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 wall between the front door and the living room windows that felt awkward because of the placement of light switches. Every picture or shelf I tried looked off balance, too high, or simply drew attention to the switches instead of the wall.
What to do?
As often happens, I began hunting through my own home for a solution. My decorating process is pretty informal—I wander through rooms as if browsing a shop, looking for an item that will feel right in the space. That day I noticed a basket and immediately knew it would work.
The basket solved the switch problem neatly: I hang it on a nail and simply remove it to use the light switch, then replace it. Beyond the practical fix, it added visual interest and a handcrafted look that fits my craftsman-style home.
While shopping together, my daughter spotted a wire basket on sale at JoAnn’s, and I picked up a small mirror too—handy for a final check before leaving the house. With those pieces in place, the little wall felt finished and cohesive.
Maybe I’ll collect more baskets over time, but for now this grouping felt right.
Once that side of the entry looked good, I turned my attention to the other wall beside the door. I like things to flow around a room, so I repeated the texture and scale by hanging another mirror and a smaller wire basket. The repetition ties the space together without feeling matchy‑matchy.
Right about now I regret not cleaning the mirrors before taking photos—life happens, and holidays kept me busy—so I’ll get to that eventually.
I used a small hook I found that looked nautical—perfect for hanging the wire basket. Typically I use nails, but sometimes a decorative hook or knob adds character and a little contrast to the arrangement. (An observant reader later pointed out the hook is intended to hold up blind cords—good to know!)
Edited: I added a new basket to this wall and updated the picture above.
The combination of baskets, wire texture, and mirrors brings warmth and personality to the entry. It hides what’s unsightly, adds useful function, and creates a unique, handmade vibe that suits the house. Another decorating dilemma, solved.
Oh, but now I have another decorating dilemma in my entry and I think I’m going to ask for your help in my next post, so be prepared to put your creative problem solving thinking caps on for me.