you aren't a fan of placemats, check out your local thrift store for some chargers to go underneath your plates. By taking these small steps, you can start to see a big difference in the clutter levels of your table.
In addition to keeping your table set for meals, create a project zone. Often, I identify a recently emptied shelf for my clients and designate it as the project area. Rather than setting projects on the table, take them to the project zone. If the project zone is full, consider letting go of your new addition or something else lying dormant in the zone. It's challenging! (If you want to build your tidying muscle to prepare for this, don't get a cart or a basket the next time you go to Target. Once your hands are full, you have to prioritize. It's the same concept.)
I will work on setting up my table in a way that sparks joy for me, and I'll share some photos soon!