In the kitchen or dining room…
1. Use hanging wall pocket baskets, which have flat backs, to store dry
sponges and scrubbers as well as pot holders, oven mitts, dry dish rags
and spare kitchen hand towels.
2. Store spices or vitamin jars in square and rectangular baskets with
see-through wire sides and solid rattan bottoms, which are quite sturdy.
Perhaps make extra counter or closet space by purchasing baskets with
handles and then hang them by hooks under the kitchen cabinets. (Caution:
Don't store vitamins, or also medicines, in spots easily reached by your
children or grandchildren, or where heat might damage these products.)
3. For the table or countertops, try round decorative baskets to hold
fruit or vegetables. A round basket that's about 13 inches in diameter and
five inches high works well for five to 10 pounds of potatoes. You could
do a centerpiece of flowers in this basket too.
4. Small square baskets are cute and efficient for holding stacks of paper
napkins. Or use a rectangular narrow basket to hold rolled up linen
napkins.
5. Find a mini basket with two divided slots to hold your salt and pepper
shaker side-by-side.
6. Any picnic type basket with hinged lid and swinging handles is great for
storing and hiding anything from coupons to receipts to refund offers. And
this type basket is easily carried between rooms so you can work on those
projects in the home office, on the couch or at the dining room table.
7. Wine baskets serve their purpose (and make great last-minute
house-warming gifts too, with the wine inside, of course). Wine baskets
are usually a vertical shaped basket with sides high enough to hold steady
a bottle of wine in its upright position. But the basket could have a
square, round, or cylindrical shape. It usually has a fixed handle for
toting the wine around.
8. Purchase a basket for holding wine but instead use it for holding tall
utensils, such as tall wooden mixing spoons or plastic spatulas.
In my kitchen, I use a rectangular basket with short wire sides, a rattan
bottom, and wire/rattan scoop top handle to hold medicines. It easily fits
into my food cupboard and makes it simple for me to keep medicines
organized and in one spot. And I never have to worry about knocking over
the bottles in a cascading effect since they're neatly contained by the
basket. When I want medicine, I just pull out the whole basket. It's a
portable medicine chest.
9. For serving food or drinks, use a round or rectangular platter shaped
basket (shallow or deep and with or without handles) or an African harvest
bowl. Protect the basket with a piece of plastic wrap or a cloth napkin
and serve anything from tortilla chips to bread on it. Put a cookie sheet
in a deep rectangular tray to create a steady bottom to better balance
glasses when you're walking.
10. Some rectangular or round shaped baskets already come lined with
cloth. They're called casserole baskets and obviously fit certain sized
casserole dishes perfectly.
11. Tiny round baskets fit perfect on a freestanding microwave for holding
odds and ends like bread ties and leftover restaurant salt and pepper
packets.
12. Small rectangular baskets with a divider also work great as cup
dispensers. Stack paper or Styrofoam cups in them for easy storage and
distribution. You might find this basket sold for holding two wine bottles
side-by-side to prevent them from clinking into each other. But they can
equally hold your vinegar and oil bottles.
13. Utensil, or silverware, caddies work great for just that usage. Or use
them to store and separate items such as straws, coffee filters or plastic
utensils.
14. Multi-tiered wire baskets that can hang from the ceiling, or are on
self-standing wicker or wire pedestals or feet, are often used for holding
potatoes or fruit.
In the family room, living room or den…
15. Large magazine baskets are ideal for storing their namesake,
magazines, as well as newspapers, paperbacks, and hard-cover books. Set
them beside your favorite recliner.
16. A large magazine basket by the side of the fireplace (but not too
close!) works great for storing several fire logs.
17. Use a deep, round or cylindrical shaped basket on the coffee table to
hold television or other electronic remotes. A basket made of rags will
slide without scratching (or put a doily underneath).
18. Keep your favorite sewing supplies or craft tools handy in a large
picnic style basket with a hinged lid and handles for easy toting.
19. Store video tapes, compact discs and DVD's in a rectangular shaped
open basket under the television, on a book shelf or even on the end table
for easy access and neat storage.
20. Baskets in assorted sizes, shapes and colors are good for holding
candy and look decorative on end tables.
|
