This Is the One Storage Gem I Don’t Regret Splurging On

I’ve been writing about home design for my entire career, but earlier this year, I had something of a revelation after reading Myquillyn Smith’s book House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget.

Smith, the founder of The Nester, is perhaps best known for her viral video about “quieting the house” (also called “house hushing”), which some of my fellow Apartment Therapy writers have tried with great success. When I sat down with Smith’s book I found myself nodding along to much of her advice, which is formatted as 100 decorating rules. 

The rule that sparked my revelation was this: “If it sits out, it’s a decoration.” This statement stopped me in my tracks. “Whether we admit it or not, when an item is out on display, we are decorating with it, and it either enhances or takes away from the overall experience,” Smith writes. I couldn’t help but cringe looking around my home to see what I was inadvertently “decorating” with based on that logic. 

One item in particular began to bother me: our canvas laundry hamper. I’d purchased it years ago out of sheer utility. But because of the layout of the house, we ended up positioning it next to our dresser versus in a closet or the bathroom. It was one of the main pieces of “decor” in our smallish bedroom, and it was an eyesore.

So I began the hunt for a better looking laundry basket. I searched all the usual suspects in terms of home stores and even made a Pinterest board to keep track of my finds. I wasn’t in love with any of them except for one: a Ferm Living basket I had pinned months before (and what you see above in my room, next to the dresser).

At $274(!!!!), it was far and away the most expensive option. So I hesitated. I hemmed, and I hawed. I considered cheaper options. I texted my most design-savvy friend for her advice. But when I remembered Smith’s words, I finally bought the braided basket.

As soon as I replaced our tired old laundry bag with this beauty, I knew it had been worth every penny. Functionally, the basket fits perfectly next to our dresser and holds just as much as our old hamper (we sort in the laundry room, so there’s no need for multiple compartments). 

Aesthetically, it’s in another stratosphere. In place of something ugly, we have something beautiful. With its honey color and elegant texture, the basket is actually enhancing our decor. I’m so grateful for Smith’s advice, which helped me see that if something sits out, it’s a decoration. 

The next time you need to buy something for your home, ask yourself: Will it be on display? And if so, consider splurging on something prettier. That way, you’ll be making your home more beautiful and more functional at the same time.