Storage Solutions Using Baskets

Open shelves do more than create a fashionable presentation; they also ensure often-used items are easy to access. Identical baskets are perfect for organizing extra linens and reading materials.

Curb morning chaos with baskets. Assign a basket to each family member and designate it as their "grab it" basket -- a place to stow everything they need to get out the door in the morning. Buy roomy baskets that will hold library books, mittens, scarves, hats, and other necessities.

Keep your bookshelves in check with baskets and bins. Use baskets to corral loose items, such as fabric samples, paint swatches, and project folders. Add labels to each basket to identify its contents and give your shelves more personality. To make labels, attach gift tags to each basket with ribbon and use rub-on alphabet decals.

Corral coffee table runaways with a media organizer. An open shelf unit under the wall-mount TV takes up little visual space and holds media equipment in attractive boxes. The simple boxes are stylish enough to be displayed and keep everything in one spot so you'll always know where to find game equipment or the remote. Look for a container with compartments, like a utensil organizing basket.

Create a drop zone from a salvaged piece of furniture and matching catchall baskets. Use the baskets to collect keys, mail, books, and other items that pile up by the door. The large baskets give the piece an open, polished look without requiring a lot of organization from the homeowners.

Use a shallow basket to organize cooking oils and spices. Line the bottom of the basket with a metal cookie sheet to making cleaning up inevitable spills easier.

Utilitarian plastic baskets become a smart space-saver inside a crowded freezer. Use the baskets to organize packages by type (frozen pizzas in one, bags of vegetables in another, etc.) and nothing will get lost in the back of your freezer.

Baskets can be helpful for organizing kitchen supplies. Place a basket with handles on a pantry shelf for easy access to contents. A mesh design with labels allows you to see contents at a glance.

This serene spot offers a place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or to unwind at the end of a long day. Two comfy armchairs and ottomans encourage relaxation. A repurposed sideboard is a pretty storage solution -- with baskets to hold magazines and drawers for hidden storage.

In the living room, replace side tables with baskets. Use them to collect magazines, mail, and books. Keep the look casual by choosing mismatched baskets.

Organize household files with flair by trading a clunky metal file cabinet for a woven lidded chest. Be sure the basket's inside measurements will fit your letter- or legal-size files. The interior measurement of this chest is 12x12 inches. To securely hang letter or legal-size files inside, add an adjustable hanging file frame from an office supply store.

Assign each family member a hanging basket, then mount the baskets on hooks beside an entry door or on a stairway wall. Not only will you have a station for items such as keys, but kids can load after-school items and carry their baskets to their rooms.

Be the ultimate hostess by stocking a basket or caddy with goodies to pamper your guests. Include fragrant soaps, gourmet treats, and a few good reads to make them feel right at home.

Create an instant linen closet with a large woven basket. Stack sheets, pillowcases, and extra blankets in lidded baskets that you can stash under the bed. Prevent scratching floors or snagging carpets by adding stick-on furniture sliders.

Does throwing bed pillows on the floor every night make you cringe? Toss pillows in a wicker hamper at bedtime to help keep them clean and off the floor.

Baskets are an inexpensive way to perk up a plain closet. Colorful mix-and-match accessories, such as plastic drawers and open baskets, provide pretty and practical storage for growing children.

Small bathrooms usually lack storage options, so use baskets to add storage and decoration. A large basket stores extra towels within easy reach in this powder room.

Bathrooms and laundry rooms require a lot of storage for supplies. Use baskets to corral these items. Pile supplies in a pretty basket, and slide it out of sight. Make sure to choose a basket that won't be damaged by water or chemicals.

In the bathroom, storage solutions are often part of the display. Labeled wicker baskets organize extra bath supplies in a low cabinet. Different-size baskets look as if they belong together when their colors coordinate.