DIY Burlap Basket from a Laundry Basket

Baskets are an organization and decor staple; you can never have enough!  They’re a perfect spot to plop your pillows and blankets, stick a potted plant, or hide some junk when you need to do a quick house pick up before guests arrive.

Because there is no such thing as too many baskets, I decided to add another to my collection with this upcycle of a Dollar Tree laundry hamper to a DIY burlap basket for my office space!

Now, let me show you how to upgrade a plain laundry basket into a stylish burlap basket for your home!

Supplies Needed to Make a DIY Burlap Basket

Thank you to Kenarry: Ideas for the Home for sponsoring this post.  The project and opinions are my own.  Also, this post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

• Kenarry: Ideas for the Home Loose Weave Burlap Ribbon: 5 inches x 10 yards roll
• Small laundry hamper (I bought mine at Dollar Tree; here is a similar one)
• Scissors
• Plastic spray paint in the color of your choice
• Small wooden tag
• Paint pen
• Yarn pom poms

How to Make a Burlap Basket from a Laundry Hamper

Before I give you instructions, I have to show you the plain old laundry basket that I bought at Dollar Tree.  So simple, right?  

Step One: Spray Paint the Laundry Basket

I started by spray painting the laundry basket with spray paint that adheres to plastic.  My favorite type of plastic spray paint is this brand, but I had to use a different kind from Target for my project.  The Target spray paint worked just fine in case you were wondering.  

After I spray painted, I let the basket dry for a looooong time to make sure it really stuck to the plastic hamper, and I plotted the best way to transform it from a laundry basket to a pretty basket.

Step Two: Cut Burlap Ribbon Into Strips

Once it dried, I grabbed some soft burlap ribbon that is extra wide at 5″ across, and that has sewn edges to reduce fraying.  This burlap ribbon comes in a 10 yard roll, which is the perfect size for this project!  

To begin, I cut a piece that measured 1.5 times longer than the circumference of the laundry hamper base.  

Step Three: Weave the Burlap Ribbon

Then I began weaving the burlap ribbon in and out of the slots in the bottom row of the laundry hamper.  

Step Four: Cut the Excess Burlap

When I got all the way around the base of the basket, I tied off the ends on the inside of the basket and cut off the excess burlap ribbon.  

Step Five: Repeat the Process

Next, I cut another piece of burlap ribbon and moved up to the next row of slats on the basket; repeating the steps above and making sure to start my weaving one column of slats to the right in order to offset the weaving pattern.  

I did this until all of the basket was woven with burlap ribbon!  

In all, I probably used about 8 yards of the burlap ribbon, so I’m glad this spool came in such a long length!  

To finish off this burlap basket, I added a little hang tag that reads “Cozy Things,” and some pom poms.  Pom poms are my fave.

Can you believe how easy it was to transform a plain laundry hamper into a pretty burlap basket?  

Jasper couldn’t resist posing for this photo shoot.  He’s a big fan of this DIY burlap basket. 🙂  

Next time you see one of those small laundry baskets at the store, make sure to pick one up and transform it into a cute piece of functional decor for your home!  

And please make sure to pin this post to share the love!  

-Bre