Pick your basket

BASKETS are terrific as tidies and as they come in all sorts of shapes, they can fit into all parts of the house. Here are some ideas on how you can use baskets in your home.

1) Wicker baskets in the bedroom. If you’re short on space, buy small- to medium-sized fine woven wicker baskets with sturdy handles or even better, a handhold on the side. Look for some super fancy hooks and hang the baskets on the wall, leaving a nice gap so you can reach in easily. Use them to store your socks and shoes.

2) Airy plastic or flat weave baskets in the kitchen. Tomatoes, apples, onions, garlic and potatoes do very well out in the open, so a tower of stacked baskets is ideal. Avoid thin wire baskets as these will bruise your food and hasten spoilage. Use broad open weaves to keep air circulating and opt for something that’s easy to clean.

3) Closed plastic baskets with snap locks for the garage. Store tools and packets of nails, screws and other items in a rack of baskets with wheels so that you can move it about easily when you need to. Keep out dust and damp by buying tight fitting sets and pop in silica gel packs that prevent moisture from causing rust. Write the inventory on the outside with marker pen.

4) Shallow baskets in the bathroom will function as shelves for your towels, shampoo, talc and other things.

As it’s generally a damp environment, buy something robust that’s easy to clean. Crazy coloured or polka dot plastic is simple, and if you make sure the baskets come off the wall easily, you can take them down quickly for a good scrubbing.