Lidded baskets are the holy grail of storage.  Not only do they hide the not-so-pretty contents with their jaunty lid, but they fit seamlessly with many decorating styles and add oh-so-valuable storage to small homes.

I’ve been searching for GOOD lidded baskets for years.  Whenever I find one I do a happy dance knowing that concealed storage is possible!  Because in my mind, concealed storage>open storage. 

Because really, no one wants to see your ratty couch blankets or son’s nerf blasters.  Not that I know from experience or anything. 🙂

What should you store in lidded baskets?

Anything that you use frequently but don’t want to see all the time!  Here are some of the ways I’ve used lidded baskets for storage, but the possibilities are endless!

Toys: Fill these baskets with all the bulky plastic toys, Nerf blasters, dolls, stuffed animals, hot wheels tracks, and other toys that doesn’t fit in a smaller storage container.  

Blankets and Pillows: One of these baskets at the end of your couch or a corner in your bedroom is the perfect place to store extra pillows and blankets when not in use.

Laundry: Keep one of these bad boys in your bedroom or bathroom to hold dirty laundry before using the handy dandy handles to carry the whole lot to the laundry.

Stuffed animals: Give all those lovies a snug little home by sticking a basket in your kid’s bedroom.  

Hats, gloves and mittens: Your entryway or mudroom room is calling.  It wants a basket for all those loose accessories!  

What should you look for when shopping for large storage baskets?

Measurements: Don’t forget to look at the measurements of the basket to make sure that the size is what you think it is.  Sometimes pictures can be deceiving and you may think the basket is bigger than it actually is.  Break out a measuring tape to make sure you know what you are buying.

Material: Most of these baskets are made out of natural seagrass with either rattan or plastic ribbings. Sometimes they can have an initial ‘grassy’ smell. This will go away over time but may leave a smell into the items you are storing.  For this reason I usually wait until the basket has aired out for a while before storing woven and cloth materials in the baskets.

Handles: Look for baskets with handles for easy transport!

Price: Compare the price of the basket to the size of the basket.  Expect to pay over $100 for an extra large basket.

The Best Lidded Baskets

I’ve rounded up my favorites currently available on the internet and linked to each below.  

1. Artera Large Wicker Storage Basket – Amazon

2. Jolie Wicker Laundry Hamper – Amazon

3. Graphic Millet Lidded Baskets – West Elm

4. La Jolla Baskets – Serena and Lily

5. Tilda Two-Tone Woven Baskets – Pottery Barn

6. Adira White Seagrass Basket with Lid – World Market

Many of these are what I would call “investment pieces.” Specifically, they aren’t cheap. But if you think of them as an investment that will provide valuable storage for many years then it becomes easier to justify the cost.

My personal favorites are the Serena and Lily Baskets and the Amazon Jolie Baskets, but those blue and white Pottery Barn baskets are calling to me.  They look like they belong in a sunny beach house holding towels.  Let me know your favorite in the comments!