Homemaking

Dreaming & Planning for the Future – Items to Put in a Hope Chest

treasuringthemoments.net

When I was somewhere between 15-18 years old, my parents bought me my hope chest. Mom is a big fan of putting things away for that very special day in every girls life – their wedding, and she always helped each of us girls with our collection of things for our future homes. So when I married I had many sets of tea towels and bath towel sets. Being the 3rd born, I did get way less than my older sister (I had to tell the truth, sis. 🙂 ). My big sister had so much but the sad thing is most of it stayed in storage and the mice enjoyed all the things made of fabric (like towels) before she got to. Edited: My sister has informed me that I am incorrect. Nothing was eaten by mice. A made-up memory of mine, I guess. 🙂

A picture of my daughter Serenity with the hope chest Seth had built for her.

treasuringthemoments.net

When you’re raised by a wonderful homemaking mother and your desire is to someday be mistress of your own domain, then the hope chest becomes something very special to you. And that’s how it was for me. When I married, I remember sitting on the floor of my first house as I went through the items mom had helped me collect over the years.

There are so many things that a couple will need/want to spend their money on when they are first married besides the basics that it is certainly nice to have a little head start in the items needed to run a home.  Yes, there are bridal showers but you may not get certain items that you really would like and besides it’s fun buying for that future day.

You don’t need an actual hope chest to start collecting things.  You can use a rubbermaid container, a drawer in your dresser or you might even find something at the thrift store that will hold your special items.

Things Not to Collect

Here are some things you won’t want to collect

1. Home Decor (after a short while this will be dated)

2. Perishables

3. Dishes that are not neutral since you may really dislike the pattern by the time you get married

 

Here are a list of items that I think are good choices for your “hope chest”.

hope chest items treasuringthemoments.net

1. Salad Tongs

2. Small Spatula

3. Measuring Spoons

4. Grapefruit Spoons

5. Mini-tongs (you’ll be surprised at how many uses you will find for these)

6. Small Ladle

7. Pie Server

8. Tea Towels

9. Dish Cloths

10. Towel Sets

11. Wooden Spoons

12. Measuring Cups

13. Dishes (that are neutral)

14. Rubber Spatula

15. Wooden Spatulas

16. Recipes

17. Any heirloom items being passed on to you

18. Expensive things like pots & pans…

20. Knife Set

21. Grain Mill

22. Bosch or Kitchen Aid

23. Glass Pitcher

24. Potato Peeler

25. Large Ladle

26. Serving dishes that are neutral or glass

27. Embroidered Pillowcases

28. Handmade Quilts

29. Pampered Chef items like oven stones

These are the items I can think off the top of my head.

Are there any other things you could add to the list?

 

Linking up with

Serenity Now

 

 

9 Comments

  • Joane

    This was a really nice post. I started commenting here and felt so inspired that I found I had written a whole post myself on the subject. So, I went ahead and posted it to my own blog.

  • Karren Haller

    I have thought about my granddaughter and wondered what she would think of a hope chest. You have offered so many great ideas for things to go into the chest, thanks for sharing them.

    Also thank you for stopping by to link up this weekend, I have pinned your link to our Party Pinterest Board!!

    Hope you have a great weekend
    Karren

  • Grace Dominguez

    This was a really great post! I have very few things in my hope chest(which is really my hope drawer) but I am still excited about what I do have! cant wait to get more! Thank you for posting this, it was really helpful!!

    • Elisabeth

      Whether you have a few things or a lot, it’s exciting and dreaming about what you want to add to your hope drawer is a good thing.

  • Rachel

    Hey little sis… did you know news reports are notorious for being inaccurate and incomplete sources of information?

  • Courtney

    Thank you for the post I am in my teens now and have my own hope chest aka four shoeboxes with stuff. My mom does not buy stuff for me so I made most of my stuff.

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