I Stole This $3 Styling Trick from IKEA’s Kitchen Aisle
Growing up, my mom used to chide me about leaving cold drinks on tables around the house, getting paint or nail polish on my dresser, and generally just not being as careful as I should have been with my furniture. I’d love to say that’s changed as I’ve gotten older, but if I’m being totally honest, it hasn’t.
My nightstand, for example, is usually littered with books, stationery, cups, and various detritus from whatever craft I decided to work on from bed that day. I never thought a $3 dish towel from IKEA could solve the issue (and shield my nightstand from further damage), but that’s exactly what happened.
What Is the SPJUTLILJA Dish Towel Set?
It’s a two-pack of flat-woven, 100% cotton tea towels printed in colorful, modern patterns. Measuring 20 inches long by 14 inches wide, they’re a tad smaller than your average dish towel, so they’ll work beyond your kitchen as decorative accents (more on this later!). Finished with sewn-in hanging loops for easy storage, the towels are practical, stylish – and they’re the unlikely heroes of my nightstand. Here’s why.
Why I Keep a SPJUTLILJA Dish Towel On My Nightstand
At its core, the IKEA tea towel acts as a barrier for my nightstand, shielding it from dust, stains, scuffs, and scratches. I can set drinks on it without looking for a coaster, and I can do things like paint my nails or work on my junk journal without risking further damage to its surface. The tea towel also makes it easier to keep my nightstand clean. In the event of a spill or stain, all I need to do is toss it in the washing machine with my weekly load of laundry.
As practical as it is, I wouldn’t put a dish towel on my nightstand if it didn’t look good – and this graphic tea towel does. Its funky, rectangular grid pattern adds a swath of playful, butter-yellow color to my nightstand and even reminds me of pricier designer textiles (except this set is a fraction of the price!). The blue-and-purple checkerboard print in the set is equally stylish, and I’ll definitely use that one, too, for a more impactful look. Plus, the smaller size looks neat and intentional on my nightstand, and not as sloppy as a larger, traditional dish towel.
For only $3, the SPJUTLILJA dish towels are a low-risk, high-reward purchase. Why not have a little fun and try styling them on your bedside table?
Buy: SPJUTLILJA Dish Towel Set, $3
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