Are You a Basket Case? Why We Love All Things Woven (and How To Up Your Basket Game)
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Baskets are taking over the decor world.
Don’t believe us? Just click or scroll for a minute or two and count the rooms without baskets holding blankets, storing paper towels, lining pantry shelves, and corralling books. We’ll wait.
And this trend seems to get bigger every year, with baskets popping up at all price ranges and in every type of room. However, “traditionally and historically, baskets were most commonly found in the farmhouse or country-style home,” notes Shanda Richardson, a real estate broker with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Asheville, NC.
Curious about how baskets as a decor trend got started? See below for more of the history, and then read up on a few ways to make this look stand out in your home.
The basket backstory
Photo by Robert Paige Cabinetry LLC
Basket weaving is a timeless art form that’s been embraced by many cultures worldwide. After they were used for storage and transport, baskets were used inside the home to brighten our rooms as the next step.
The doyenne of using baskets to decorate was probably Bunny Mellon, a well-known interior designer, talented gardener, and a close pal of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Mellon famously used great piles of woven accessories in her homes, even erecting a special building to display dozens of baskets from the ceiling rafters.
Martha Stewart then went on to hang baskets around her Connecticut abode to significant effect. And today, many HGTV stars also champion them (think Joanna Gaines and her sea grass designs or Leanne Ford with her massive basket lights).
Freshen up your basket game
Yup, lots of folks corral their TV remotes in a basket on the coffee table. And they’ll toss mail in this container near the front door, too. But to make your decor pop with woven textures, use baskets strategically in certain rooms.
“One of the best uses of natural baskets is to warm up a room that doesn’t have much wood, like the kitchen,” says Richardson. The idea here is to balance out the cold surfaces like countertops and appliances by bringing in much-needed color and texture.
To accomplish this in your cook space, you might use a basket or basket tray to hold paper napkins or fruit. Or you could line the kitchen window sill with herbs planted in basket containers.
The bathroom is another room filled with hard surfaces that offer little coziness. The fix: Roll up towels and stand them upright in a large basket on the floor, or stack toilet paper in a rectangular basket.
Make a basket wall
Photo by GM Construction, Inc.
Baskets on the floor get kicked and pushed around—but if you mount them, you’ll reveal a smart display that’s both unusual and alluring.
Flat baskets or woven platters are easy to hang up, but any collection you own can be transformed into a wall gallery.
The entryway is an excellent choice for this decor treatment, though you can also create a gallery in the kitchen (and then grab the ones you need for serving pieces). Another basket-friendly display area is above a bed or along the wall that borders a staircase.
Jazz up utilitarian rooms
Workday spaces in the home such as the pantry, mudroom, and laundry area can benefit from basket storage. A large hamper made from strong reeds holds clothing, while deep wicker baskets can hide those less-than-lovely detergent bottles.
“Baskets provide a space for all the products you need, especially for homes with limited furniture or built-in storage,” says Rebecca Breslin, senior design manager at Wayfair Professional.
Filling nooks with baskets also ups your game. For example, you might attach a basket on a wall to hold a plant or tuck an oversized one in a nonworking fireplace (or during the off-season). And don’t forget the home office where wire baskets can hold papers, printer toner, or extra folders.
Baskets are ideal for holding kids’ toys since they’re fairly indestructible and lightweight enough for your little ones to move them around. Store stuffed animals, books, Lego bricks, and more in these containers.
When to pump the brakes on baskets
Photo by NEAT Method, South Florida
Do you have baskets for your baskets? It might be time to set some basket boundaries.
“I like to stick to one or two styles per room and set them up as singles or groups of three for the most aesthetically pleasing visual,” says Breslin.
It’s also a good idea to let the style of your home dictate the number of baskets you use, says Richardson.
“If your home is full of relaxed cottage charm, then a bunch near the entryway to hold shoes and dog toys will be practical and look delightful,” she explains.
But in a modern, minimalist manse, edit your look ruthlessly.
“In this type of home, one simple, dramatic, large-scale basket to house your firewood may be all you need for this decorating style,” she adds.
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