10 Uses for Baskets

Do you have baskets coming out of your ears? Gifts often come in baskets and you've probably attended one too many basket parties. Although they are lovely, sometimes you can have too many baskets and not enough space. However, if you give your baskets a task, perhaps they will become more useful. I have listed 10 uses for your spare baskets.

1. To sort mail
Mail comes every day. It looks really tacky if you have mail piled on your kitchen counter or dining room table. However, if you use a basket on the hall table to hold mail, your problem is solved.

2. Winter Extras
Have you ever wondered where to put your spare gloves, hats, and scarves? A basket at the bottom of your hall closet is just the solution.

3. Beside the Bed
There are so many things we need right beside our bed: lotion, chap stick, magazines, books, glasses, etc. A cute little basket on the floor by the bed makes these little extras look decorative.

4. Mending Basket
Baskets work great for spare yarn, thread, thimbles, and any other mending/sewing supplies.

5. Cracker holder
A homey look to any party is a small basket holding crackers. It will allow you to use your platter for something else.

6. Bathroom Toiletries
Bathrooms, especially women's bathrooms, can get crowded with make-up and toiletries. A small basket on the vanity looks cute and elegant holding lipstick, blush, eye shadow, etc.

7. Desk topper
Baskets work wonderful for holding pads of paper and pencils on a work desk.

8. Silverware and Napkin holder
One of the most beautiful ways to display napkins and silverware is in a nicely decorated basket. You can use one basket for each item in a buffet line.

9. End of Bed
There are so many items that go well in a basket at the foot of a bed. Blankets, pillows, quilts, etc fit wonderfully in a basket.

10. Toy Holder
My favorite use for a large basket is as a toy box. At the end of the day, I tell my children to pick up their toys. They simply throw them into the basket in the living room. Then the basket goes into the corner. It looks beautiful and is extremely convenient. Now you have no reason to keep spare baskets in the hall closet. Get those baskets out of storage and put them to work.