When we think of baskets in interiors, it is easy to picture something purely practical, like a place to stow blankets, logs, or toys. But basketware has the power to do more than just tidy up. It brings texture, warmth, and a relaxed, lived in feel that helps a home feel layered and personal. It is also one of the easiest ways to bring natural materials into your space, whether that is woven willow, bamboo, cane, or polished wood. From English garden trugs to lidded Oriental wooden baskets, these humble pieces are full of visual interest and styling potential.
At The Blue Loft, we love how baskets, in all their varied forms, can break up hard surfaces, soften a space, and bring in that mix of materials that makes a room feel considered without being too polished.
A Brief History of Basketware
Baskets are some of the oldest handmade objects in human history, predating pottery in many cultures. Early examples have been found in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Indigenous North and South American communities. Traditionally crafted from local materials like willow, rattan, reeds, bamboo, and grasses, baskets were used for everything from food gathering and grain storage to ceremonial purposes. In Asia, intricately woven bamboo and wooden baskets became refined art forms, while in Europe, utilitarian trugs and market baskets became everyday essentials. Over time, the basket has moved from purely functional to beautifully decorative, carrying with it generations of craft and culture.
Not Just Wicker: The Variety of Vintage Baskets
Wicker and willow baskets are a familiar favourite, light, sturdy, and wonderfully sculptural. They are ideal for logs by the fire, blankets in a living room, or even styled with dried hydrangeas on an entryway bench. But basketware goes far beyond the woven and rustic.
• Garden trugs, traditionally used for collecting produce or cut flowers, make beautiful centrepieces or shelf fillers. Their shallow, open design works well on kitchen islands or tables filled with seasonal fruit or foraged finds.
• Oriental wooden baskets, often with handles or lids, offer something more architectural. With their dark polished wood and brass details, they can add quiet drama to neutral interiors or act as grounding pieces within colourful rooms.
• Lidded storage baskets, whether rattan, bamboo, or cane, are a wonderful way to hide away clutter while still allowing a space to breathe. Tuck one under a console table or stack a pair beside a sofa or bed for an easy, relaxed look.
• Flatwork baskets and trays can be hung on the wall as decorative elements, bringing in pattern and tone without relying on framed artwork or mirrors.
Baskets That Shift the Mood
One of the most wonderful things about basketware is how the style and origin of a basket can completely change the energy of a room. A finely woven British willow basket feels nostalgic and rural, evoking countryside homes, allotments, and slow living. In contrast, an Indonesian basket in bamboo or rattan can bring a relaxed, tropical feel, a sense of breeze through the curtains calm that suits more open, eclectic interiors.
Chinese rice baskets or Japanese ikebana trays bring their own visual language, often more refined, balanced, and intentional. Meanwhile, an old French market basket can hint at weekends away or a love of food and produce. Each piece adds not just texture, but atmosphere. Choosing the right basket for your space is less about matching and more about the feeling it creates.
Why Baskets Belong in Every Room
Basketware works across the home, not just in obvious spaces like utility rooms or hallways. A large basket in the bathroom can hold fresh towels or loo rolls. A handled basket in the kitchen can store onions, potatoes, or wooden utensils. Even a small, shapely piece on a shelf can lend softness and depth.
There is also a sustainability bonus: baskets made from natural materials are biodegradable, long lasting, and usually handmade. Opting for vintage or preloved basketware adds another layer of meaning. You are giving continued life to an object that has already served another home.
Character, Contrast, and Calm
The beauty of baskets is in their contrast. Placed next to lacquered furniture, they ground the look. Layered among books and art, they add softness. In a room filled with colour, they offer relief. In a minimalist space, they add character.
Whether it is a perfectly aged trug, a dark wooden rice basket, or a tall handled piece in sea grass, there is always room for one more basket in a home with heart.
Thank you for reading. You can browse our current collection of vintage baskets and basketware in the basketware section of the shop, each piece selected for its texture, tone, and story.
Anna Rowsell,
The Blue Loft
