It’s always a great feeling when you have the good fortune of finding a home accent that is inexpensive yet does so much to elevate your space.
Baskets have become a favourite in many homes, as they add colour and texture for a modest price. They’re also a modern accent that can instantly update your interiors.
They are just not decorative either—baskets can perform several handy functions.
Plant holder
If you are a plant parent or want to introduce some greenery into your décor, baskets are a great purchase. They’re a great way to hide those basic dark green plastic pots that house your favourite specimens at the local nursery or garden centre. Using a basket works equally well for taller plants or trees that deserve to be appreciated from every angle, as well as smaller pots of flowers you want to showcase, even outdoors or on a tabletop. When used as a vessel in this way, you hide the pot and the soil, leaving just the greenery and blooms in full view. It is a more modern way to display what you grow and looks stunning.
The Winwich Basket (set of 2) comes in an antique white and brown colourway, which complements any décor palette. The set is made of woven water hyacinth, a natural material, and includes pleasing variations in hue. They also have the height to obscure taller plant pots. The visual contrast between the textures of the hyacinth and the vibrant greenery placed within it looks striking and fresh.
If you don’t have a green thumb, you can still get the look. Buy a few artificial blooms and lean them into a basket—it’s an instant, fresh-from-the-countryside look that works well to brighten any room of the home.
Catchall in your entryway or mudroom
Win the battle against clutter with a simple basket. Place one near your front door to catch the mittens and gloves that get tossed off in the winter, or the umbrellas no one is ever sure exactly where to put down.
Having a basket in a busy location like this also makes retrieval of said items easier: no more hunting all over the house at the last minute to find that scarf, hat or pair of gloves. These Brayton baskets are made of braided natural jute and can be easily cleaned with a soft, dry cloth. You could even use them to corral smaller pieces of sports equipment.
Closet organizer
Many closet organization experts recommend using baskets to help sort our belongings and keep things streamlined. For example, if something doesn’t fit anymore, you can toss it into a basket in your closet.
When the basket is full, it’s time to give away, repurpose or donate the items, or drop them off at your local textile recycling depot. If something is out of season or in need of repair, you can tuck it in the basket until you have time to store it away properly or take it to a seamstress. These Parrish baskets are a mix of braided blue cotton with natural jute and are stylish enough to work in the most fashionable closets.
Toy storage
As any parent knows, stepping on toys can be extremely painful. Keep those building blocks, figurines and toy cars in check with a basket that serves as a temporary home for all of the odds and ends.
With one of these in your space, your kids can do a quick sweep of the room and pick up all of the items that have been left out. They can then start to put each one away in its proper home and spare you the discomfort of accidentally stepping on one of them. This version of the Parrish baskets has handles, making them easier to transport, even for the littlest hands.
Reading materials
Some families keep a basket in their living or family rooms that serves one purpose only: to hold everyone’s library books and keep them safely all in one place. They’re also a great place to store a little one’s favourite board or clothbound books; because the baskets are light, portable and have no sharp edges, kids can pick them up and enjoy using them easily.
The Eider basket is hand-braided and has a cottony texture. It is the perfect place to stash those magazines you’re looking forward to reading on the weekend or holding all of your flyers and mail securely until you have time to go through them.
Firewood at the cottage
If you want to have some firewood at the ready but don’t want a large or haphazard pile cluttering up your living space, a sturdy basket will do the trick. It helps to keep your supply close at hand and contains the mess, as firewood often leaves a telltale trail of debris behind.
Outdoorsy types, especially those with young children, might like to keep a small basket by the hearth to collect the objects kids often like to pick up on walks: rocks, pine cones, small stones, leaves and twigs. Stored safely away, you can turn them into art projects later on.
Ashley HomeStore North offers a wide range of storage solutions for every room of your home. Looking for more great design ideas? Follow the store on Instagram.