Thursday 22 November 2012

How To Declutter Your Clutter Zones...Modern Country Style

Hey pumpkins,

Do you have Clutter Zones in your house? Those spaces that ALWAYS seem to have odds and sods lurking messily? My first top tip in this Getting Your Home Ready For Christmas series is this:
Use baskets in your Clutter Zones.

Boots 
Living right on the edge of the country means that we're often tramping across muddy fields....and then building up a pile of messy boots by the front door? Oh no, you don't! A large basket in the hall is the perfect Modern Country Style solution! 


{mine are rattan lovelies from Garden Trading...you can get them here}

Throws and Cushions
We often have a full house with various friends who come a-lounging. I keep extra cushions and throws in a basket so they are easily accessible for spending long evenings chatting by the fire...


Ironing
Now we get on to the real glamour of my life...Lugging large piles of laundry here, there and everywhere takes up lots of my time at the moment with so many littlies. I try and make the experience as lovely as possible by using...you've guess it...a basket! 


Craft
If you're anything like me, then you have a stash of pretty fabrics waiting to find their purpose in life. I've found that if they're out, but in a way that looks pretty, then I'm far more likely to do something with them, then when they're hidden in the depths of a cupboard...


Guests
I love getting a basket of goodies ready when we have guests to stay. Towels, toiletries and a hair drier all fit in just so! Baskets are PERFECT for open storage. I love the soft greige tones of these ones.


Magazines
Each month, I dust down my back issues of favourite magazines for that particular time of year and plop them all in a basket by my bed. Then I make a large mug of chai, and spend the most delicious evening flicking through. Chocolate may also be involved.



I guess the moral of the story is this: The clutter is there for a reason...you have to actually live in your home, after all, but it needn't look messy. And, in fact, with these gorgeous rattan baskets, those clutter zones can become a real eye-catcher.

To everyone over the other side of the pond, 
Happy Thanksgiving for tomorrow!


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28 comments :

Pennyblossoms said...

Not sure about a few rattan baskets...I think I need several large theatrical skips!
Z xx
PS Do you think I may have too much clutter????

Jo said...

Gorgeous baskets! I've tried the basket thing to coral clutter, and in some cases it works...in others, they just collect more and more unrelated junk and I just need to learn to put stuff away instead of in a basket ;-)

Jo said...

Oh, and I have magazines in a basket beside my bed too! With a collection of unmatched socks on top. I think I have issues (no pun intended).

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

Yes, definitely only one kind of 'thing' per basket...otherwise I sit myself on the naughty step....!

Sarahx

Bizzy Mum said...

I can imagine the baskets being filled with everything EXCEPT what they were intended for!! Love the idea of blankets for winter evenings :)

Susan T said...

Oh yes I can go with the baskets. I pop baskets all over the place. The ones you show from garden trading are gorgeous. I Have seen some lovelies at a local fireplace workshop. You have tempted me to go and have a look.

On Crooked Creek said...

Sarah,
Greetings to you, my sweetest pumpkin!!!
Baskets are amazing for catching the laundry and magazines On Crooked Creek!!! When we purchased our Entertainment Center, I chose one with cabinet doors on the bottom...for holding all those blankies needed for TV viewing in cooler temps here on the Prairie!!!
It's Thanksgiving here, I'm counting you among my blessings today, dear friend!!!
Fondly,
Pat

The Snowdrop Project said...

Hi Sarah,
I can see a theme here!!
I'm a huge fan of baskets. They can immediately de clutter a space and make it look country chic at the same time.
Hope you have a lovely week,
Liz x

Karen said...

I also gather up old issues of lovely magazines according to the season and I'm afraid chocolate may be involved for me, too! :)

Pauline Wiles said...

Fun post! I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking that clutter is much less offensive, when in a basket.
Your chai + magazine ritual sounds lovely.

Teresa said...

I like the look of ratan baskets.

Like Burlap they ascended from the Barn to home with a purpose and added value that make them not only precious as storage providers but also as decor pieces.

I'm imagining some cute tags hanging on yours so no one messes Mum's order.

Well done Sarah. Inspiring and Thoughtful!

rusty duck said...

Loved the idea of the guest basket.
And the boot basket.
I must get more creative. So far the only basket box I can tick is the ironing basket. How sad is that??

The Cloth Shed said...

Yes lots of baskets here Sarah...with lids on, hamper style, stacked up...yet still the clutter finds its way around the house. Think I need another magazine photo shoot to sort me out!
Julie x

Lx @ Twelve said...

Lovely post, lovely baskets.
Although I will have visions of you walking around all day with a basket now!
You missed a picture of baby Sophie in the basket though.....

Lx

Unknown said...

Similar things in my house too. I also keep my knitting in a basket by my favorite chair so that I can just pick it up anytime.

Another tip for organization it to leave a basket at the foot of the stairs for things "on their way up". Take it up every time you head upstairs and that clutter is gone too.

Lydia said...

I love baskets. My husband is not the neat sort at home -probably concerned I'll find one to store him in some day- not a bad idea come to think of it!

Cathy (aka Catherine) and Bill (aka William) said...

I knew it! I just knew you would be a basket lover! I have baskets all over the house storing everything from boots to magazines to mitts and scarves to... you name it! My husband thinks/is sure I have a basket fettish. The one basket problem I had was when I stored our Great Dane puppy's toys in a delicious rattan basket... (and I mean delicious in the literal sense). When Daisy started to eat the basket I knew this storage solution would not work. Now we just have her pile of toys tucked in a corner between the sofa and the fireplace. Works perfectly... but just not as pretty as the basket was :(

All the best from the snowy Canadian prairies (we celebrated our Thanksgiving in October but we are thankful anyway!).

Cath

Heaven's Walk said...

Great ideas, Sarah! Love the idea of baskets - and use them all the time. (Maybe I have a basket fettish....?? lol!) Now....I just need to declutter that HUGE pile of mags on my desk. Yikes! :)

xoxo laurie

Sarah said...

Thanks Sarah! Great idea and I love the baskets - may have to get some, but, I am on a hideously tight budget right now...grrrr...have a great weekend in 'ole Blighty! ;-))

Travel With Lulu said...

What a delicious website you linked! I found a'something for my Christmas wish list :) Have a great weekend, Miss Sarah

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Keeping my mags in a basket too!

Happy weekend Sarah

Bluebells and Lavender said...

Great post Sarah, the key to order is having good storage on hand! Love the rattan baskets, especially this lovely grey colour! have a lovely weekend. Sharon :)

driftwood said...

ever since we went to a scottish farmhouse and they had a basket of blankets I have done the same, it's so cosy reaching over for a blanket or a quilt. I keep my crochet in a basket too, the magazines are in a leaning tower of pisa tower next to the bed...

Greta said...

I never really thought about saving old issues of magazines and taking them out again at that time of year to look through again...love the idea and all your beautiful baskets!

Anna, Oh yes! I like that. said...

We have so much clutter! I think I make the mistake of buying storage that is too small which adds to it. The big baskets definitely look less cluttered.

Thank you for the lovely comment on my blog!
Anna x

Unknown said...

I'm on a mission to keep my home free from clutter so I'll definitely be using this tip! ps. loved your post earlier in the week with the beautiful White Company photos

Kate xo

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

I've never met a basket I didn't like! In fact, there are 5 in the room I'm sitting in right now. You are absolutely right... they are great for storage and pretty to look at :)

Divya Manohar said...

Thank you for sharing the design ideas. I am very much interested in working with you. I am going to discuss your work with the interior decorators 0f modular kitchen Chennai who all are interested in seeing new designs.

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