We have a good amount of built ins so I never thought I needed baskets.
That was until our mound of shoes became an eye sore and Penelope’s toys entailed smaller pieces.
Clean up was taking FOREVER. Toys were spilling out on the floor. Parts were getting lost. Ugh.
Details: Mother jeans // sweater c/o // felt woven baskets
So I knew I needed an organization system, but every time I went to purchase containers, I got decision paralysis. Questions like…
“Will these fit? How many do I need? Should they be clear so you can see what’s inside? Or solid so they hide everything? The list of questions would go on and nothing would happen.”
That’s when I turned to the help of my BFF, interior designer, Melissa of MMDH Studio! She broke down the same process she uses for her clients.
I’m pretty proud because I executed her advice ALL by myself. It worked SO well, I just bought more baskets for our basement.
I’m truly SHOCKED by how much faster and easier clean up is. And thanks to baskets, you can actually hold MORE.
Food For Thought
When I first gave Melissa’s process a go, I got stuck in the weeds. I tried to find the PERFECT sized baskets for multiple areas in our house. Yeah…that doesn’t exist.
So Melissa gave me the best advice of all… “don’t over think it!”. So with her tips in the back of my mind, I went to Target – bought a few options that met the criteria – and went from there. She actually goes into more detail on this conundrum below – so be sure to read.
By the way….Melissa shares how to achieve that PERFECT basket look in her last tip below. It’s just plain GENIUS.
Easy peasy. So if you try to implement this over the weekend, don’t get stuck in the weeds like I did.
Now scroll below to get Melissa’s genius organization hacks, what type of baskets to use for what, and some EXACT recommendations.
Take it away Melissa!
How do you know if you even need baskets?
There are 3 solid reasons for adding baskets to your life.
- When you have anything excess laying around that could use a home base.
- When you have exposed shelving, cubbies, nooks, or crannies that easily get cluttered.
- When your space feels like it is missing warmth, layers, and character.
Details: shallow baskets // deep baskets
How do you determine how many, how wide and how high?
If you are dealing with shelves, cubbies, or confined areas, measure. Take depth, width, and height measurements, and look for baskets that are 2” short of each dimension or less. If you want the contents of the basket to be accessible without pulling the basket out of the space, keep the basket at least 4” less than your height clearance to reach your hand in for contents.
What about aesthetic and material?
In my humble opinion, a natural colored wicker basket works in ANY space. No matter how traditional, contemporary, or glam your home is, you can always mix things up with a natural weave basket and pull it off. I love a good chunky woven wicker basket for blankets, although a smaller weave basket is better for stacking/storing items that need tidier organization (ie: jewelry boxes, card games, kitchen items, office supplies). I love solid or woven felt baskets for toys of all sizes, as they are soft for babes to get into and there are not cracks for bigger kids’ Legos and Barbie shoes to fall through. I avoid metal bins, mostly because they can tear up the surface they are stored on, and they can pull blankets, etc.
Talk to us about quality.
If you are shopping for woven baskets in person, look for structure and stability that allows them to support themselves. Make sure they aren’t flaking apart on the shelf or losing handles before you even exit the store. You can expect some shedding over time from woven baskets, but you don’t want them to be chipping all over immediately. The tighter the weave, the better.
Favorite brands/stores for baskets?
Target has a great selection of baskets in all materials, shapes, and sizes. I always scour HomeGoods for single large scale blanket baskets – you can’t beat their pricing for larger scale options. West Elm has an ever evolving basket selection, although they always have a few unique design options to throw in the mix. The Container Store has a multitude of mid-higher price point baskets that are easy to sort through and purchase in bulk too. More specific links below…
Any specific tips for baskets that enclose shoes?
When you are storing shoes, always go with a natural weave or darker colored felt. You can also go with canvas, although the flat texture canvas will show everything, even though it is durable, so make sure it is easy to throw in the washer.
What about hidden/excess space behind openings?
Assume clear opening with all dimensions. Ignore the excess space that may be beyond the clear opening on the sides or above the opening.
How to know when to use multiple baskets or just one big one? How many? And how far a part should they be?
In a larger opening, multiple baskets should have at least 2” in between them and 2” on ends before hitting the side of the shelf. Selecting one or multiple baskets for each opening boils a bit down to function (organizational vs. decorative) and common basket size availability. You will find that some larger openings fit standard sized baskets, and if they don’t, you may need to break that opening up to multiple smaller baskets.
Finding the right sized baskets is actually harder than I thought! Am I overthinking it? What’s the best approach here?
Boil the measurements down to the standard sizes you are seeing online, always smaller than what you have measured. So, if you are measuring 13.5” high or deep, you will likely need to go with a 12” high or deep solution to get a common size to work. It is not super easy, but the key is to not overthink it. If you find a basket you love the aesthetic of, but is a bit small for the space, go with it and fill it a touch higher with its contents.
Melissa’s Secret Pro-tip
Select your baskets before building/installing new built-ins. This is a lesson I have learned the hard way over the years, as baskets are not always an easy find/fit for existing conditions. If you’re selecting baskets for an existing space, don’t overthink it. Remember that any form of organization or accessorizing in an otherwise empty space is an improvement to your home!
Watch for your next opportunity to join my House to Home 101 group to get guidance on your specific troubleshooting areas. Next open enrollment session for H2H 101 is coming right around the corner, June 2021! Join my mailing list to be the first to find out about the next launch.
Spec suggestions:
- Solid Felt Storage Cube – Great for toy storage… we use these for guest baby toys, Legos, Barbies, books, small games, puzzles…
- Grey Woven Felt Storage Bin – West Elm used to carry something very similar that we use for winter gloves, hats, and scarves. They can also be used for toys of all sizes, and apparently firewood!
- Neutral Woven Felt Storage Bin – Equally as great looking woven felt, but with faux leather handles. These are not as ideal for shelf storage, because of the raised handles, although great for the corner of a family room for toys or foyer for cold weather accessories.
- White Woven Storage Basket – I have small stuffed animals stored in these on a shelf in Maizie’s room. I love them for bedrooms that don’t get a lot of traffic, as they will not hide wear quite as well as some of the options above.
- Woven Polypropylene Basket – I love this collection in all colors and sizes for just about any functional storage in your home.
- Add Color – these are great for the corner of a room for catch all toys.
- Corner Blanket Basket {Size Large}
- Laundry, Blankets, Toys, Winter Wear – every size and variation for a fun add to a mudroom, laundry room, kids’ space, and/or family room.
