Stylish storage: The best multi-use containers for all over the house
Baskets, bins, and drawer organizers that look great — and will make all of your spaces look great too.
This might sound basic, but having the right storage solutions for your space is an essential part of staying organized, whether your preference is Marie Kondo style-minimal or more-is-more maximal. After all, no matter how much decluttering or tidying up you've done, certain items will always look neater when placed in intentional groupings, or stored with like products in a fitting container that can serve as its home.
Here are 11 well-made, stylish baskets, bins, drawer organizers and more, and suggestions on how they can be used. The best part is that each is designed to be versatile as well as serviceable, and can be repurposed around your home as storage needs change.
Protective, neat boxes and containers
Made from 100% recycled paper, these sturdy and handsome boxes from Ikea are an attractive way to store infrequently-used but important items such as electronic accessories and documents.
Sammanhang, $24.99 for set of four, ikea.com
Kvell's Stax storage solution line is designed to be stackable, modular and collapsible. The polyester-linen material would look great on any office or closet shelf.
Kvell Stax Small Box, $25, chapters.indigo.ca
Made of metal and vinyl, these clear lidded boxes are the ideal home for important papers and fashion accessories alike. Plus, you'll be able to see and find stored-away items quickly, even when they're placed on a high shelf.
Looker Storage Box, from $16 each, urbanoutfitters.com
Functional storage containers are essential for keeping your rice and other grains and pantry items — especially if you are buying them in bulk — separated and pest-free.
Rice Storage Box, about $19 CAD, muji.us
Baskets and bins that look good, too
These sturdy black iron baskets look perfectly stylish on their own, but can also be used to store anything from logs for the fireplace to bathroom linens.
Round Iron Baskets, from $49.90, zarahome.com
Made in Vietnam and marketed by a local non-profit founded by social workers, this lightweight seagrass basket works as a home for your favourite potted house plant, or a flexible container for toys or soft goods.
Zigzag Seagrass Basket, $29, tenthousandvillages.ca
This basket, by designer Mika Tolvanen for Muuto, is available in a variety of colours and made from recycled PET bottles. The rounded corners, handle cutouts and soft felt polymer material makes it a particularly child-friendly pick.
Muuto Restore Felt Storage Basket, $139, vanspecial.com
These ventilated plastic baskets are stackable, lightweight and can be used with matching or bamboo coloured lids (sold separately). Plus, they would look as good in a pantry as in a crafts room or the garage.
Charcoal Nordic Storage Baskets With Handles, from $9.36 each (on sale for from $7.02 each), containerstore.com
Drawer organizers for all the big and little things
This two-compartment open box, well sized at 7¾" x 20" x 4", is part of an affordable Ikea closet organization series. Ideal for keeping clothes separated in drawers, or tidy on shelves.
Stuk, $5.99, ikea.com
Ideal for kitchens and closets alike, these chic bamboo boxes can be used in custom combinations. Just be sure to measure your specific drawer contents and dimensions before adding anything to cart.
Bamboo Drawer Organizers, from $4.98 each, solutions-stores.ca
Available in gold, black and bright colours, these metal organizers are almost too stylish to stay in a drawer. In addition, they're stackable and have a scratch-resistant EVA base.
Shallow Metal Drawer Organizers, $13.38 for set of three (on sale for $10.03 for set of three), containerstore.com
Truc Nguyen is a Toronto-based writer, editor and stylist. Follow her at @trucnguyen.