To solve the problem of collecting and storing things before washing, it is not necessary to buy expensive boxes or organizers. A profitable solution can be a do-it-yourself laundry basket, which anyone can create. It is quite simple, and the result will be truly impressive. The product will be unique, suitable in size and in your favorite color scheme, which will harmonize favorably with other interior items.
Product options
There are many reasons to make a laundry basket with your own hands. Firstly, you can choose the style of the product. Secondly, there are no size restrictions. Thanks to this, you can profitably use the free space. Thirdly, such a functional element will be much cheaper than those offered in a hardware or furniture store.
You can place a ready-made laundry basket in a dressing room, bedroom, bathroom, hallway or closet. In any case, now the untidy pile of clothes will be camouflaged, and you won’t have to search all over the house for small items of clothing to wash.
There can be many options for production:
- standard laundry container in the form of a round or square basket;
- a corner box that allows you to make the most of the space in your home thanks to its shape;
- the wall-mounted version is suspended on special fasteners, you can even create a multi-level system;
- The folding basket is functional and can be hidden in a closet or pantry when not needed.
Materials and tools
Before considering the sequence of actions on how to make a laundry basket, you need to decide on the materials. You won't need expensive components to complete the work. As practice shows, every home has several options for what you can make an excellent basket from: fabric scraps, wooden planks, plastic oilcloth, and even old newspapers. Usually, decorative elements and consumables such as glue and paint are additionally purchased. The whole charm of self-production is that you can make a beautiful and functional thing for your home from unnecessary things.
Before starting work, the basket needs to be designed: the dimensions need to be determined, the shape needs to be specified so as not to have to adjust the container during the manufacturing process.
Depending on the execution technique, different materials may be required:
- for a basket made from newspaper tubes you will need newspapers, glue, clothespins, scissors, cardboard and a knitting needle;
- for a product on a wooden frame you will need solid wood slats, plastic and metal tubes for guides, fabric, bolts and nuts for fastening, threads and buttons for working with fabric, scissors, a needle or a sewing machine;
- If the basket is made on a plastic frame, then you need a base - a stationery basket, as well as a rope, cord or yarn, a glue gun, fabric, scissors.
Stages of creation depending on the model
To study the process of creating a laundry basket in more detail, you need to select detailed step-by-step instructions. Each stage of production is important, however, experienced craftsmen can change the algorithm of actions to create a unique object.
From newspaper tubes
Weaving baskets from newspapers is an easy and inexpensive way to create a unique item. With some experience and skill, it can be difficult to distinguish well-decorated items from those presented in the store.
To create a wicker version of the basket, you will need:
- old newspapers;
- scissors;
- PVA glue;
- ruler;
- long knitting needle;
- frame form;
- varnish or paint.
The sequence of actions for creating a laundry basket:
- To make a vine, cut newspapers into 5-7 cm strips. Wind them onto a knitting needle at an angle of 30 degrees. Secure the end with glue. If longer tubes are needed, connect them by gluing the joint.
- Weaving starts from the middle of the base. 5 tubes are placed perpendicularly and intertwined. The joints are fixed with glue.
- We start to braid the corner tubes in a circle one after another. The result is an oval-shaped base – this is the bottom of the structure.
- To weave the vertical walls, you will need a frame - a cardboard box that is inserted inside the future basket.
- The vertical tubes need to be glued to the base, bent and secured to the top of the frame. The distance between them should be approximately 5 cm.
- Next, you need to weave in the transverse tubes, wrapping them around each vertical one; the joints can be glued for reliability.
- At the edges of the product, the tubes are bent into the structure, intertwined with neighboring ones and fixed with glue for reliability.
- To make the basket as durable as possible, a layer of PVA glue is applied to the entire product at the end.
- At the final stage, the structure is painted and decorated.
The convenience of newspaper vines is that the length of the tubes can be increased directly during the weaving process. Thus, weaving the product is much easier.
Made of fabric on a wooden frame
The advantage of this option is that the wooden frame can be made in various modifications. Folding models are especially convenient. To make a basket, you will need: wooden slats, fastening fittings, a piece of fabric of sufficient size, as well as a needle and thread for stitching.
Sequence for making a 40 x 40 cm basket:
- We select 4 slats of 60 cm each, 2 tubes of 40 cm each and 2 of 35 cm each for work. The upper part of the structure will be slightly wider than the lower one.
- To fasten the partitions, you will need 8 bolts and 2 large bolts with nuts to connect the slats in an X-shaped pattern.
- After making the frame, we begin marking out the fabric cover; the pattern resembles a bag.
- It is better to sew the seams on a sewing machine (it is faster and neater). You should start with large parts, and then move on to smaller ones.
- In order for the whole product to look beautiful, you need to process the edges of the fabric.
- Decoration can be done with braid and original buttons, which additionally serve as fasteners to the wooden frame.
Another advantage of this homemade laundry basket is that the fabric cover can be easily removed and washed if necessary.
It is important that the wooden planks are well treated, otherwise there is a risk of driving a splinter under the skin.
From the vine
An advanced version of weaving is making items from vines. This is a natural material that looks expensive and authentic. However, such a product requires a certain amount of experience and readiness for more painstaking work. The main material can be willow, grape or rattan vines, which are processed in a certain way to give flexibility (soaked in cold water). In addition to the main material, you will need:
- scissors or pruning shears;
- awl;
- wood knife;
- nippers;
- pliers;
- a device for cleaning vines - a pinch.
The weaving process is very similar to the process of creating a container from newspaper tubes. But it is worth noting that the natural material is more difficult to handle. The frame of the structure must be held by the quality of the weave; glue will not help to correct inaccuracies.
A basket made of wicker is considered the most durable option. At the same time, it has more weight and is unable to change shape.
On a plastic frame
DIY laundry baskets with a plastic frame look great when a cord or rope acts as a decorative element. To make such a product at home, you will need a plastic form, which can be purchased at a store, a cord-twine, a hot glue gun, and thick fabric or paper to decorate the bottom of the structure.
Sequence of actions:
- For convenience, it is better to turn the frame over and start decorating it from the bottom up.
- The rope is tightly wound onto the plastic, and is secured with glue from a gun or PVA, which can be applied with a brush. The step of the attachment points is no more than 1 cm.
- After decorating the side walls, you need to take the cord to the bottom, where it is firmly fixed. In order for the bottom of the basket to look beautiful, you can make an overlay from thick fabric or cardboard.
This technique can be used to combine fabric and cord. Then you will need to cut and secure the fabric with glue.
Decor options
The undeniable advantage of handmade products is that the decoration process is not limited by anything. There are a number of common materials for decorating baskets made by hand using different techniques.
- A fabric container on a wooden frame is decorated with braid, bright buttons, appliqués. The coloring and texture of the fabric itself can already be an original solution in the interior. To store small items, you can make several patch pockets.
- Decorative lacing and twine look good on the fabric.
- The wooden frame elements can be painted or decorated if the main focus is not on the fabric, but on the supporting structure.
- Wicker products are often decorated with satin ribbons, which easily fit through the holes between the twigs.
- Paper tubes take coloring well.
- A plastic frame decorated with cord can be decorated with small elements that are attached with glue (shells, stones, sequins, rhinestones, beads).
Making a laundry basket yourself requires a minimum amount of materials and tools. Such a product will become a highlight of the interior and will please the eye of the master and his household. In addition, this useful device will help maintain order. All things requiring washing will be in their place.
Video
https://youtu.be/fcuRpIG8RFY
