Sometimes I ponder the deep questions of life, like what should I put on my wall?
A few weeks ago I faced a small decorating challenge: a narrow space between my front door and the living room windows that included an awkward cluster of light switches. Everything I tried to hang in that spot looked unbalanced, too high, or only seemed to draw attention to the switches.
What should I do?
I do most of my decorating the way many of us do—by wandering through the house and treating my belongings like a little store of possibilities. When you live with your things long enough, useful solutions often appear among the pieces you already own.
When I spotted a woven basket, it was an obvious fix. Hung on the wall, the basket masks the light switches—I simply lift it off its nail to access the switches and hang it back when I’m done. It also adds a handcrafted, textured element that fits the craftsman style of the house.
To build on the display, my daughter found a wire basket on sale while we were at JoAnn’s, and I added a small mirror—practical for a last-minute teeth check before heading out the door. The combination felt cohesive without being fussy.
For now that’s all I’ve used, though I may collect more baskets over time and expand the arrangement.
After I was happy with that side of the entry, I moved to the opposite wall to create visual flow. Repeating similar textures and shapes helps a space feel intentional. I added another mirror and a smaller wire basket to echo the first grouping.
Note to self: clean the mirrors next time before taking photos. Life and the holidays happen, though, so priorities shift—mirrors can wait until I catch a spare moment.
I used a small decorative hook that I had on hand to hang the wire basket. Initially I thought it looked like a nautical rope hook, but a reader pointed out it’s actually designed to hold a blind cord—still, it made a charming detail. Sometimes a simple nail will do, but a distinct hook or knob can elevate the look and add character.
Here’s an updated photo after I swapped in a new basket for that spot.
The baskets bring warmth, texture, and personality to the entry. They create a unique, welcoming statement that masks functional elements and adds a handmade feel. Another little decorating dilemma, solved.
I do have another design question in the entry that I’ll share soon—and I’d love your ideas when I post it next. Be ready to put on your creative thinking caps!