Love a Tidy Home, Not Keen on Plastic Baskets?

Plastic baskets have their place in almost every home.

They're practical, inexpensive and easy to grab.

But after a while, you might find yourself wanting something that fits in a little better with the rest of your home.

A quilted fabric basket is an alternative worth considering.

The soft, padded fabric holds its shape and stands upright on its own, even when it's empty, while the canvas handles make it easy to carry a full load to the line or the machine.

In the laundry, it keeps towels and washing together in one tidy spot.

In the bedroom, it's a lovely place for a spare blanket or extra pillowcases.

And when you don't need it, it folds away neatly, so it never takes up more room than it should.

The nicest pieces around the home are often the ones that fit naturally into your daily routine.

One of the lovely things about a quilted basket is how much character it brings to an ordinary corner of the house.

The Lamb Meadow design features fluffy sheep on rolling green hills under a swirling, starry blue sky, and the artwork wraps all the way around, so it looks lovely whichever way you turn it.

It's a gentle, cheerful design that suits a laundry, a bathroom, a bedroom or even a sunny hallway.

The basket comes in three sizes: small for a bathroom or a grandchild's room, medium for the bedroom or laundry, and large for family washing or storing linen and blankets.

And if sheep aren't quite your style, the same quilted basket is also available in many other designs, from sunflowers and tulips to coastal and garden scenes.

Rather than following every new trend, it's often more useful to think about the colours and rooms you already love.

A good basket should feel at home in your house, not like something you'd rather hide.

One of the most useful things about a quilted basket is that you can use it all around the house.

The secret is choosing the right size for the room.

In the laundry

A medium or large basket keeps the week's washing in one place, and the handles make it easy to carry out to the line.

Keep a stack of fresh towels in it once they're folded, and your laundry instantly looks tidier.

In the bedroom

Use it for a spare throw, folded linen or the extra pillows that never seem to have a home.

It adds a soft, cosy touch to a quiet corner without looking cluttered.

For the grandchildren

A small basket makes a lovely home for toys, books or soft animals when the little ones come to visit.

At the end of the day, everything goes back in, and the room is tidy again in a minute.

There's no need to redecorate the whole house. It's often one small, cheerful piece that makes the difference.