Decorating with baskets is an oh so pretty way to add beauty, personality, and texture to a room. And one of my favorite quick-trick ways to decorate! Do you love baskets as much as I do? Then you will love these 5 easy ways to use baskets in your home!
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I am almost obsessed with stylish containers! Woven, wire, lucite, wood, tortoiseshell and more… lots and lots more! I love them all!
A big stash of them collected over decades waits patiently in the basement when they are not in use but almost all of the BCT’s (baskets, crates, and trays) find a way into my decor regularly!
How about you? Do you love baskets, crates, and trays! They are the bedrock of decor!
Today let’s narrow our focus and talk about baskets. But first, let’s talk about what baskets will work best in your home!
CHOOSING DIFFERENT BASKETS
Our cat Hobbes knows a good thing! And never misses a photoshoot!
Not all baskets are made of wicker, have tall sides and a handle! There are as many types of baskets as you can almost imagine!
Start collecting baskets. They are inexpensive for the big decor punch they offer and can be used in so many ways!
Here are my favorite types of the basket and how I use them…
ROUND OR RECTANGLE BASKETS WITH LOW SIDES
These are my go-to baskets for vignettes! They will corral items nicely, and the contents of the basket are very visible!
I especially love them for creating vignettes. These little decorative powerhouses need a confined space and a low sided basket does just that!
Here are my favorite basket trays…
STURDY SIDED BASKETS
I can hardly pass up a basket with sturdy sides! The possibilities to organize are countless! Collecting like things in baskets makes my life so much easier when I want to find something.
When I’m decorating with baskets these are the most versatile, pretty and functional!
And these baskets look amazing when they are grouped together, en mass! Think about adding sturdy sided baskets to a bookshelf or under coffee and end tables!
Here are some of my favorite baskets with sturdy sides…
BASKETS WITH LIDS
Baskets with lids hide what I need at hand but don’t want out in plain sight! These baskets are perfect for hiding the remote controls or toilet paper or laundry or collecting mail or office supplies or other important but less than pretty home essentials!
Here are some of the lidded baskets I use in our home…
OTHER BASKET TO THINK ABOUT COLLECTING
Think about collecting baskets that are wire too! They add a whole different look to a room.
And really any basket you love is worth collecting!
I found this basket while looking for great baskets to share with you and just could not pass it up for $48.00! See it HERE.
Here are some of my favorite baskets that are other than wicker…
Here are some tips and ways to use the baskets we love!
MAKE BASKETS PART OF A VIGNETTE
A vignette should be something you have mastered! Because they add an instant focal point to any room.
And my favorite way to create them is in a basket!
A basket gives them a defined space and lots and lots of pretty texture. Oh, our eyes really love a well-curated vignette!
Over the years I’ve collected quite a stash of amazing round, square and mostly flat-sided baskets to call into service as the foundation of a vignette!
USE THEM TO CORRAL ITEMS
Baskets are beautiful things! They create texture and interest in home decor and can also corral, organize and hide items out of sight! If you have space on a shelf or table or even the floor, think baskets!
I am wild about baskets because they are a decor win/win in my book!
They look amazing and can hide lots of things inside! I’m not talking “junk” I’m talking about “organizing”. You can organize a myriad of household items in plain sight.
When you need to organize do it with baskets! And then use them as part of your decor!
Here are some things that can find a home in a pretty basket…
- magazines
- projects
- papers
- books
- towels
- toiletries
- blankets
- pillows
- shoes
HANG THEM UP
Many baskets are just too pretty to lay flat! Don’t forget to go vertical! Open-faced baskets make beautiful wall art especially if they are interesting and even a bit unusual!
PUT PLANTS IN THEM
Here are some pretty baskets just begging to give a plant a home…
USE BASKETS AS A TABLE
If I am stashing things away I really love lidded baskets! They look neat no matter what’s inside!
And the quintessential lidded basket for maximum storage is a basket that also doubles as a table!
Here’s where I keep extra pillows and blankets for snuggling!
Now grab a basket, set your timer and style it one of these 5 ways!
I completely agree about the baskets. I have purchased so many of mine from the local thrift store for $2 to $5. I love to use them. I have blankets, pillows, books, magazines stuffed into them.
I would be lost without my baskets. Just bought a new round one to use on top of an ottoman making it perfect as a side table next to a chair in our family room. I use them for containers,food, wall art vignettes and just pretty accents on top of my kitchen hutch. Also have a collection of small handmade baskets I bring out in the fall to display on a shelf. I never past up an attractive basket because I know I will find a use for it.
I hear you! Me to Kathy!
Hi Janet! I just love this! Where can I get info on the chest in the opening photo? Thanks
Hi Leanne, It’s Yvonne @ StoneGable. This “Curlacue Chest” was manufactured by Hooker Furniture and I found it on Wayfair. It is no longer in stock. I’d contact the Hooker Company and inquire about it there. Sorry, I don’t have any more information!
Oh, Yvonne, I knew we are kindred spirits! Our Hobbes is a 17 year old black cat. In his younger days, he loved getting in to my baskets! Thanks for all the great ideas.
Oh, how fun! Isn’t Hobbes a great name for a cat?
I love baskets and have them everywhere. Give Hobbes a cuddle from me please. He looks adorable!
Hi Nancy, I will! Hobbes is a dog-of-a-cat. He is one cuddler!
Lovely as always!
I love your little kitty and OF COURSE he/she matches the decor. LOL
Thanks, Susan. Yes, Hobbes really does go with the house! LOL!
Yes, please to baskets. I’ve used them in my home in many places, because they’re practical & pretty. Thank you for your hard work and sharing your peaceful and lovely home with us. I have a question about the bowl of lemons, which look so fresh and cheery, especially with the leaves in there. I often will display lemons in a nice bowl on the kitchen counter, but find they don’t last long and that they keep better in the fridge. Is there a way to make them last longer? Is faux fruit tacky?
Hi Carolynn, Lemons can last up to a couple weeks out of the frig. It really depends how you get them from the store. And after I use them in decor I use the in a recipe. Hope this helps.
Thanks so much for your response! Maybe the ones here are not quite as fresh because they have a longer way to travel to central Canada. I don’t know. 😊
I love baskets! There is something about their texture and shape that draws me to them. I use them to hide magazines, corral dog toys, hold pens in my kitchen drawer, store my husbands belts on top of his tall boy, to hold pashminas…
I also gather interesting baskets and display them on top of the Murphy bed in the office. Then when I want to do up a gift basket for a friend, I select one from my stash.
Thrift stores are a great place to find baskets for just a few dollars.
Great uses for baskets!
I love these ideas, so fabulous. You always knock them out the ballpark. I know I cannot afford many of these fabulous baskets, but occasionally I am able to find one one sale, and I snatch it up. I too love baskets, but not so good in how to use them as you do. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Ivory, I’m so glad the basket ideas helped you!
I love all of your ideas for baskets! But my favorite is the one Hobbes is in! What a beautiful perfect picture with your adorable kitty! What do you use to clean her eyes? I noticed she looks so clean with no crusty eye corners. She or is it he must be and indoor cat as mine is.
Hi Deb, Hobbes does his own cleaning.
I have been a “basket case” for years and love making vignettes using baskets and trays. I have a lot of stuff so corralling my treasures makes a big difference in my decorating. Thank you for the post. I know that running a blog is a huge amount of work and I enjoy yours very much. Thanks.
Hi Eileen, thanks for acknowledging the work that goes into creating a blog! I LOVE what I do and my readers too! And I’m a big basket case too!
Hi, could you tell me where you got the hanging lamps you show by your bed? They are just so pretty!
thanks, Terry
Hi Teresa, they came from Wayfair. The sconces are currently out of stock. So sorry!
I, too love baskets! I have collected many over the years. I love the way you haves styled them . Ideas! I would love to see a picture of your “table” basket.
It was so fun to have you link-up this week at Tuesday Turn About! I’m excited to be able to feature your lovely basket post this week! Pinned, too! Hugs!
What a great way to add pretty extra storage. I prefer a basket with handles as they are so much easier to transport.
I love the picture’s. Especially the one with your cat.
Yvonne, thank you for these wonderful ideas. I purchased a couple cotton rope baskets from Walmart and I’ve been wondering how I can use them. Great tips!
I have loved your study sided baskets at Stonegable for so long but I never noticed that some have books under them to elevate them! I noticed it today, stopped reading and went to my study sided baskets and added books under them and it elevated them just to right level. I always learn something new with each post!
Yvonne, I too share your love for baskets. I began collecting as a young bride, 47 years ago. Whether for practicality, as you mentioned their endless uses, or for their pretty textural decor, my collection as served me well.
What an awesome collection of gorgeous baskets! My favorites are the basket trays and I just love they way you use them in vignettes!!
I am so with you with in your love of baskets and trays.I have them all over my house using them for display and storage.I just bought 2 using one for under my coffee table and another next to my sofa.There are so many pretty and different baskets on the market, it’s hard to resist just one !
I know! So that is why I keep collecting them.
Always so informative and I’m going to look around my house and see what I can do with the baskets that I have!
HAPPY SAT. Morning!!
I have been a collector of baskets for many years.
I use the baskets throughout our home
and on our sailboat.
We have two young gran babes who visit with us a couple a days each week.
I store their story books and craft supplies in them.
I love the over sized cloth and wire baskets to store their toys. Easy for the kiddos to help themselves and they look great tucked out of the way after their play date at our place.
I also store my baskets and extra pillows
downstairs. Please share a photo of your storage area in your basement.
Thank you. Enjoy your weekend.
I know you must be enjoying your granbabes🤗
Hi Su! Thanks for sharing all the ideas for using baskets!
Hey Janet! Thanks! Your home is so beautiful! I can’ wait to see what you do with baskets too!