Choices, choices, and more choices.

Tall, short, wide, narrow, sturdy, flimsy, lightweight, taut, flexible, rustic, countrified … You name the adjective or characteristic and there is a basket that fits the description. With all these choices, how do you choose a basket? This section discusses five things to consider when choosing your next basket.

Determine function.
One way is by function, or intended usage of the basket. For example, if you're sending your child on an Easter egg hunt, you know for certain she needs a basket with a top handle. Why? Because it's easier to carry such a basket with one hand (while walking and scooping up eggs with the other hand). Of course, you'd want a lightweight basket too and it would need sides at least two inches high.

So if the function of your basket is related to carrying items and mobility (e.g. cleaning supplies), get a basket with a top handle. You can get a swinging handle or a fixed handle. But also get a sturdy basket if you're filling it with somewhat weighty items. And get one that's of reasonable size for toting around.

If you have weighty items, such as a bunch of heavy fireplace logs that you want to store in a basket, a handle is allowable as long as it's not in the way or is a swinging handle that pushes aside, but it's not necessary. It's not likely you'll be toting that basket around often. But again, you'd want something with sturdy high sides to contain the logs so they don't roll away. And you'd want a sturdy bottom so that if you did want to move the basket a foot to vacuum beneath it, you could do so without the bottom falling out, literally.

If you're trying to collect and carry berries in your basket, you'd want a tight weave. With large gaps, small items might fall through the basket bottom or sides.

If you're trying to conceal items such as a big pile of junk in the family room prior to a guest's visit or a pile of dirty laundry, you'd buy a basket with a lid. And perhaps you'd want a large basket such as a hamper, trunk or magazine basket. And if you want the basket to do double duty as an end table, you'd want its lid to be flat and solid.

But if you want to display items in plain sight but contain them, you'd want a wire basket. Why? Because you can see between the spaced out wires (some are spaced out further than others) yet they're quite sturdy for holding several items at once.

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