Paint a Wicker Basket: From Basic to Beautiful

Natural Willow to Dark Washed Finish

There is just something about a sturdy thrift store basket that is hard to pass up. The shape, the heavy rim, and the tight willow weave make this one perfect for a simple makeover. With just a little paint and a soft, whitewashed finish, this small oval laundry basket went from a basic thrift-store find to a piece that looks right at home in any room.

Easy Basket Flip Anyone Can Do

I love a good basket makeover.

These are the baskets I had on hand to choose from: four small and one medium. I decided to save the larger one for another project. It matches the Boho Farmhouse Basket.

Painting a Wicker Basket Dark

I chose this Corinthian color, as I thought it was brown. I think it changes from a dark greige to a brown depending on the lighting.

Working your way around the basket while wearing gloves is your best bet. Don’t go for full coverage on your first coat.

If the weather permits, and you can find the right color, I would recommend spray paint as I did on the Boho Farmhouse Basket. If you have a favorite color on hand, a paint sprayer is also a good option. I used it on this basket with handles.

The Ugly First Coat

Painting a willow basket makeover isn’t much different than furniture. Several light coats will last much longer than a couple of heavy coats.

A Portable Fan Dries the Paint on the Wicker Basket

Sometimes I just don’t have the time to wait for paint to dry thoroughly. Using my battery-operated Ryobi fan sped up drying time for each coat.

A Second Coat of Paint for the Thrift Store Basket

In the image above, you can see that I have done a second coat of paint on the bottom of the basket.

Tips for Good Coverage When Painting Wicker

Using spray paint will solve these issues, but the weather was not cooperating. So, I had to get creative to achieve the best coverage. I used a small paintbrush handle to separate the top rods of the rim, while using another small artist’s brush to paint the gap. In places where achieving good coverage seemed impossible, I diluted the paint and applied it with a chip brush.

Do You See Brown or Dark Gray?

I expected the color in the jar to be brownish, but in this photo, it seems more like a very dark gray.

Let’s take a quick break to discuss how useful a small willow laundry basket can be.

Where to Use a Wicker Basket

Home + Decor

Coffee table catch-all basket
Entryway drop zone for hats and gloves
Shelf styling piece with greenery or books
Blanket basket for small throws
TV remote and magazine holder
Bathroom rolled towel basket
Guest room welcome basket

Functional Storage

Craft supply basket
Knitting or crochet project holder
Pet toy basket
Cleaning supply caddy
Pantry snack basket
Mail sorting basket
Book or magazine organization

Outdoor and Seasonal

Porch plant basket (use liner)
Farmers’ market produce basket
Fall pumpkin display basket
Christmas greenery basket
Easter centerpiece

Creative Gift Basket Ideas

Winter Warm-up
Housewarming or wedding
Movie Night
Coffee Lover
Snack attack
Garden Lover
Get Well Soon
Teacher Appreciation
Picnic

Give the Painted Wicker Basket Some Highlights

I used the color Coliseum to give some depth to the dark-painted basket. The amount of paint used is very minimal. I dipped my chip brush into the can and scattered it onto a styrofoam plate. Before brushing the basket, the brush was stippled onto the plate to remove most of the white paint.

Brush Across the Weave

To get the best look, brush across the weave, not with it. If you apply too much white paint, wipe it back with a damp cloth. If that doesn’t work, you can brush on a very light coat of the original dark color.

painting a basket with a dry brush technique

Perfetion is Overrate

No matter how hard I tried, turning the basket always revealed a place I missed! Once the basket is fulfilling its purpose, I’m sure it won’t be noticed.

dark basket whitewashed holding rolled towels

Here it is filled with towels that I keep in storage just for styling projects. This was a simple project, but I love the new look of the natural thrift store wicker basket. At one point, I almost left it the dark greige, but I do like the whitewash. How about you?

Projects like this are why I always slow down in the basket aisle at the thrift store. You never know when you will find a piece with great bones that just needs a little vision. If you see a basket with a strong rim and good structure, grab it. Even a simple finish can completely change the look and give it a whole new purpose in your home.

Before you hop over to visit my friends, I would love it if you saved this on Pinterest.

See What the Thrift Store Decor Team Found This Month

I love seeing what everyone spots while thrifting, and this month is full of creative flips, fresh ideas, and projects you might want to try yourself. Be sure to visit the other ladies on the tour to see how they transformed their thrift store finds. You might just get inspired for your next project.