I’m Convinced This $9 IKEA Storage Basket Will Fix My Stairway Clutter

As soon as I walk into my apartment, I’m hit with a steep set of stairs that lead immediately into our makeshift dining area. This means there’s no room for an entryway console — and nowhere for daily essentials like my keys, wallet, sunglasses, to land. Instead, they end up littered across my dining table or worse, messily scattered around the apartment. However I think I found a solution in the IKEA DJURTRÄNARE basket. Positioned on my staircase, it would be the perfect “drop zone” for my everyday essentials. 

AT contributor Daniela Alvarez wrote that the DJURTRÄNARE basket worked well in her outdoor space for storing garden tools, so I know it can handle life on my highly trafficked staircase and keep clutter to a minimum. If you’re facing a similar struggle, I think it can do the same for you. Here’s how. 

Made of handwoven plastic, the DJURTRÄNARE basket gives you the look of rattan with way more durability, which makes it uniquely suited to outdoor and indoor use. IKEA makes it in two other sizes and colors (which are all limited edition, BTW), but I think the 7×9 3/4 x5 1/2-inch style is just the right size to sit on my staircase steps. It also comes in a gorgeous golden yellow color that stands out in the best way. 

Maybe, like me, you don’t have space for an entryway console; maybe you’re tired of traversing an obstacle course of kids’ toys on your way up the stairs, or you’re tired of forgetting your headphones as you run down the stairs in a hurry — the DJURTRÄNARE basket would effectively solve all the above. Nestled on a step, it’s the easiest way to corral clutter and store the items you can’t leave home without. It’s like a TSA tray but cuter. 

Now when I walk through the door, I can plop my wallet and keys in the tray and go on my way. So the basket won’t just make the rest of my apartment tidier, but it will also streamline my routine and make for way less stressful mornings. After all, it’s kind of hard to forget my keys and headphones if I have to step past them on my way out the door. Best of all, it’s only $9 so it’s an incredibly low-risk, high-reward change. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner!  

Buy: DJURTRÄNARE Basket, $9 

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