By Terri Sapienza
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 21, 2008

When it comes to corralling clutter, few storage solutions are better (or more appealing) than baskets.

"They're so versatile," says Maryland-based designer and shop owner Dennese Guadaloupe-Rojas, "and they provide a nice visual element as well."

But it's not only form and function that make these containers popular with designers; they're affordable, too. Many of the baskets pictured here are less than $60, a bargain considering all they can do:

· Hold magazines, remotes, plants or fireplace wood in a family room.

· Help create an edible and decorative display of fruits, vegetables or bread in a kitchen or neatly contain utensils and napkins on a table.

· Store extra pillows, blankets or books in a bedroom.

· Keep soap, towels or toilet paper handy in a powder room.

· Provide a pleasing receptacle for recyclables.

· Attractively accommodate a deluge of dirty shoes and wet boots in an entry way or offer a suitable spot for keeping keys near the front door.

And, of course, they're perfect in a playroom. "They're a nice way to separate the hard toys from the soft toys," Guadaloupe-Rojas says.

No need for extra storage? The wide assortment of shapes, sizes, colors and textures make baskets a perfect proxy for furniture pieces and decorative accessories, too.