Storage and Style: Decorating Your Home With Baskets

"Baskets not only hide a multitude of sins, but they are also a great way to add texture to a room," interior designer Judith Balis says. Available in a wide range of shapes, styles and colors, baskets can be used to add attractive storage to almost any space.

When decorating with baskets, Balis likes to maintain some consistency throughout a room. "The baskets can vary in size and shape, as long as they're made out of the same material," she says. "This keeps them from adding to the visual clutter." Design by HGTV fan housetweaking.

If you have a large bookcase, fill the bottom shelves with baskets, Balis recommends. "They can help to add visual weight if you have numerous small items and keep everything in balance," she says. Design by Judith Balis.

From utensils and gadgets to canned food and fresh produce, baskets are great for storing all kinds of kitchen items. Best of all, attractive baskets can be displayed proudly on countertops or open shelving, keeping your kitchen essentials close at hand.

Here designer Abbe Fenimore places a decorative basket under the center island to provide a home for extra paper towels. This simple and smart solution keeps the paper products within easy reach, and allows you to keep track of your supply.