This $5 IKEA Find Brings “Instant Sunshine” to My Kitchen

I am not a fancy dish towel person. As a cookbook author and full-time recipe developer, everything in my kitchen has to work hard, so I steer towards functional tools you see in restaurant kitchens instead of design-forward staples. Normally that rule includes dish towels — but when I saw this bright pack of dish towels with a mod fruit print at IKEA, I simply couldn’t resist.

I was drawn to the design of the TORVFLY dish towels at first, bright cross sections of citrus and dragon fruit in cheery yellow, orange, and pink that reminded me of the Bauhaus modern art posters we have in our dining room. The bright colors and minimalist geometric arrangements are unlike anything I’ve seen before on towels, and they added instant color and whimsy to my hard-working kitchen.

The towels are so eye-catching, in fact, guests always comment on them. Friends want to know where I got them, some have even guessed that I found them at a high-end gallery shop! But nope, just IKEA.

Which leads me to the next thing I love about these towels — they’re such a deal! At just $4.99 for a four-pack, they’re affordable enough to use every day. In fact, I’ve bought them several times and given them as hostess gifts, much to the delight of friends who love to cook as much as I do (and even the ones who don’t).

The towels are a loose weave of 100% cotton and while they’re not quite as absorbent or thick as my other favorite kitchen towels (that waffle weave can’t be beat), they’re perfect for drying my hands at the sink and as a side towel while I’m cooking. With repeated washings the towels soften considerably and take on a slightly nubby texture that makes them look like they’re made of pricey linen cloth. I bought my first set over six months ago and they’ve held up well, despite their good looks and lots of washes.

Hung on the oven door, on the hook in front of the kitchen sink, or just folded and put on my island while I work, they add a touch of sunny whimsy to my kitchen-slash-office. Every time I see them, they bring a smile to my face because it reminds me that I can treat myself to pretty things without breaking the bank (or being impractical).

Love These Towels? Then You’ll Also Love…

If you’re not near an IKEA, don’t worry. We found this similar set of four citrus-printed kitchen towels for just a few dollars more that ship directly to your door. With the same bright, colorful fruit and whimsical style, they’re an instant boost of sunshine in your space!

Buy: IKEA TORVFLY Patterned Dish Towel, $4.99