I Never Thought I’d Get Excited About a Sponge Holder, but Here We Are

I’ve officially reached the age where I’m excited about a new kitchen accessory: a sponge holder. No, but really — hear me out. As someone who collects and loves decor with footed details, I couldn’t not order this adorable copper plated caddy when I spotted it on Amazon. 

Is this sponge holder essential? No, probably not. But anything that makes doing the dishes a little more stylish or fun is a winner in my book. After all, I live in a small New York City apartment without a dishwasher!

At roughly $25, this sponge holder is a little pricier than the simple stick-on, in-sink option I’d been relying on before, but it’s way cuter. And it complements my design style perfectly, thanks to its vintage-inspired, mixed metal finish that features a hammered copper body and sweet gold “sponge” placard with coordinating claw feet. 

I’ve purchased other items from the Mud Pie brand before and have always been pleased with their quality, and this piece is no exception. I’ve had mine for a few months now, and although it’s aluminum — and constantly filled with a dampish sponge — I haven’t observed any major tarnishing on the surface or inside the holder. It fits most sponges I’ve tried in its storage compartment and keeps one at the ready for scrubbing at all times. Plus, it’s not too large — just 3”x4”x4” — so it won’t take up too much space on an already crowded counter.   

As the holidays approach, I like the idea of giving this sponge holder to the neatnik in your life (as a stocking stuffer or host gift) — or to anyone who’s starting out in a new apartment. It’s the kind of item many people wouldn’t buy for themselves but would be delighted to receive. You could even pair it with a novelty sponge or a nice bottle of soap for your recipient to keep by their own kitchen sink. And it’s part of a larger collection of kitchen vessels, just in case you (or your gift recipient) is in the market for a coordinating utensil holder, for example.

Of course, if you’re inclined to simply buy this little guy for yourself (and why wouldn’t you be?), it’s the perfect addition to any kitchen in time for holiday hosting. After all, the kitchen becomes the busiest room of the house this time of year, so you might as well level up the style of your sink area in time for guests to observe it. If you’re lucky, they’ll maybe even offer to help with the dishes.