10 Decorative Ways To Repurpose A Picnic Basket Around The House

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Most of us have a picnic basket somewhere at home waiting patiently under a layer of dust for the next outing. The fun thing about picnic baskets is that they come in all shapes and sizes, which makes them useful for much more than carrying snacks to remote locations. They fit in well with our culture of sustainability, as they're generally made from natural materials and can be repurposed and reused until they fall apart. 

Picnic baskets are so appealing because they are both pretty to look at and practical to use. It's easy to dress them up for special occasions — think of throwing petals at weddings — or keep them natural for everyday tasks. If you don't own one, now is the time to get in on the action! You'll often find them at yard sales or dollar stores; otherwise, shop online and get exactly what you want, like the Kovot Poly-Wicker Picnic Basket. You can easily elevate your storage baskets by upcycling curtain rod ends for those baskets that are going to become semi-permanent fixtures.

While handling your basket, be aware of allergic reactions. Some folks buy a basket and find themselves getting itchy or breaking out in a rash that can form small blisters. Some react with streaming eyes and a runny nose. If you experience anything like this, you could have a wicker allergy. Sealing the basket with a clear wicker sealer can help, or invest in baskets made from other materials like bamboo or rattan.

A picnic basket bed should be top of the list of tips to keep your home stylish when you have pets. Pet beds don't always mesh with your indoor aesthetics, but a comfy basket bed is a sweet addition that is easier to work into the decor and is likely to last a long time. Regularly check for sharp points or loose pieces, especially if your puppy is a chewer. While wicker is usually all natural, some weatherproofing sealants may not be safe for your pet. Check with your vet if you're unsure.

Baskets are an ideal way to provide extra comforts for your guestroom, particularly if the room is short on cupboard space. Use them to store extra blankets in the winter or guest towels in a stylish way that keeps them neat and out of the way. Square baskets are great for reading matter such as books or magazines, as they don't have rounded edges that can bend books out of shape. Guest room baskets can also be used for welcome snacks. A sweet arrangement of fruit, chocolate, or your guest's other favorites is sure to hit the spot.

Storing your most essential gardening tools in a picnic basket keeps them handy so you can grab-and-go to make the most of each spare pocket of time. The right combination of baskets and tools can look adorable, adding a quaint touch to your entryway decor or kitchen shelf. Throw in some cleverly chosen packets of seeds in the right color to add to the aesthetic of the room your basket lives in to make it blend in. Besides being pretty, using a woven basket is practical as it allows airflow, which helps prevent your tools from rusting.  

Craft-loving people are creative souls, and that often means more than one project on the go at the same time, right? Sometimes you just have to follow the muse, even if it's in three directions at a time. Baskets are a beautiful way to stay organized, as each project can have its own basket. All that you need gets gathered up at the end of a session and tucked away neatly. The bonus of using baskets is that they look good. Leave them right there to grab the next time you're ready to create.

For the quaintest, yet wonderfully versatile, kitchen decor, hack one handle off a double-handled picnic basket and hang it on a peg shelf. Whether you use it to hide chocolates from the family or just tuck in a pretty kitchen cloth that matches the decor, it adds to a kitchen's warm, cottagey feel. Matching the color of the basket to the shelf is a great idea as it blends in with the natural color palette, while the woven texture softens the straight lines of the wall behind it. 

If you're looking for a quick solution to an ugly plant pot problem, a picnic basket can be the hero you need. While it's quick to pop an already potted flower into a basket, moisture may wreck the bottom. A simple solution is to line the inside with plastic and add a few large stones to give the pot's drainage holes space to work. Otherwise, seal the basket with waterproof sealer, make drainage holes in the bottom, fill it with soil, and plant flowers straight into the picnic basket for a beautifully unique plant pot. 

Using baskets in a laundry room isn't a new idea, but take the thought a step further and see what you come up with. Paint one white and another in a different color to train your family to pre-sort their laundry. Consider having a basket for each person and letting them take their own clothing off the line and fold it. Another option is to use baskets to organize the whole room. Products can go in one, pegs in another, and Polecasa Mesh Laundry Bags for Delicates in another. Use different sizes but keep the style similar. 

Plastic tubs are often a go-to for packing toys away, but a few picnic baskets are a charming alternative to consider. Baskets add warmth and texture, along with personality, to a bedroom or playroom. Move away from the schoolroom vibe and lean into the cozy comforts of home. Line them with fresh cotton fabric to suit the room, be it daisies or dinosaurs, to add to the decor. Items that are as practical as they are pretty are a bonus! Add some smaller baskets that your child can carry by themselves.

A square picnic basket is a fantastic gathering place for precious memories. Whether it's family photograph albums, travel mementos, collections of your own sketches, or journals that you've filled with your words, a picnic basket can help you keep them handy without creating a messy eyesore. Keeping important memories and thoughts close by is the perfect antidote for blue days when everything feels a bit glum. Line the basket with fabric that matches your decor to strengthen the connection to the room's aesthetic. Your thoughts and memories are important; give them a home.  

Where do you keep your spare loo rolls? Bathrooms don't always have sufficient cupboard space for these bulky essentials to live behind closed doors. A basket may be the solution, and any shape will do. Square baskets lend themselves to neatly packed rolls, but if you have a regular round one, just throw them in, and they'll look great. Having spare rolls close to the toilet can be a welcome relief in a household where not everyone is trained to replace a roll each time they finish one. There's nothing worse than being stranded and stuck!