This is an archived blog. For new content, head over to https://ariannabelle.com/blogs/blog
organizing with baskets
Two recent finds for stylish organization:
gildem Leather Storage Tote
byAMT Leather Strap Large Basket
Perfect for holding current reading material like books and magazines and stylish enough to integrate into the decor of a space. Can't decide which one I like best!
Back when I was studying abroad in Spain, I remember walking into a Zara Home store and feeling like a kid in a candy store. There were so many lovely decor items everywhere I turned. I was sad to find out though that there were no Zara Home locations in the US, and while that's still the case, as of this month the line is now available online. I browsed the selection this morning, and found several great trays, boxes, bins and baskets for beautifully organizing the home:
1-phoebe wardrobe box, 2-beny tray, 3-nadia baskets, 4-rato tray, 5-frank tray, 6-lilli box, 7-ludwig baskets, 8-jens basket, 9-zafit tray, 10-jack box, 11-lisbeth basket
A good tip for magazines that are current reading material is to store them wherever you tend to do most of your reading. Here, a basket next to the sofa makes them easily accessible, perfect for reading while lounging:
You could follow the same idea and place a basket or rack next to or under your nightstand if you read in bed.
Or near your desk if you tend to do your reading there:
Maybe you have a desk that has built-in storage, like the one shown above right (lucky!). Since chances are you don't, you could consider creating your own storage using display shelves. A magazine wall like this one shown below would be perfect for an office or breakfast nook:
In a later post I'll go over ideas for storing larger collections of back issues saved for future reference, so stay tuned for that!
I'm always on the lookout for storage options that aren't just functional, but stylish as well. Below is a round-up of patterned pieces that have caught my eye: 
1-dvf square dot rectangular tray, 2- teal ikat storage bucket, 3- pink and navy ikat storage bin, 4- black and white patterned bone boxes, 5- yellow and white zig zag strapping baskets with lid, 6- orange and white chevron fabric basket, 7- black and white striped photo box, 8- multi colored chevron round covered boxes
Check out this beautiful entryway from the home of Catherine of The Life Styled:
She uses pretty baskets to stylishly store and keep shoes and dog toys out-of-sight.
They're actually a fairly easy DIY project with a total cost per basket of less than $35. Learn how to make your own here!
The How I Organize series, which gives us a peek at how others organize their homes, is back! I've got some fabulous participants lined up. First up is my friend and Seattle-based interior decorator, Maggie of Maggie Rose Interiors (who just launched a new e-book!). She shares with us today how she organizes her bathroom cabinet:
Our apartment has no under-sink storage, but it came with a generously sized cupboard in the corner near the door. It's not the prettiest thing to look at, but it holds a LOT of stuff! It's nice to have everything at eye-level instead of getting down on your knees on the bathroom floor to dig stuff out from under the sink.
The top shelf (out of my reach!) holds infrequently used items like beach towels, a small tub for soaking, and back-up bulk kleenex. The next shelf holds back-up toilet paper (we keep 3 rolls in a glass vase near the toilet so guests don't have to scrounge), once-in-a-while beauty and health products, travel supplies in a shoebox, and our first aid kit (blue bin on the right). The third shelf from the top holds towels (holds up to four plus our two in rotation), hand towels, cleaner, and the heavy kitty litter box - I wish there was a better place to stash that, but the litter box is in the bathroom, so it makes sense. The bottom shelf is the most frequently used and easiest to reach. I have a basket for everyday items (hairdryer, etc), occasional items (feminine products, curling iron), and the basket on the right holds all the washcloths. It's not uber-glamorous but it IS uber-functional and I can find everything quickly. Maybe someday I'll get around to painting or wall-papering the inside, but for now, it does its job!
1 - handled basket from West Elm
2 & 3 - chalk board bin and red storage box from Tidy Tot event at Joss and Main (ends Friday!)
4 & 5 - blue dot bin and blue clover canvas bin from Lovell Designs
6 - dots large chocolate storage bin from DwellStudio
A great place to keep living room throws and blankets is in a woven basket. Baskets are portable, so they can move wherever needed and they add beautiful texture in a room:
image credits: 1-domino, 2-via pinterest, 3-via pinterest, 4-via the little green notebook, 5- via living room ideas, 6-dominoSometimes inevitably shoes end up in the entryway. If you don't have a closet to hide them behind, a solution for keeping it from looking too messy, is to have a beautiful basket for them:
If you have a no shoes in the house rule, you can also fill the basket with slippers to encourage guests to remove their shoes upon entering.
A trio of white shelves and a three pocket file holder take advantage of wall space and provide a place to hold a multitude of items including fabric covered albums, leather boxes, and sketchbooks.
via lonny mag
image via domino
From left to right: Water Hyacinthin Honey Large, Rectangular Bolga Basket in Natural Large, Oval Bolga Basket