Simple Decorating Ideas for Thrift Store Baskets

Today I’m going to share some simple decorating ideas for thrift store baskets! What I look for when I’m shopping for baskets, how I use them in my decor, and the best sources for affordable and unique baskets of all styles and shapes!

These simple decorating ideas for thrift store baskets will hopefully get you excited to go thrifting once this crazy virus is behind us! As much as I love to be home spending more time with my family, one thing I really do miss is thrift shopping. 

It’s something I love to do on the weekends all by myself. I don’t always find something, but it’s nice to get out of the house and look at old things. The thrill of the hunt is so much fun for me!

There are some thrift store ideas in my stories over on Instagram if you’re missing it, too!

What I look for when I’m Shopping for Baskets

Color

The first thing I look at when I’m digging through the basket section at thrift stores (or any store really) is the color. 

I try to stay away from orange and red tones, simply because I don’t have a lot of those tones in my home. While I love warmer hues and honey toned baskets, anything too red is usually something I avoid. 

I especially love baskets with gray tones that have weathered and aged over time, almost as if they were left outside for long periods of time. 

Purpose

The next thing I consider when I’m looking to purchase a basket is the purpose. 

How will I use this in my home? I used to be guilty of buying so many baskets at thrift stores just because they were cheap or cute, but I never ended up using them because I never had a specific purpose for them to begin with. 

I tend to take a more minimal approach to decor throughout my home, so when I’m shopping for baskets now I really like to think through my purchase and consider where I will use the basket. 

Unique Shapes and Sizes 

This next point may contradict my previous point a little, but when you find a basket that is truly unique and one of kind, snatch it up!

That’s what happened with the basket in my entryway. My Mom actually found it at a thrift store and sent me a picture, and I almost told her not to buy it because I really didn’t know where I would put it. 

But for just $15, she convinced me that it was so beautiful and so unique that I just had to buy it. Needless to say, she was right. 

Once in a while, I find something that is so unique and special that even though I don’t know at the moment where I’ll put it, I’ll buy it anyway because I love it that much. And at that point, I will just find a place to make it work. 

What I usually avoid…

If a basket is broken and falling apart, I usually don’t buy it. Now there are a few exceptions to this rule. If the basket you are considering is so beautiful and unique that you just have to take it home with you, once idea that might work is to hang it on the wall. 

There is a large basket tray in my dining room that I thrifted for five dollars, but it was warped and twisted in a few areas. By nailing it to the wall, I’ve protected it from getting even further damaged, and now it’s become beautiful textured artwork!

Another idea for damaged baskets is to use them outside. They could work beautifully for planters on patios or decks. I purchased a basket with a damaged bottom, but with potted flowers set inside, it looked lovely on our cottage patio. I even used it in a fall table scape last year to hold some pretty apple stems. 

Simple Decorating Ideas for Thrift Store Baskets

Think Outside the Box

The first thing we usually think of when we think about baskets is storage. But there are so many other amazing ways that you can use baskets in your decor! 

One type of basket that I really love are wall baskets, and by that I mean baskets that have one flat side so that they can be hung on a wall or door. 

I am asked about the baskets above one of my white chairs in my living room all the time, and one was thrifted, the other was a garage sale find. I filled them with eucalyptus and layered them one on top of the other, and now they make such a beautiful statement! 

These baskets weren’t necessarily flat on one side, but they were narrow enough to work perfectly above the changing table in our nursery. We use them to store diapers and creams, and they contrast so beautifully against the pale blue walls. 

Maybe try checking the purse or bag section at thrift stores for woven baskets as well. The basket “bag” on our closet door becomes a beautiful spring wreath once you fill it with stems and flowers!

Look Up!

If you love baskets as much as I do but you are running out of places to use them, look up! You could use baskets for lighting, like I did in our nursery. You can find the full tutorial for our DIY Basket light here. 

Another area that was perfect for adding a basket was the space above my fridge in my kitchen. I just love the way this vintage laundry basket looks against the stone with flowers flowing out of it. Another $5 thrift store find! 

Group Baskets Together for Greater Impact

Like anything else in decor, similar items grouped together always make a greater impact. I just love the way these baskets look, grouped together in my bedroom. The larger one was a Target find, but the smaller basket was thrifted and the color and texture of it was so pretty to me. 

Where to Find the Best deals on Baskets

Of course I’ve already mentioned thrift stores, but antique shops are a great source too! I also love shopping for baskets at places like Target, but you will definitely pay more money. 

I have found that Marshalls, TJ Max and Home Goods have great prices on baskets, and actually Ikea has some really beautiful basket options as well!

Well I hope these simple decorating ideas for thrift store baskets inspired you in some way. How do you like to use baskets in your decor? I’d love to know in the comments below!

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