Friday, January 29, 2010

Baskets, Baskets, Everywhere: Using baskets to Organize Your Home

As you walk from room to room in my home, one of the things you will notice is the number of baskets.  I just noticed the other day that I have baskets in every room of our house.  I love to organize and to reorganize again and again.

Baskets come in all shapes and sizes, with and without lids, and in all price ranges.  They can be found at almost any store from grocery stores to home decor stores.  They can also be picked up cheaply at thrift stores and garage sales.

Here are some ways to utilize baskets to help you organize your house and cut the clutter:

Kitchen
  • Use decorative baskets to store fruit, dish towels, or stray recipes
  • Use to store crackers, cereal, snacks, etc. (toss/recycle the boxes that these things come in when they are close to empty and store the cellophane bags in a basket so you can clear up shelf space)
  • Use to store cleaning supplies, cleaning sponges, and other cleaning tools
  • In cupboards use small baskets for small items (this works well with baby items such as pacifiers, bottle nipples, etc.)
  • I have a basket with dividers that is perfect for storing utensils and napkins for when we have get-togethers
Bathroom
  • Use baskets to store spare towels (they look pretty and decorative rolled up and placed nicely in a basket)
  • Have a small basket with toiletries for guests to use
  • Use to store hair accessories and combs/brushes 
  • Use to store extra toilet paper so you don't have to rummage in the closet 
Closets
  • Store candles, potpourri, and other decorative items (they also make your closet smell good) in baskets
  • Have a basket for socks that have missing mates (I have a whole basket of them that I periodically sort through)
  • Use them to store purses, wallets, and various travel related items
Living Room/Family Room
  • Use to store toys, magazines, hobbies (i.e. crafts)
  • Bread baskets are perfect for storing CDs
  • Roll blankets and place them in baskets for a decorative look (they are easy to pull out for snuggling on the sofa)
  • A small basket can be used to store all your remote controls (if you have gaming systems this is really handy)
 Office
  • Use baskets to store files and mail
  • Have a to-do basket filled with items that may need attention (this is where I put papers that need to be signed, newspaper clippings that need to be filed, toys that need maintenance, etc.)
  • I even have a basket that serves as a mini trash can (it has a liner)
  • Use small baskets to collect pens, paper clips, post its and other small office supplies
Bedroom
  • Wash (of course)
  • A small basket can serve as a catch all for jewelry, items that you take from your pockets at the end of the day, and spare change
Hallways
  • Use a small basket on a table or on the floor for your family to drop their hats, mittens, and scarves
  • A little basket can collect car and house keys (so you always know where they are)
  • Have a basket to store book bags and any other items (such as sports equipment) that your family comes home with from school or work
  • Have a basket on the stairs to put items that belong upstairs so that you can take it up when you go upstairs so you are not running up and down the steps needlessly (unless you like the exercise!)
Baskets always make perfect gifts to!  Just fill them with goodies and present them for birthdays, housewarming gifts, and any other occasion.

13 comments:

Daisygirl said...

ya I would say that is a ton of baskets!!!
I have the same addiction, how can you pass up a cute basket!?!

Anonymous said...

Hey! I use baskets too! I love being organized. Aplace for everything and everything in its place!!!

parentingadabsurdum said...

Oh! So glad to hear someone else is as obsessed with baskets as I am. Nothing makes me happier than a trip to the Container Store or Storables.

Peryl

Richele McFarlin said...

You won my giveaway for Piggy Paint! Please visit:http://underthegoldenappletree.blogspot.com/2010/01/piggy-paint-winner-announced.html

I will need your email address. Please email me at richelemcfarlin@bex.net THANKS!

Heather said...

I was just thinking about getting some more baskets to try to organize my magazines in my living room. I would love to see some pictures to get a visual for all the ways you use baskets. Please let me know if you do this!

PS Happy SITS Share Saturday!
-Heather @ www.savingmoneylivinglife.com

Joy@TPMG said...

I am so glad I am not the only person who uses a lot of baskets. After I posted this I did a search of baskets and there was a site where people compared baskets to "mom jeans". They said they were "out". I was so surprised. I guess it is a personal taste issue. I wish we had a Container Store near us. They have so many cool things.

@Heather-I will post pics this upcoming week of the baskets that I do have and examples of how I use them. I found woven magazine holders that I have in my husband's office and I also a magazine basket that I found a few years ago at Pier 1. In my classroom I used to have a huge basket (it always reminded me of a Red Robin Hood type basket since it was a red color and it had a handle) and I would fill it with magazines for my students and sit it on the windowsill.

Mommy Kennedy said...

Now following from MBC!

Congrats on winning the Piggy Paint!

I would love to see some pictures too!

Simply Stacie said...

I am from FFF from the MBC and am now a follower!

http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com

TMB said...

aww thank you soooo much!!! your blog is super cute!! I love your banner =) I'm following you back

Unknown said...

I love baskets too. They look so much better than plastic containers. Stopping by from SITS!

Danielle said...

Stopping by from SITS. I love baskets as well and being organized!! Thanks for sharing.


xoxo
Danielle

Anonymous said...

Popping in from SITS! Great tips! I currently need a really large basket to organize all my unused baskets in!!! I guess I've taken it a little too far....

Joy@TPMG said...

Since most of our baskets are used for our daughters' things, when they get older I'm not sure what we'll do with all of the baskets! I guess I'll also have to get a huge basket to hold all my baskets.

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