For the Love of Baskets
Baskets are a really important, but often under-rated, part of interior decor. I love baskets. Not only do they serve a functional purpose in organizing clutter and providing storage, but they also bring warmth, texture and natural beauty to any space. They align with nature in a great way, and they are beautiful for any season. Another thing to keep in mind is that many baskets are made from sustainable, natural materials are biodegradable, making them a great choice for the environmentally-minded, and thus reducing the plastic “footprint”.
With the fast-paced nature of all of our lives, our home often becomes filled with “stuff” that needs storing—remote controls, phone and computer chargers, books, magazines, children’s toys, or extra throw blankets—the list really is endless. Baskets offer a solution by providing a stylish and easy-to-access storage space for all these little odds and ends. And the beauty of their size, is that they can be tucked away on shelves, under coffee tables, or in closets, creating a practical and organized look.
Here’s some ideas for using them:
Plants, Plants, Plants – smaller baskets can be used as plant pots. Many of them even come with a plastic liner to hold water, and of course, this doubles the “nature” effect.
Blanket Storage – a larger basket can be used to hold extra blankets in the living room for those cold but cosy days in front of the fire. This doubles as a decor item as well as a storage solution if your space is small.
Remote Control & Charger Storage – A shallow woven piece is great for storing living room necessities on a coffee table or ottoman to make sure they are handy and don’t get lost.
A Decor Piece – baskets are so beautiful in their simplicity that they can act very easily as a stand alone home decor item or statement piece, and their natural colour can blend with pretty much every colour palette.
Clutter Killers – many baskets come in “trunk” form with a lid. These could be used at the end of a bed to store extra linens or keepsake items. Or even just as a catch-all for those items that fall into the “I’ll deal with you later” category. Out of sight, and out of mind ….. for the time being.
Bathroom Organization – there are lots of varieties of shallow baskets that can be used on the bathroom counter (or even under the sink) for items like hand towels, cosmetics, medications, and other things that you want to have “at the ready”, but organized – even a strategically placed basket with extra toilet paper..
Kitchen Storage – the kitchen offers many opportunities to use baskets including smaller baskets to store cutlery or utensils in drawers to make sure they don’t all fall together, a resting place for breads and other bakery items, or even a shallow “beside the stove” catch-all for oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and spices, and of course, a bowl-shaped basket for having fruits and vegetables easily available on the counter.
Entryway Storage – scarves, gloves and mittens, winter hats, all that kind of stuff that we don’t use all the time but need a storage place for – this also frees up space in hall closet for other items on the top shelf of the closet if you are able to put these baskets on the floor or on an entry table.
Entryway Everyday – a small basket is great in the entryway for items like keys, entry cards, laundry cards, or other items that you need immediately upon exiting or entering – I also use one for my dog’s leash and other “necessity” items like extra poop bags.
Office Storage – almost everyone has a home office nowadays, or something similar (mine is in the corner of my living room), and there isn’t always storage available – baskets in a bookcase can hold extra printer paper, packing tape, smaller office items like a calculator or label maker if there isn’t space on a desk.
Wall Art – smaller unique baskets can be used as a gallery on a small wall to add interest and texture to a room.
Children’s Toys – an obvious idea, but with a large basket with no lid, it’s easy for young children to learn to put toys away.
Magazines & Books – we can’t read everything at once, but we don’t want to spend time locating our next read if it is something we know we will be reading soon – arranging a stack of books decoratively in a basket works well to manage them.
There are so many ideas, I almost can’t stop writing!
Rustic, bohemian, or just plain minimal, baskets can be added to any style of decor, and there are so many different types of weave – wicker, rattan, seagrass, jute, hyacinth, banana leaf, bamboo (to name just a few) that they are really fun to create with.
They also have a blend of functionality and decor which makes them an indispensable accessory for any home. Whether used for storage, display, or both, baskets effortlessly give your home a stylish, organized, and warm ambiance.
