Heads up: Plyrify is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The living room is where clutter goes to be seen. Remotes, chargers, coasters, throw blankets, dog toys, the board games nobody put away — in a small apartment or rental, there is no spare closet to shove it all into. Storage baskets solve this beautifully: they corral the mess while looking like decor, not storage.
We researched the best storage baskets for living rooms with small-space dwellers in mind, focusing on natural woven textures (water hyacinth, seagrass, rattan) that blend with real furniture, plus a wipeable option for spill-prone households. Every pick balances looks with function — lids where clutter needs to disappear, open tops where grab-and-go access matters, and sizes suited to shelves, consoles, and the space beside the sofa.
the shortlistOur Top Picks at a Glance
StorageWorks Water Hyacinth Baskets, 2-Pack
Small baskets for shelves
SIXDOVE Woven Baskets, 4-Pack
Matching shelf baskets
Hipiwe Seagrass Storage Bins with Lid, 2-Pack
Hidden clutter by the sofa
the deep diveThe 9 Best Storage Baskets in Detail
StorageWorks Hand-Woven Water Hyacinth Baskets, 2-Pack
Best Overall
The StorageWorks Hand-Woven Small Wicker Baskets, Water Hyacinth, Wooden Handles, 2-Pack, nail the living-room basket brief: natural texture that reads as decor, a size that fits shelves and side tables, and a price that does not sting. The hand-woven water hyacinth wicker has a relaxed, organic look that works with coastal, boho, and modern decor alike, while built-in wooden handles make it easy to pull a basket off a shelf and carry it where you need it. Sold as a 2-pack in a small size, they are ideal for hiding remotes, coasters, chargers, and the miscellany that accumulates on consoles and side tables.
Key features:
- Hand-woven water hyacinth wicker
- Built-in wooden handles for easy carrying
- Sold as a 2-pack
- Small size suits shelves, consoles, and side tables
- Decorative natural weave that blends with living-room decor
- Genuine hand-woven texture elevates shelf styling
- handles add real function
- versatile small size
- Small size will not hold blankets or bulky items — pair with a larger lidded basket for those
SIXDOVE Woven Storage Baskets, 4-Pack
Best Value Set
Outfitting a whole shelving unit? The SIXDOVE 4 Pack Storage Baskets for Organizing, Woven Baskets for Shelves, 12.7”Lx9”Wx7.8”H, Brown & White, gives you four matching baskets for the price of one boutique find. At 12.7”L x 9”W x 7.8”H, they are sized for standard shelving units and cubbies, and the two-tone brown and white weave looks far more expensive than a value 4-pack has any right to. The open-top design means grab-and-go access for DVDs, games, controllers, and cables. Matching sets are the fastest way to make open shelving look intentional instead of chaotic.
Key features:
- Set of 4 woven storage baskets
- Shelf-friendly size: 12.7”L x 9”W x 7.8”H
- Two-tone brown and white weave
- Designed for shelving units and cubbies
- Open-top design for grab-and-go access
- Four matching baskets for one low price
- cubby-perfect dimensions
- stylish two-tone weave
- Open tops mean contents stay visible — not the pick for hiding true clutter
Hipiwe Seagrass Storage Bins with Lid, 2-Pack
Best Lidded Bins
When clutter must truly disappear — magazines, throws, kids’ toys — lids are non-negotiable. The Hipiwe Set of 2 Flat Woven Wicker Storage Bins with Lid, Natural Seagrass, Coffee, includes lids on both bins to keep contents dust-free and out of sight. The natural seagrass construction in a coffee colorway suits warm-toned living rooms, and the flat shape slides neatly under coffee tables or beside sofas where round baskets would jut out. Two bins let you split categories (media in one, throws in the other) while looking like a matched set.
Key features:
- Set of 2 flat woven wicker storage bins
- Lids included to keep contents dust-free and out of sight
- Natural seagrass construction
- Coffee colorway suits warm-toned living rooms
- Flat shape slides under coffee tables or beside sofas
- Lids hide clutter completely
- flat profile fits tight spots
- natural seagrass texture
- Seagrass can snag delicate fabrics — line with a cloth if storing fine throws
BINO Woven Plastic Baskets, 5-Pack
Best for Kids and Pets
Real fiber baskets and juice boxes do not mix. The BINO | Woven Plastic Basket | Small (Natural), 5-Pack | THE JUTE COLLECTION, delivers the woven look in a wipeable plastic weave with a jute-look finish — spills, pet slobber, and sticky fingers wipe right off instead of staining. The set of 5 small baskets in a natural colorway works with most decor, and the small size suits drawers, shelves, and mantels for corralling the endless small stuff of family life. For households with kids or pets, this is the practical answer to the pretty-basket problem.
Key features:
- Set of 5 small baskets
- Woven plastic with a jute-look finish
- Natural colorway works with most decor
- Wipeable plastic weave unlike real fiber baskets
- Small size for drawers, shelves, and mantels
- Wipes clean after spills
- five baskets cover a whole room
- jute look without the fragility
- Plastic weave lacks the texture depth of real fiber up close
- small size only
Nonam Seagrass Storage Baskets with Lid, 3-Pack
Best Matching Trio
Three matching lidded baskets staged around a living room — one for blankets, one for pillows, one for board games — is a stylist trick that works. The Nonam Seagrass Storage Baskets with Lid Set of 3 (Coffee), offers exactly that: a set of 3 hand-woven seagrass baskets, each with its own lid, in a coffee finish (also offered in a natural colorway). The stackable lidded design tidies blankets and toys while the seagrass texture keeps everything looking warm and intentional. It is the easiest way to make a rental living room look pulled together in one purchase.
Key features:
- Set of 3 seagrass storage baskets
- Lids included on each basket
- Coffee finish (also offered in a natural colorway)
- Hand-woven seagrass texture
- Stackable lidded design for tidying blankets and toys
- Three coordinated baskets instantly unify a room
- lids hide everything
- stackable when empty
- Fixed trio sizing — very large blankets may need a bigger single basket instead
bali & pari Rattan Basket with Scalloped Lid
Best Accent Basket
Some baskets are storage that happens to look nice; this one is decor that happens to store things. The bali & pari Ayleen Natural Rattan Basket with Scalloped Lid, Small, features natural rattan construction with a scalloped lid that gives it a decorative, almost sculptural finish. The small size suits side tables and open shelving, and the lidded design hides remotes, reading glasses, and other small clutter. Handcrafted rattan weave means each piece has subtle character. If your living room needs one pretty object that secretly works hard, this is it.
Key features:
- Natural rattan construction
- Scalloped lid for a decorative finish
- Small size suits side tables and open shelving
- Lidded design hides small clutter
- Handcrafted rattan weave
- Genuinely decorative scalloped lid
- handcrafted character
- perfect side-table scale
- Small capacity and premium styling mean a higher price per cubic inch — it is an accent, not a workhorse
Best Choice Products Nesting Baskets, 2-Piece
Best Nesting Set
The Best Choice Products 2-Piece Round Nesting Baskets, Handwoven Water Hyacinth, Natural, are for the indecisive organizer (affectionate): two round baskets that work together as a styled pair or separately in different spots, then nest inside each other for compact storage when you need just one. The handwoven water hyacinth in a natural finish suits plant covers, throws, and toys, and the round shape softens the look of angular shelving. Flexibility is the whole point — your storage adapts as your living room evolves.
Key features:
- 2-piece round nesting set
- Handwoven water hyacinth
- Natural finish
- Baskets nest inside each other for compact storage
- Round shape suits plant covers, throws, and toys
- Nests away when you need less storage
- two baskets for the price of one purchase
- versatile round shape
- No lids, so contents stay visible
- round shape wastes some space on rectangular shelves
Casafield Round Storage Basket with Lid
Best Blanket Basket
Every living room needs one big basket that swallows throw blankets in a single motion. The Casafield Round Storage Basket with Lid, Natural Water Hyacinth, is that basket: roomy enough for blankets, toys, or media, with a matching lid that keeps everything out of sight and dust-free. The natural water hyacinth weave complements coastal and farmhouse decor, and the round silhouette looks soft and inviting beside a sofa or armchair. One lift of the lid, blankets in, living room reset in ten seconds.
Key features:
- Round storage basket with matching lid
- Natural water hyacinth weave
- Lidded design keeps contents out of sight
- Roomy enough for blankets, toys, or media
- Natural finish complements coastal and farmhouse decor
- Generous capacity for bulky throws
- lid keeps things tidy and dust-free
- classic versatile style
- Round shape needs floor space — it will not tuck neatly onto a bookshelf
Kouboo Rattan Kobo Round Basket
Best for Heavy Loads
The Kouboo Rattan Kobo Round Storage Basket, Gray-Brown, is the investment piece: hand-woven rattan kobo construction in a sophisticated gray-brown finish, built to support up to 50 lbs — firewood, books, dense toys, the heavy stuff that would crush a lesser basket. The round storage basket silhouette makes a statement beside a fireplace or bookshelf, and the premium price point reflects a genuinely heavier-duty build meant to last for years. If you want one basket that does the work of three and looks incredible doing it, this is the splurge.
Key features:
- Hand-woven rattan kobo construction
- Gray-brown finish
- Round storage basket silhouette
- Supports up to 50 lbs
- Premium price point reflecting heavier-duty build
- Exceptional 50 lb capacity
- heirloom-quality weave
- striking gray-brown finish
- Premium price
- substantial size and weight make it less suited to small shelves
Storage Basket Buying Guide for Living Rooms
The best storage baskets for living rooms do double duty: they hide clutter and they look like they belong. Here is how to choose well.
Decide What Needs Hiding Versus Displaying
Be honest about your clutter. Remotes, chargers, and mail need lidded baskets that make them vanish. Throws and pretty books can live in open baskets where they add texture. Most living rooms need a mix: lidded baskets for the true mess, open ones for the attractive overflow. Buying all open baskets is the classic mistake — the clutter just gets a nicer frame.
Match the Material to Your Household
Natural fibers like water hyacinth, seagrass, and rattan bring warmth and texture that plastic bins cannot match — but they stain. If your living room sees kids, pets, or red wine, consider wipeable woven plastic for the high-traffic baskets and save real fiber for shelves and side tables. There is no shame in the practical pick.
Size for the Spot, Not the Fantasy
Measure your shelves, cubbies, and the floor space beside your sofa before buying. A basket that is half an inch too wide for a cubby is useless; a blanket basket that blocks a walkway becomes a tripping hazard. Round baskets need more floor space than their footprint suggests, while rectangular bins pack efficiently onto shelves.
Coordinate, Don’t Match Exactly
A living room full of identical baskets looks like a storage unit. Aim for a cohesive material family — say, natural woven fibers — in varied shapes and sizes: a lidded trio here, an accent basket there, a big blanket basket by the sofa. For hidden storage that doubles as furniture, a storage ottoman for small apartments pairs beautifully with basket styling.
Think Beyond the Living Room
Good baskets migrate. The set that organizes your living room shelves today can corral entryway shoes tomorrow — see our entryway organizer ideas for small spaces — or move to the bedroom when you rearrange. Versatile sizing and neutral finishes make baskets the most reusable organizers you will buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best storage baskets for living rooms?
The best living-room baskets balance looks and function: natural woven fibers (water hyacinth, seagrass, rattan) for style, lids for hiding clutter, and sizes matched to your shelves and floor space. Our top overall pick is the StorageWorks water hyacinth 2-pack for shelves, with lidded seagrass options for bigger clutter.
Should living room storage baskets have lids?
If the goal is hiding clutter — remotes, chargers, toys, mail — yes, lids make the difference between "organized" and "tidy-looking pile." For decorative overflow like throws and pretty books, open-top baskets work fine and offer easier access. Most living rooms benefit from a mix of both.
How do I keep woven baskets clean?
Dust natural fiber baskets regularly with a dry cloth or vacuum brush attachment. For spills on seagrass or rattan, blot immediately — moisture can stain or warp natural fibers. In spill-prone households, wipeable woven-plastic baskets are the safer choice for low or high-traffic spots.
What size storage basket do I need for throw blankets?
A medium-to-large round or rectangular basket with a 15-inch-plus opening comfortably holds two to three throw blankets. Lidded options keep them dust-free and looking neat. Measure your blankets folded, and size up if you own chunky knit throws.
Can storage baskets work in a small apartment living room?
Absolutely — they are ideal for small spaces because they add storage without adding furniture. Use shelf-sized baskets on bookcases, a flat lidded bin under the coffee table, and one large basket beside the sofa for blankets. Vertical cubby-style shelving plus matching baskets is the classic small-apartment combo.
The Bottom Line
The right basket turns living-room clutter from an eyesore into a styling choice. Start with lidded baskets for the mess you want gone and open baskets for the overflow you do not mind seeing, keep materials in one natural family, and measure your spots before you buy. Ten minutes of basket placement can make a rental living room feel genuinely finished.
Keep building your organized living room with a storage ottoman for small apartments and entryway organizers for small spaces.
Pin it for later.
Save this to your board so it’s there when you need it.