Since Chris and I started going through our home, weeding out the most obvious unnecessary items, we have had to face several decisions we made years ago about what kind items we chose to own. I think back to when we were engaged and how exciting it was to choose items for our wedding registry. At the time, we didn’t really know what we needed. We just guessed and added a lot of ‘nice to have’ items to our list in the hopes that we would need them down the road.
A Good Set of Dishes
One of the decisions we made was to have an everyday set of dishes and a good set of dishes. However, 12 years later, I don’t think I would go for the good set of dishes at all. I absolutely love our Jet Black Denby set of “good” dishes. They’re classic and timeless. Have we used them for special family or friend get togethers? Not entirely. We’ve used certain dishes here and there. We do use the mugs regularly. I love their cozy shape and how they fit so nicely in your hands. I struggle with whether it’s useful to hold onto items like this. I know I’m not ready to part with them and maybe never will be. Another thought is for us to switch over to using these dishes as our everyday dishes once the kids are a little older. Is it really necessary to have two sets of dishes? Everyone’s situation is different. Some people may entertain a lot and get a lot of use out of them. Others, perhaps not so much.
We also have a good set of flatware that’s stored in a beautiful wooden box that my Grandmother gave us for our wedding. It’s a sentimental gift. However, it is also something we have never used in the 12 years we’ve been married. This is another one of those things I wonder, will we use it in the future? I don’t know. I hope so.
A formal Dinning Room
Our home was built in 1987 and has a room that is supposed to be a formal dining room right off the kitchen. When we bought this home 4 years ago, I was pregnant with our first child and we chose to make the dining room a playroom instead. It has been a room we use daily and has made so much sense for our family. When our two kids are of the age where they no longer need to be using the playroom, we have talked about having this room as our main eating area.
I think it’s fair to say that my parent’s generation (baby boomers) still values a formal dining room much more than my generation. A lot of new homes being built today have open concept layouts that don’t include a separate formal dining space. These homes allow for versatility when needing to extend a table or add another. Homeowners are knocking down walls in their homes to open up spaces instead of having so many separate rooms. Is it necessary to have a space in your home that is only used a few times a year for some families? (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving)
I think it’s important to continually rethink whether certain items are still valued. We are gradually changing and evolving and therefore our thinking and values may change as well. There is no right or wrong way to answer some of these questions. It comes down to what makes sense for you and your family. The most important thing is that an item or area in your home is valued. You may value a formal dining room over many other areas of your home and it would be missed if you didn’t have it.
What are your thoughts on having a good set of dishes in addition to an everyday set? And if you do have a formal dining room in your home, do you make use of it regularly? I’d love to hear your opinion on this topic.
Have a great week!
Jillian
2 Responses
Hi Jill
I think you need to reframe your thinking. Why don’t you use your “good” silverware? We have two sets of dishes and depending on the day we use one or the other and sometimes we use both – mix it up – open up that silver wear chest and start using things. My grandparents generation had rules about when and where but those rules don’t have to exist anymore – don’t perpetuate something that doesn’t make sense! I find my greatest joy from using all of what I have instead of hiding it away. I look forward to eating at your place next time with that new but used silverware
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic Ruth-Ann. I’m glad to hear you make good use out of the two sets of dishes you own. I agree with you that the same rules don’t apply that our grandparents generation would have had. Thanks again for sharing!