A bathroom in a 18th-century New York farmhouse restored by AD100 architect Elizabeth Roberts features woven baskets to house any dirty linens.Photo: Chris MottaliniSave this storySave this storyNearly everyone has that one chair in their bedroom that isn’t really used for sitting. Instead, it’s the unofficial holding area for clothes that haven’t quite made it to the laundry room. A beautiful laundry hamper offers a much-needed alternative, rescuing yesterday’s jeans and that growing collection of gym clothes. And while a clothes basket might not be the most exciting purchase on your home decor shopping list, the right one can make a surprisingly big difference in how your space looks and feels.
Fortunately, designs have come a long way from the plastic bins you likely grew up with. Here and now, we’re seeing sculptural woven designs that could pass for decorative storage, sleek steel frames with a more industrial edge, and rolling laundry baskets that make transporting a heavy load of laundry a much easier chore. Some are compact enough to tuck into a narrow closet, while others are spacious enough to handle loads for an entire household. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorites that prove even the most practical household pieces can enhance your decor.
Our Top PicksMore AD-Approved Laundry HampersBest Hamper Set: Quince Handwoven Round Palm Baskets (Set of 3)
The handles on this trio of Quince baskets make it a breeze to transport this toteable vessel from your bedroom to the laundry room. Reviewers specifically called out that this basket is a great size for an average washing machine load. It might be pricier than your average hamper, but the quality of the durable rattan material more than makes up for it.
Handwoven in Ghana by Baba Tree artisans using durable elephant grass, Goodee’s tall storage basket’s intricate weave and structure add a surprising amount of warmth to the bedroom or bathroom. Its generous size leaves plenty of room for dirty laundry, but it could also double as a storage basket for extra blankets or anything else you’d prefer to keep out of sight. Each large laundry basket is crafted by hand, meaning no two are exactly alike.
The structured wooden frame does a lot of the work when it comes to this silhouette, reading more elegant than just having a softened hamper sadly slumped in your bathroom. Senior shopping editor Nashia Baker especially likes that the removable lid makes it easy to keep clothes out of sight and out of mind until laundry day. “This Zara Home basket is simple, but elevated,” she says. “The wooden frame is sturdy, and the same goes for the cotton basket, which is helpful for someone who stuffs their basket to the brim.” Shopping the hamper online, you might miss that the legs are equipped with brass wheels, but Baker points out it’s one of her favorite features, making it easy to move heavy loads without strain.
Quiet Town’s Canvas Laundry Hamper in pine brings a little more personality to laundry day. iIts rich green hue offers a welcome departure from the usual lineup of beige and gray laundry baskets. Double-sided organic cotton canvas and an interior layer of interfacing help the hamper hold its cylindrical shape, even when it isn’t overflowing with dirty laundry. The brand mentions that it’s easy to clean; a quick wipe with a damp cloth is all it needs to stay looking fresh.
Designed by Dario Antoniali for Italian textile brand Society Limonta, the Isacco Laundry Basket makes sorting your lights and darks dare we say… fun? Its slender iron frame supports a stretchy nylon bag that changes shape as it fills, giving it a sculptural quality that feels more like contemporary furniture than a household necessity. Two separate openings make it easy to sort clothes as you go, while the machine-washable fabric keeps maintenance simple. It’s a clever alternative to traditional divided hampers or having multiple laundry baskets.
