Don’t you just love corralling items together? Me too! Whether it be for organization or just keeping things from toppling over in a cupboard, putting items into some sort of container has made my life so much easier. Whether it be a magazine holder near a favorite chair, a plexiglass bin to keep spare lotions and soaps in one place, a pretty tray to display perfumes, or a basket to hold throws for those cold winter nights, I love them all.

Over the years, I have used everything from Dollar Tree shoe boxes to Pottery Barn baskets, and almost every price point in-between. During the “Snowmageddon” winter of 2019 here in the Tri Cities, I went weeks without driving my car and had all manner of organizing devices delivered to our door. With literally nothing else to do, I tore through most of my pantry and closet spaces like a Ninja Warrior. If you missed that post, you can read about it here: KonMari: The Art of Tidying and Clearing the Clutter…

In other words, I thought I had seen and explored almost every kind of tray, bin, box, and basket that was on the market for storage. That is until I was in TJ Maxx recently, looking for some kind of soft storage to use in our friends RV; something she said she wanted me to include in the decorating. There, I found a whole new genre of storage…the canvas rope bin. These bins are soft, crushable, and lightweight; perfect for most storage solutions, especially in an RV where weight and movement can be an issue. And did I mention they are super cute!? They actually remind me of the old rag rugs that people used to make with long tubes of fabric that is then sewn together to make a floor rug, except in this case, they made a bin:) The set I purchased consisted of one large bins and two smaller bins. All for $14.99 for the set! They also had them at Costco recently for a set of two larger canvas rope bins for $19.99.

Thrilled to no end with my new storage solution discovery, I set about figuring out ways to cleverly use them; not only for the initial decorating job, but for long-term storage in the RV. For one of the smaller baskets, I filled it with dish towels to keep them readily available by the sink. One of the issues in the RV’s we have owned is never having enough storage space, especially drawers. So having utilitarian items like dish cloths attractively displayed out in the open is a win-win.

The second small bin was filled with a mason jar containing dish soap, some sponges, and a wooden handled dish scrubber. Again, utilitarian, but nice enough to keep on the counter. Because both of these small bins are lightweight and easy to pick up, they are easy to store away when you are packing up after a fun weekend of camping; ready to grab out and use the next time you park your RV.

A larger bin, sold separately, was placed on an open shelf in the bathroom. It will be perfect for storing toilet paper, towels, or toiletries. Because this shelf has a lip on it, this larger bin can stay in place while you are hauling the RV. And the gray and cream of this bin lends itself perfectly to the earth tones already found in the bathroom.

The large bin from the three-piece set was used to create a gift from me for this family of five. First, I found a ready-made Smores kit at our local grocery store. They also sold marshmallow sticks for fireside roasting. I purchased the kit and five skewers, and then a large bag of prewrapped Jelly Belly’s for the kids. Next, I found five packages of Russell Stover Smores candy bars and added those to basket. The final flourish, and a nod to the RV owner wanting a little moose theme included in the decor, were three boxes of Moose Munch popcorn. Arranged in the large bin, it made a colorful addition to the kitchen, and was the favorite “decorating item” among their three kids! Once they have eaten all of the goodies, this bin will make a wonderful addition to their pantry shelf to hold food items for camping.

Last, but not least, I used another storage basket on the floor of the RV, right beside the couch to hold magazines, books, or throws. This bin was sold individually, apart from the original set, but it matches perfectly! Again, the beauty of soft storage will work perfectly for this application.

If you haven’t used these canvas bins, you may want to seek them out. I could see them being perfect for keeping a little girls hair accessories all at arms reach on a dresser, a place to hold sun screen products out by the pool, or napkins and silverware for your next picnic or BBQ. Literally, the possibilities are endless, the price is right, and did I mention they’re pretty cute?

Good tidings,

Diane