In Praise of Wicker Laundry Baskets

A few weeks ago I spotted the neatest wicker laundry basket at a thrift store.

It was $4 and in perfect condition. So what did I do?

I left the laundry basket behind and have regretted it ever since. In fact, I even looked for it on my next visit to the store and it was gone. The anguish!

That wicker laundry basket could have improved the aesthetics of our laundry situation. I don’t have a spot to hide a bulky laundry basket, so the plastic one I have is always sitting on top of the dryer. We walk by it 500 times a day. It’s not ugly per se, but it’s not pretty either.

Plus, I have this romantic notion that if my laundry basket is pretty I might enjoy folding laundry. I know that’s a pie-in-the-sky notion, but I’m clinging to it as a toddler clings to their dirty blanket when they find out you want to put it in the wash.

Let me show you the pretty wicker laundry baskets that I found online.

(Please note that I’m using the term “wicker” pretty loosely because it’s a confusing term. Wicker describes a style of weave according to Bob Vila. Read more about it here. All the baskets I’m showing you today are woven, but may use different materials.)

FARMHOUSE STYLE

Amishbaskets.com has several wicker laundry baskets in different sizes. Some plain and a version below that have colored stripes.

This one is giving me strong farmhouse vibes.

(image: Amishbaskets.com)

OLLI ELLA HANDMADE TUSCAN LAUNDRY BASKET

Food52 has the neatest rounded laundry basket. I don’t know how strong it is, but it sure is pretty.

I also like the little broom in the top corner of this picture. Can you tell I’m easily distracted by pretty things?

(image: Food52.com)

HELLO CURVES

This basket reminds me of the thrift store one I left behind. *sob*

I love the curvy details on this large wicker laundry basket from the Etsy shop PlanetVineUA. Plus, it looks sturdy and makes me think it will last forever if cared for well.

This shop has over 2,000 sales and great reviews!

(image: PlanetVineUA via Etsy)

GO GREEN

This brand has a natural, wicker-type laundry basket, but I thought the green one was fun.

This would also make a great storage basket for throw blankets. If you’re like me, you can never have too many throw blankets.

(image: Amazon)

GO DARK

If light-colored wicker laundry baskets aren’t your jam, how about a darker-colored one?

This one is gorgeous and hand-woven out of water hyacinth. I had to Google what water hyacinth looked like and it was not what I was expecting.

Even though this laundry basket is available on Amazon, it is made by a small business. (I’m not sure what qualifies them as a small business on Amazon, but it’s a nice marketing touch.)

(image: Amazon)

I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM

Forgive me for including a hamper in this list, but this was too cute not to share!

Wouldn’t an ice cream cone hamper look so cute in a kid’s room? Or my room?

Okay, maybe not my room.

(image: Pottery Barn Teen)

LARGE AND IN CHARGE

I measured and this wicker laundry basket from Etsy shop Willow Souvenir is actually slightly larger than my normal plastic laundry basket.

No compromising on size or quality with this one. The shop has a 5-star rating with over 5,000 sales. Plus, isn’t it pretty? It would look so sweet on top of my dryer.

(image: Willow Souvenir via Etsy)

What do you think of the idea of wicker laundry baskets?

Are they something you already use or would consider using? I’d love to hear about it. You can always comment on this blog post (I have to approve it first before it appears), email me here, or reach out via Instagram or Facebook.

My only thread of doubt about wicker laundry baskets is in regard to wet clothes. In the summer, I’ll take a load from the wash, put in the laundry basket, and then carry it outside to hang on the line. There are a couple of minutes where that basket is holding damp clothes and I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or not.

What I do know is that it would make me so happy to see a wicker laundry basket hanging out on top of my dryer.

P.S. If space is an issue for you, I purchased this laundry basket that FOLDS FLAT in 2016 and I still use it daily. It’s not wicker, of course, but it only costs $15. I either store it on a shelf or hang it by its handles on a hook.

Thanks for being here today. I appreciate you so much. Here are some other blog posts you might enjoy.

In Praise of Wood Trinket Boxes

One Touch Cleaning Rule

My Trick to Get Nasty Sweat Smell Out of Workout Clothes

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