Entertaining comes with a surprising amount of stuff—special dishes, serving pieces, glassware, table linens, platters, and all those extras we pull out when people come over.
The trick is finding storage that keeps those things protected and easy to find without taking over the spaces you use every day. Below are some of my favorite storage options, including several that I use in my own home.
Quick note: You don’t need to buy new organizers just to get organized. Start with what you already have, then use this list if you find there’s something you need to store or protect better.
Storage for Special Dishes & China
Whether you use your good dishes several times a year or only for special occasions, the goal is to keep them protected without giving them prime cabinet space if you don’t need them there.
This is one area where I personally like zippered storage cases because I can keep an entire set together and protected until I’m ready to use it.
IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
- Canvas zippered plate storage cases – Tracy Lynn’s Pick!
- Sets with separate cases for dinner plates, salad plates, saucers, etc.
- Felt plate dividers/protectors
- Full storage sets for plates, cups, and flatware
Storage for Wine Glasses & Stemware
Wine glasses, cocktail glasses, and other specialty glassware can eat up a lot of cabinet space, especially when you don’t use them every day.
Divided storage lets you keep the glasses you want without dedicating an entire kitchen cabinet to things you may only pull out occasionally.
IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
- Divided zippered stemware storage – Tracy Lynn’s Pick!
- Stackable glassware storage boxes
- Protective glass dividers/boxes
Storage for Table Linens & Cloth Napkins
Tablecloths, runners, placemats, and cloth napkins are especially easy to scatter around the house. Keeping them together makes it much easier to see what you have and grab what you need when you’re setting the table.
Choose storage based on the amount you own and where you plan to keep it.
IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
TIP: Before buying anything, gather all your entertaining linens together. You may be surprised by how much, or how little, storage you actually need.
Storage for Platters, Serving Dishes & Trays
Large platters and serving pieces can be awkward because they’re often wide, tall, or oddly shaped. The best solution is one that lets you get to what you need without unloading an entire shelf first.
Depending on where you keep yours, vertical storage, shelf dividers, or simple bins may make them much easier to grab.
IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
Storage for Entertaining Tools & Small Supplies
This is for all those smaller things that are easy to lose—serving utensils, cheese knives, cocktail tools, place-card holders, napkin rings, wine openers, and other entertaining extras.
A small bin, basket, or divided container can keep these things together so you’re not searching through five drawers when company is coming.
IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
Storage for Larger Entertaining Items
Roasters, Crock-Pots, beverage dispensers, warming trays, punch bowls, and other large pieces need more room, but they don’t necessarily need your easiest-to-reach storage.
If you use these items occasionally or seasonally, shelves, pantry floors, higher cabinets, or a separate entertaining storage area can work really well.
IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
How to Choose the Right Entertaining Storage
Before you buy anything, think about where the item will live, how often you use it, and how much protection it needs.
You don’t need matching containers or a Pinterest-perfect storage area. You need a setup that makes it easy to find what you own and get to it when you need it.
- Frequently used: Keep it easy to reach.
- Occasionally used: It can live in less convenient storage.
- Seasonal or rarely used: Higher, lower, or farther-away storage is usually fine.
- Fragile: Choose storage that protects it from dust, pests, and damage.
- Hard to identify: Use clear storage or add a label.
The best entertaining storage isn’t the setup that looks the prettiest. It’s the one that works for your home and the way you entertain.
You might keep everything together in one entertaining area, spread things throughout your kitchen and dining room based on where you use them, or use a combination of both.
Start with the storage you already have, notice where you’re running into problems, and then add an organizer only when it solves a specific problem.
The goal is simple: when it’s time to gather with the people you love, you know what you have, where it is, and you can easily get to it.