The Unexpected $2 IKEA Gem I Use in Every Room (I Buy Them by the 100s)
Nothing feels more elegant than a table set with cloth napkins and candlesticks, and I have long touted my love for patterned paper napkins, which just make any gathering more fun (the more niche the print the better, IMHO). So when, a while back, I found myself at IKEA reaching for this box of plain white paper napkins, I wasn’t quite sure why I wanted them. But in the several months since, I’ve found myself reaching for them all the time.
These paper napkins, officially called NÄBBFISK, are just $1.99 for a box of 100, which I suppose is why I initially bought them. Seems like a deal. They come in a cute patterned cardboard box like tissues, and they dispense in the same way, so you can easily grab one at a time with just one free hand.
NÄBBFISK Paper Napkin
IKEA
$1.99
Buy Now
I’ve used them for their intended purpose, leaving the box out in the center of the table in lieu of place settings with folded napkins, and I like the casual, help-yourself energy they bring. It’s a nice reminder that hosting doesn’t have to be so done-up or a big to-do at all. If a few boxes of a pizza and a box of grab-and-go napkins is what your Friendsgiving calls for, that’s honestly the kind of gathering I’m trying to attend.
Beyond the dining table, I also think these napkins would be great to tote to the park or the beach for easy on-the-go cleanup. Personally, I use them all the time in the kitchen to wipe up small, sticky spills when a full paper towel is unnecessary, or to clean out the portafilter of my espresso machine.
I even carry the box with me throughout my apartment, especially when I’m cleaning my bathroom. The napkins have a sturdy but pretty papery texture, which makes them excellent for spraying down my mirror (think: the old-school hack of using newspaper, but with no inky smears). While fuzzy fibers can sometimes shed from my paper towels onto my mirror, these napkins make for the perfect streak-free clean in just a few seconds. The same goes for the full-size IKEA mirror in my bedroom, where dust loves to gather, so I use my box of napkins in there, too.
Of course, I’m an advocate for making zero-waste swaps around the home, and I’m always looking for ways to be more sustainable in my life. There are certainly less wasteful alternatives to paper napkins, from cloth napkins to reusable paper towels, and I use both of those, too. I’ve had this box of 100 napkins for several months and still have plenty to go. But this mighty little box of IKEA napkins has proved itself to be a mighty little timer-saver; it’s often just the thing I need to get the job done, whether that’s cleaning up a spill, making dinner, or ridding my mirror of fingerprints.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
