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Shopping for storage furniture requires at least a little bit of clairvoyance. Your goal is to buy something today that will fit inside your current living space and hold your current belongings, but also have room for stuff you might buy later. And, ideally, this magical storage equipment will work in your next home(s). That’s a lot to ask for one piece of furniture.
However, there is a way to resolve this conundrum that doesn’t require a crystal ball. The answer is modular storage units. On their own each unit acts as a standalone container, but placed together they become a sizable storage area for holding seasonal clothing, extra bedding, and any other stowables — plus, you can always get more over time and move them around to adjust to your needs. One of the most impressive modular storage pieces we’ve come across recently are these cute collapsible bins. Their clear sides let you see what’s inside and they have doors that let you access them without removing the lid. Genius!
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These bins come together quickly by snapping the sides and top into place, and inconspicuous wheels on the bottom come in handy when you need to relocate them. (Pro tip: Set up one under your home office desk to slide it out like a rolling cabinet.) If you want to create vertical storage space, they stack on top of each other and lock into place by fitting their wheels into tiny grooves. The lids lift up if you want to access the contents from the top, but a set of doors on the front is far more convenient — and lets you grab stuff from bins all the way on the bottom.
Choose between five colors in two different sizes (19-gallon and 8.4-gallon), so whether you plan to use these in your living room or bedroom, or want to fit one into a closet or other small area, you can grab bins that are just right. Because they’re stackable, they make great stand-ins for things like nightstands, entertainment consoles, and console tables with room to keep personal items on top. You can basically think of them as mini cabinets: Wherever you need to keep items accessible without leaving them out in the open, these bins will do the job. They’re also durable enough to store heavy stuff in your laundry room or garages, but cute enough to corral toys in a kid’s bedroom or keep a college dorm room tidy.
Besides the most notable features, there are a few functional details that help these storage solutions stand out above their counterparts. Deep side handles let you lift each bin comfortably and flat door handles contribute to the overall compact profile, which you can really appreciate when you fold them down. Finally, the ridge-shaped pattern on the transparent panels adds a bit of chicness that makes an entirely plastic product look remarkably elevated.
If you want to make sure the storage pieces you get today can adapt to your needs in a couple of years, these collapsible and stackable bins are a great choice. Stash them away for long-term storage or stack them into modular cabinets that keep everyday items clean and organized. And when you outgrow them, grab another and seamlessly expand your collection.
Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).
Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
My main goal for the past two years has been decluttering. I am the queen of half-finished projects, abandoned hobbies, and am a compulsive saver of everything. While I have made major progress, there’s only so much you can stash away sight-unseen in a one-bedroom apartment. After moving, I decided that I couldn’t abide by anymore white or black clunky plastic bins in my space, but I still was on the hunt for something practical. When someone from Folden Lane reached out about their new collapsible faux leather storage bins, I wanted to try one immediately.
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I received the medium size in Olive, along with a set of dividers and a labeling tool kit. Designed by studio Box Clever, this storage basket shipped flat, so it required 55 percent less packing materials. I receive a lot of boxes and I get very annoyed when a company is wasteful by sending too big of a box. I appreciated Folden Lane’s focus on sustainability and functionality. The medium box is 17- inches long, 12.5-inches wide, and 9-inches tall.
This storage bin features an innovative design — you pull strings (which are hidden underneath some faux leather at the top of the box) to get the box to form its shape. The bin comes in both square and rectangle shapes. You can pick from two different sizes for the square version and four for the rectangle. It only took me about five minutes to assemble my medium-sized rectangular bin — and this is coming from a person who once built her IKEA dresser drawers inside out.
When the bin was ready to be filled, I was a little worried about how much it could fit, but I managed to stuff all of my crafting supplies in it from various hobbies (scrapbooks, needlepoint kits, yarn, painting supplies, canvases, and my large collection of pens). The bin has been surprisingly durable and hasn’t stretched at all. If I didn’t know the leather was fake, I might have been fooled. It’s so buttery soft and looks luxe compared to the other storage bins. The inside is also coated in a soft microfiber material, so I definitely would consider filling it with delicate keepsakes if I ever finish all of these craft projects. This bin truly could live in any room — laundry, kitchen, living room, bedroom, or bathroom — and adds a touch of style at the sane time. It comes in Black, Olive, Dove, or Indigo, so most will be able to find a color that suits their space.
But my favorite thing about this Folden Lane basket is that it’s collapsible. If I for whatever reason don’t need this bin, I can fold it down flat and tuck it away without it taking up any extra space. My default when getting rid of organizing solutions is to donate them, because usually they don’t fold flat. It feels like a waste of money. This bin, though a little pricey, is something I will keep for years to come.
Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)
