The only way I can remember to keep my apartment organized is to give every item its own home. I realize this is barely a life hack, because in most cases, it’s blindingly obvious where things belong. Coats go in the closet, books stack on shelves, pots and pans get hung up on a pegboard in the kitchen. But there’s always some stuff that doesn’t have a clear place to go, and that’s where I get tripped up, sometimes literally. Without a spot to call home, shoes pile up in my foyer, causing minor traffic jams in the morning, and magazines often take over my kitchen table.
This is where a good wicker storage basket can come in handy. It’s an organizing tip I picked up from some professionals, while learning about their favorite storage bins. Laura Cattano is one such fan, and she likes using “beautiful open baskets,” especially for toys. The beauty of these baskets is that they don’t look like storage, and, as Cattano says, “If someone walks in, they just see a basket, a beautiful basket instead of the toys.” But I’ve extended her logic to whatever else I might be trying to corral.
So those shoes that were blocking my way can now be kept in a basket that sits in the corner, away from the front door, and those magazines can be stashed away in a stylish holder underneath the table. Even my spare rolls of toilet paper are stacked up in a woven basket in my bathroom, a more stylish option than keeping them in the original packaging.
And wicker’s a uniquely versatile material, usually neutral in color, so it fits into most decorating schemes. However, you can also find wicker that’s dyed to match whatever colors you’re working with. It’s also having something of a moment right now, what with basket-shaped bags showing up on runways and the basket-looking Cult Gaia purse taking over Instagram. To help you get on trend and organize your stuff, here are 23 practical and pretty straw, jute, rattan, or wicker storage baskets for every room in your house.
Small, open baskets also make handsome catchalls and organizers, especially when they’re as colorful as this one (which also happens to be on sale at Spring).
This set of three woven baskets, with dark wood handles, could be used to organize your vanity or the knick-knacks on your bathroom counters.
This basket, made of cane rattan, would nicely complement a side table, as a chic magazine holder.
If you want to get more traditional with styling, this wicker basket is actually meant as a shopping bag for bikes — but you could also repurpose it as a magazine or newspaper holder.
H&M has a surprising number of good-looking, simply styled wicker storage baskets for less than $50, like this large one with handles for just $25.
This dark-gray jute basket is a unique color, and it’s the right size for laundry. (Though if you’re looking for something a bit more traditionally colored, it also comes in a natural white.)
Many Amazon reviewers note that they use this basket to hold planters, but it would be just as useful as to hold blankets or kids’ toys.
Even though Cattano prefers open baskets for kids’ toys, I think this floor basket is a great storage option for them. The low profile makes it easy for kids to access, but the lid means adults don’t have to look at the toys when they’re not in use.
It also comes in black and white, in case the chevron design isn’t your style.
This black and white bull’s-eye basket is also low and lidded, but the handles make it a bit more portable from to move room to room.
This taller lidded basket would be good for pet toys that you want to keep out of sight.
This lidded basket is even taller and larger, for bigger items like sports gear or shoes you don’t want to always have on display, though the handles make it easier to move around.
This large, open woven basket would be nice for storing decorative throw pillows or blankets, since you could see pops of color or texture through the caning.
This rattan cane basket from Target has a similar style for a slightly lower price.
This woven seagrass basket is sturdy enough to use outside, on a patio, but stylish enough to keep indoors.
If you just want a basic, round wicker basket with as few frills and decorative details as possible, but won’t collapse in on itself, this one from Target will do just fine. Plus, it’s only $32.
For something with a little more visual detail, go for a basket like this one, with a braided handle.
Yes, this basket costs $300. But it’s also got a tight weave, intricately braided handles, and it’s fairly big, at 20 inches long and 16 inches tall.
The chunky pom-poms give these wicker baskets a second purpose as stylish tote bags, as well as stand-alone storage options.
Another playful two-piece set. These baskets are well structured, making them a good option for heavier or oversize items like boots or shoes.
There’s also this duo of red wicker baskets, if you’re working with a warmer color scheme.
So this isn’t technically a wicker basket, but it is wicker furniture that fulfills essentially the same purpose. Simply throw in the items you’d usually keep on your coffee table, like a TV remote or magazines, into the ottoman, put the top on, and no one will know how much stuff you’re storing within.
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