Holiday Decorating With Baskets: Cozy, Creative, and Totally Doable

There’s just something magical about baskets during the holidays — they’re rustic, charming, and honestly, they make you look way more pulled-together than you probably feel this time of year. Whether it’s an old apple basket you snagged at a flea market or a classic picnic basket that’s been living in your closet since summer, baskets are the secret weapon of holiday decorating. And the best part? They fit any style — farmhouse, boho, traditional, cottagecore, vintage Christmas… you name it.

Here are a bunch of easy, adorable ways to use apple baskets, picnic baskets, and pretty much any basket you’ve got lying around to deck your halls.

1. Apple Basket Entryway Welcome

Apple baskets (big or small!) make the perfect doorway greeting piece.

Try these:

• Fill one with fresh pine branches, winterberries, and a string of battery-operated twinkle lights. Instant “I’m festive!” energy.

• Add a wooden sign or chalkboard tag with a handwritten “Joy” or “Merry & Bright.”

• Use two matching ones on either side of the door for a symmetrical entryway chef’s kiss moment.

2. Picnic Basket Holiday Centerpiece

Picnic baskets aren’t just for summer charcuterie — they turn into the cutest holiday décor with just a few tweaks.

Ideas:

• Crack the lid open and let greenery spill out like you just returned from cutting down your own tree (even if it’s from the grocery store… we won’t tell).

• Add ornaments, pinecones, and a cozy plaid blanket peeking out.

• Put a small wreath or bow on the handle and turn it into a centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table. This one gives serious “vintage Christmas postcard” vibes.

  
  

3. The Cozy Blanket Basket (Holiday Edition)

Take any medium or large woven basket and turn it into a comfort station.

Fill it with:

• Chunky knit blankets

• Faux fur throws

• A couple of holiday pillow inserts

• A sprig of pine tucked into the edge for extra whimsy

Set it next to your couch or firewood stack and boom — instant Hygge.

4. Baskets as Gift Stations

Use baskets to corral alllll the wrapping chaos.

• A tall picnic basket for rolls of wrapping paper

• A shallow apple basket for ribbons, tags, and tape

• A lidded basket for hiding presents you don’t want discovered (looking at you, snoopers)

Pro tip: add a little bow on each basket so even your organizational system looks festive.

5. Mini Basket Ornament Bar

If your tree or sideboard needs a little “aww!” moment, try this:

• Fill mini baskets (think berry baskets, tiny woven reed baskets, or small wire baskets) with ornaments

• Use as tabletop décor, mantle fillers, or group them on a tray

• Mix vintage ornaments with handmade artisan ones for that “collected over time” charm

This is also a super cute way to highlight local makers’ ornaments in your store.

6. The Holiday Hearth Basket

Have a big wicker basket? Great — it was born for the holidays.

Fill it with:

• Birch logs

• Pine boughs

• A few oversized ornaments or decorative bells

If you don’t have a fireplace, place this in a corner to create a holiday focal point.

7. Basket Tree Skirt Alternative

This is such a fun twist: plop your small Christmas tree into a large bushel or rope basket instead of using a tree skirt.

It gives a clean, natural look and hides the stand. Plus, baskets add warmth and texture that fabric sometimes doesn’t.

8. The Kitchen Basket Glow-Up

Baskets in the kitchen? Yes please.

• Hang an apple basket from a peg rail, fill with greenery and cinnamon sticks

• Use a small picnic basket as a holiday cocoa bar (mugs inside, cocoa packets in the lid, candy canes spilling out)

• Fill a bread basket with fresh greens and LED candles for a centerpiece that feels simple but cozy

9. Shelf & Hutch Styling With Baskets

Pop a few different-sized baskets on your hutch or shelves to add depth and texture.

Layer with:

• Small wreaths

• Garland

• Rolled tea towels

• A few artisan-made goods (wooden spoons, candle jars, or handmade soaps look gorgeous tucked inside)

  
  

10. The Basket Advent Calendar

Take 24 little baskets — they don’t even need to match — and hang them on a wall or prop them on shelves.

Fill with:

• tiny treats

• handwritten notes

• artisan-made trinkets

• stickers or ornaments

It’s cozy, nostalgic, and looks like something straight out of a Scandinavian Christmas catalogue.

Final Touch: Make It Yours

The great thing about baskets is they don’t scream “holiday” unless you want them to. Swap pine for eucalyptus, brighten things with gold accents, or keep it rustic with burlap and berries. And if you shop local artisans for your fillers — handmade ornaments, candles, textiles — you’re not only decorating your home… you’re supporting actual humans behind the craft.

If you feature basket décor in your shop this season, snap a pic and tag us — we love seeing how you style your space.

P.S. Did you know Junction 71 was open seven days a week from now until Christmas????