The Versatile Home Decor Beloved By Martha Stewart And Nate Berkus

If there's one thing Martha Stewart and Nate Berkus have in common, it's their love of wicker baskets. The former is a proud collector of the storage solution, while the latter likes to incorporate the material in his home styling projects. Martha's extensive collection comprises items she bought used and new. Although between the two, it appears she favors second-hand vintage pieces more, even tapping furniture restoration experts to breathe new life into unique finds at tag sales and auctions. It's no surprise then that Martha Stewart's '70s kitchen design ideas include wicker baskets as rustic elements. As for Berkus, the HGTV star has made a strong case for keeping homes organized, and part of that is using wicker or woven baskets for storage in different rooms.

Nate has highlighted how versatile these baskets are. According to him, they are perfect for holding paper and crafting paraphernalia in a home office, and they can also come in handy in a mudroom, stowing coats and packages. However, much like Stewart, Berkus likes integrating baskets, especially vintage ones, in the kitchen. "If you're building a kitchen, instead of doing all new cabinetry, maybe you leave a corner of the kitchen where you can have a vintage piece like this, and you use it to store your platters, or glassware, or even dishes," he told Homes & Gardens. Such versatility explains why both Nate and Martha have embraced woven baskets as useful additions to the home.

Wicker baskets are products of an age-old weaving technique that uses a variety of pliable materials, including rattan, cane, oak, and reed. A high-quality basket can be strong and durable, making it a capable storage solution for just about anything. Large rattan baskets make the best laundry bins or holders of blankets and throw pillows. Smaller wicker boxes are ideal for storing footwear, magazines, and toys, while round versions can serve as storage baskets for fruits and veggies in the kitchen. There are also tall wicker baskets designed for keeping umbrellas and walking sticks tidy. Shallow baskets, on the other hand, are perfect as centerpiece trays. That said, you can never really have too many wicker baskets, especially since there's just about any size, shape, and design for whatever needs organizing and tucking away in the house.

While wicker baskets are undeniably practical, they are just as stylish and beautiful that they go exceptionally well with many interior designs, including farmhouse, Scandinavian, rustic, bohemian, coastal, and grandmillennial. They also fit right into vintage-inspired homes. The intricate weaving patterns of the baskets provide texture, symmetry, and timeless charm to any room, while the natural fibers bring warmth and soften spaces with hard surfaces and overwhelming color schemes. You can place woven baskets in any space and make it feel more finished or lived in. It's this combination of practicality and beauty that makes such a decor staple a relevant storage solution in many homes.