Baskets: Pretty and Practical

Most of us desire things in our home that look beautiful and perfect. We not only want a well-designed home, but also items that show our personal style, and furniture that keeps things organized, looking clean and orderly. That may seem unrealistic, especially if you have a family, but by using baskets you can have it both ways! Baskets come in different shapes, sizes and colors, can be used in any room, and will house just about anything you want to conceal. They are also a more stylish way to organize your place. By using these tips, you can create a pretty and practical look in every room of your home.

Using baskets in the Bedroom

• Putting a basket below a nightstand for blankets, magazines or books helps to keep those extras close by without cluttering your nightstand drawer, or having to get out of bed for an extra blanket on a cold night.
• You can find beds, like the Stratton Bed, at Pottery Barn with baskets built into the wood frame underneath–ideal for small rooms. They are also great for shoes, seasonal clothing, blankets or anything you want to “hide” under the bed!
• They also make for great closet organizers. If you have shelves in your closet, you can put several small light-weight baskets full of different accessories on them. Make tags and attach them with matching twine to label what is inside for easy access.

Using Baskets in the Bathroom

• Use two small baskets for guest or hand towels. Roll the clean towels and places tightly together in one and leave the other empty for used towels. You can place the baskets on your counter top or purchase a two-shelf tower where you can put the rolled towels on top and an empty one on the bottom for used towels. Very sanitary!
• If you have a bathroom counter with room underneath, you can place multiple baskets in that space to store specific things, such as toilet paper. Or each basket could be for different people. Sarah, for example, can house her curling iron and make-up in one, while Jimmy can keep his shaving kit, colognes and extra soaps in another. This is a perfect idea for small bathrooms with little storage space.

Using Baskets in the Living Room

• Place baskets anywhere clutter is often created (toys, shoes) and where things tend to get crazy. Just put that clutter in the basket and it’s now out of sight. Your kids will always know where the toys are and people will never lose a shoe.
• Find a sturdy woven trunk with a lift-off top and use it next to a sofa or as a coffee table. Store blankets, games and photo albums inside.
• If you have a media center with a lot of shelves, baskets can really help to make things look uniform and uncluttered. Use the baskets for DVDs, video-game accessories and unusual necessities (battery packs, a microfiber cloth for cleaning the TV, disinfecting wipes and disc cleaning kits).

Using Baskets in the Kitchen

• Let’s say you have awful kitchen cabinets, but can’t really remodel right now. Well, try taking some of your cabinet doors off and place baskets on the shelves. You can then use these for any number of things: dishes, utensils, cleaning supplies, and so on. Your kitchen will look unique and it will be easy to just pull the basket out a bit and grab what you need.
• Place baskets on top of your refrigerator for pretty and practical storage.
• Use them to store bread or potatoes.

You can even be stylish while you’re cleaning. Place all of your cleaning supplies in a basket with handles so you can carry them from room to room. And when you’re finished, place the basket under the sink or on a shelf and you’ve achieved your stylish organization! The possibilities are endless.