Few pieces do so much with so little as natural fibre baskets. They hold the throws that come back out in autumn, hide everyday clutter and, along the way, add that warm, handcrafted texture that makes a house feel lived in. They are the simplest way to tidy up without giving up on beauty.
In homes in the south, from the Costa del Sol to the coves of Menorca, the basket has always been there: by the door for bread and fruit, under the console for sandals, in the bathroom for towels. Today it is back in force because it fits what we are looking for: natural materials, handmade pieces and a calmer, "less but better" way of living.
Here is which fibre to choose, how to use baskets room by room and which baskets from our shop help you get each look.
In this article
- Which fibre to choose: rattan, sisal, seagrass or wicker
- In the bathroom: towels on show and order without furniture
- In the kitchen: bread, fruit and plants
- In the entrance and hallway: one large basket as a statement
- Under the console: the rule of three
- In the living room and bedroom: throws, cushions and clothes
- How to combine and care for them
Get the look
In the powder room in the photo above, a single open-weave fibre basket under the wooden vanity keeps the towels within reach. Here is how to recreate it:
1. Which fibre to choose: rattan, sisal, seagrass or wicker
Not all fibres behave the same way. Before buying, think about where the basket will live and what it will hold: a basket for firewood by the fireplace is not the same as one for damp bathroom towels.
The most common natural fibres
- Rattan: strong and structured; ideal for lidded baskets, trunks and pieces that carry weight.
- Wicker: the timeless classic, light and flexible; perfect for bread, fruit or as a decorative antique piece.
- Seagrass: thick weave, very durable and a little more tolerant of humidity; a good choice for the bathroom.
- Sisal and jute: soft to the touch and honey-coloured; great for throws, cushions and toys.
- Banana leaf and palm: more rustic, handcrafted fibres with plenty of character.
If you want to start with something versatile, a set of three sizes works in almost any room: the large one for throws, the medium one for magazines and the small one for remotes or chargers.
2. In the bathroom: towels on show and order without furniture
The bathroom is where a basket is most welcome. If your basin is wall-hung, like the one in the photo, the space underneath is crying out for a basket: rolled towels, spare toilet paper or laundry, without adding another piece of furniture. Choose treated fibres or seagrass, let them air and avoid placing them directly in the shower.
A trick that works: roll the towels instead of folding them and stand them upright in the basket. They look like a hotel's and dry better. For more ideas for this space, read our article on the bathroom with natural materials.
Key idea: in the bathroom, choose baskets with handles or an open weave, which you can lift out with one hand and which let air circulate.
3. In the kitchen: bread, fruit and plants
In the kitchen, a basket brings what lacquered units lack: warmth. Use it for bread, for potatoes and onions (which like darkness and ventilation) or as a planter for a large plant by the window, as in this Empordà kitchen with green shutters and terracotta floor.
Get the look
A basket with a leafy plant, a wooden stool and a fibre rug over the terracotta: three touches that warm up any white kitchen.
To take this room further, you will find plenty of ideas in our whitewashed village kitchen article.
4. In the entrance and hallway: one large basket as a statement
In the entrance, a large basket becomes an elegant catch-all: bags, folding umbrellas, caps or beach flip-flops. Scale matters here: one generous basket under the console is better than three small ones that get lost. In this Costa Brava house, a rattan trunk fills the whole space underneath and a fibre tray collects the keys on top.
Get the look
A light wood console, a large lidded rattan basket and warm floor lighting: the formula for this entrance.
You will find more tricks for entrances with little space in small entrance halls.
5. Under the console: the rule of three
When the console or sideboard has a lower shelf, the tidiest solution is repetition: three identical baskets, lined up, in the same size and fibre. Repetition calms the eye and turns storage into decor. Leave a few centimetres on each side and between them so they can breathe.
Get the look
A wooden console with a shelf, three rectangular baskets, a turned wood lamp and a plant in a white planter. Here is how to get it:
Measurements worth remembering
If you are still looking for the console, we help you choose it in sideboard and console.
6. In the living room and bedroom: throws, cushions and clothes
When the cold arrives, a basket by the sofa becomes essential: two or three rolled throws, always within reach, and the living room instantly feels warmer. Choose a tall basket with handles for throws and lower ones on the shelves for magazines or remotes. There are more ideas in autumn textiles for the living room and how to style shelves.
In the bedroom, lidded baskets are your best allies: they hold laundry or seasonal jumpers without anything showing. At the foot of the bed or in a corner of the dressing area, they replace a chest of drawers in small spaces.
7. How to combine and care for them
To make baskets add rather than subtract, follow three rules: repeat fibres or tones within a room, mix heights only when they are grouped and always leave one "empty" basket with a decorative role, holding a plant or a dried branch. Pair them with linen, light wood and white ceramics and you will avoid the storeroom look.
As for care: dust them with a soft brush or the vacuum cleaner on low power, wipe them with a barely damp cloth and let them air-dry, away from direct sunlight, which dries out and darkens the fibre. Once a year, a little linseed oil on rattan restores its flexibility.
Quick checklist
- Choose the fibre for the room: seagrass in the bathroom, rattan for weight, sisal for textiles.
- Bathroom: a basket under the wall-hung basin with rolled towels.
- Kitchen: bread and fruit in wicker, plants in baskets used as planters.
- Entrance: one large basket under the console or three identical ones on the shelf.
- Living room: a tall basket with throws by the sofa.
- Bedroom: lidded baskets for clothes.
- Dry cleaning and away from direct sun.
Frequently asked questions
Can natural fibre baskets be used in the bathroom?
Yes, as long as they are not in direct contact with water. Seagrass and treated rattan cope well with ambient humidity; let them air and avoid storing wet towels inside.
How do you clean a wicker or rattan basket?
With a soft brush or the vacuum cleaner for dust, and a slightly damp cloth with mild soap for stains. Always let it dry in the air and in the shade.
How many baskets should you put in a room?
Better a few, well chosen: one large statement basket or a group of three identical ones. If you scatter them around the room, it feels cluttered.
At Pino & Jacaranda we believe order can be beautiful too: a hand-woven basket holds much more than throws or towels, it holds calm.
Because a serene home starts with everything in its place.
