How to create a basket wall
Baskets can add texture and depth to a wall, finds Natalia Didovich.
Gone are the days where a piece of art was the only acceptable thing to hang on a wall. Nowadays, rugs, plates and even vintage cameras can be found adorning the walls of a family home.
However, one of the biggest trends of late is the humble basket wall.
Kim Richards of Asante Homeware said artfully displaying baskets on a wall is a great alternative to hanging art or photographs.
When putting together an arrangement she suggested incorporating baskets of different shapes, sizes and textures.
‘‘You can achieve this by selecting baskets that are woven differently or use different types of grasses,’’ Richards said. ‘‘In saying that it’s also important to maintain some sense of continuity with the colours and tones used.’’
Richards said the number of baskets you use will depend on the size of the wall you’re working with, but she recommended sticking with odd numbers of 3, 5, 7 or 9, as a general rule.
Opt for baskets that are relatively flat – deeper baskets will stick out too far from the wall and can ‘‘become a nuisance’’.
‘‘The beauty of the basket wall trend is that there is no shortage in ways in which you can style it,’’ Richards said.
Basket arranging extraordinaire Natasha Murray of The Boho Thrifter said she starts with a centre basket (normally a large one) and arranges the others around it, with some overlapping and others with white space in between.
Alternatively, you can keep it simple by lining up three baskets from largest to smallest.
You can also make the most of your pre-existing decor and style them around a mirror.
When it comes time to arrange your basket wall, Richards suggests laying them out on the floor and figuring out exactly what shape or style you want your baskets to be in before you permanently hang them on your chosen wall.
‘‘I then use Blutack and stick them up on the wall so I can see what they will look like in place,’’ Richards said. ‘‘From there you can move them around and experiment until you get them exactly how you want.’’
Securing your baskets to the wall is easier than it might seem.
Richards said most baskets come with a loop on the back for easy hanging, but if they don’t have one you can ‘‘just get some string or strong cotton and thread it through the back of the basket’’ and use hooks to hang them on the wall.
This year might seem like the year of the basket wall, but does this trend have longevity or is it just another one season wonder?
Richards said it’s hard to predict how long a trend will last as they tend to ‘‘come and go over time’’.
‘‘I think a good way to keep it fresh is to change it from season to season by using different baskets, adding to it and bringing in different colours.’’