Making a case for baskets

When it comes to corralling clutter, few storage solutions are better (or more appealing) than baskets.

"They're so versatile," said Maryland-based designer and shop owner Dennese Guadaloupe-Rojas, "and they provide a nice visual element as well.

"But it's not only form and function that make these containers popular with designers; they're affordable, too."

They can:

• Hold magazines, remotes, plants or firewood in a family room.
• Help create an edible and decorative display of fruits, vegetables or bread in a kitchen or neatly contain utensils and napkins on a table.
• Store extra pillows, blankets or books in a bedroom.
• Keep soap, towels or toilet paper handy in a powder room.
• Provide a pleasing receptacle for recyclables.
• Attractively accommodate a deluge of dirty shoes and wet boots in an entry way or offer a suitable spot for keeping keys near the front door.

And, of course, they're perfect in a playroom. "They're a nice way to separate the hard toys from the soft toys," Guadaloupe-Rojas said.

No need for extra storage? The wide assortment of shapes, sizes, colors and textures make baskets a perfect proxy for furniture pieces and decorative accessories, too.