How to Hang Baskets From the Ceiling

Hanging baskets bring a cozy, traditional cottage feel to any room, and it’s a look that never really goes out of style. Here’s how to hang baskets from the ceiling.

This is one of those ideas that got into my head one day and just wouldn’t leave. I had to see if I could make it work. We have a beautiful exposed-brick wall in our mudroom, but I’ve always felt it was maybe missing something. One day, I took a look at my growing basket collection, and I took a look at the area near the top of the brick wall, and I knew that baskets were the answer. Baskets are often the answer, for the record. These hanging baskets add so much charm and texture to this space, and they gave me an excuse to continue adding to my collection of handled baskets, which is never a bad thing. 🙂 If you have a spot that could use a little whimsy and personality in the way that only woven materials can bring, here’s how to hang baskets from the ceiling.

Pictured in this post: Runner | Cubby Baskets | French Market Basket | Umbrella | Wicker Stool | Favorite Garden Tool Set | Hunter Boots

The History of Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets definitely have traditional cottage roots, but there have been a few notable historical moments that have really influenced what we see now with shopkeepers and designers using this look to add instant charm, personality, and character to their spaces.

You may remember Martha Stewart’s basket house from a few years ago, when she shared the process of cleaning out her basket storage shed on her personal blog. The design world couldn’t believe she had an entire building dedicated to baskets, but she wasn’t the first. In 1971, Bunny Mellon had a basket house constructed to hold her impressive basket collection, with baskets stored on the floor, walls, and, of course, hanging from the ceiling.

Prior to these examples, the purpose of baskets was more utilitarian than decorative, and they were hung from the beams of cottage ceilings for practical reasons: they would be out of the way, easily accessible, and protected from damage.

Hanging up baskets is a great way to store your baskets, and they serve as both decoration and functional objects when you grab one down to use for Easter, organization, or even as a planter for the flowers on your patio.

More room ideas for your home: How to Properly Clean Wicker Baskets

The Damage-Free Way to Hang Baskets From the Ceiling

As I was trying to figure out how exactly I would hang baskets from my ceiling, I realized that I didn’t love the idea of damaging my ceiling in any way to make this decorating idea come to life. Not that most basket hanging methods require a lot of damage, but in my opinion, if you can find a solution that’s quick, simple, affordable, and damage-free, that’s the one you should go with.

I measured the distance between the upper cabinet and the window trim in my mudroom and realized that it was just over five feet, making it a perfect candidate for a shower curtain tension rod. I’ve never used a rod like this for an actual shower curtain, and I was amazed at how strong and sturdy it was after I installed it. This is basically the same as the shower curtain rod I used for this project.

If you have a smaller span that you’d like to cover with your hanging basket display, like between two upper cabinets in a kitchen, a smaller tension curtain rod like this one will work perfectly.

I gathered up all the baskets that I wanted to use for this project, then I threaded the rod through the handles of each one.

Next, I simply twisted the rod to expand it until it covered the full span across the brick wall. I then tightened the rod to hold it in place. Let me tell you: This thing is solid. I could definitely add four times as many baskets without any risk of them coming down, so the weight of the baskets is really not an issue.

Cozy traditional decorating ideas to try: 7 Things Every Traditional Room Needs to Feel Complete

Other Easy Ways to Hang Baskets

Pictured above: Runner | Cubby Baskets | French Market Basket | Umbrella | Wicker Stool | Favorite Garden Tool Set | Hunter Boots

If you don’t have a situation that would work well with the tension rod trick, there are several other easy, low-damage options you could use to hang your baskets from your ceiling.

I think my favorite option would be to use a ceiling-mounted curtain rod to create a row of baskets anywhere you want them. You could even add several curtain rods 12-18″ apart to create a full basket-covered ceiling. You could thread the curtain rod through the basket handles as I did, or you could use S-hooks or even a little bow tied with ribbon to attach the baskets and make them easier to take down whenever you need one.

Another popular option is to use individual mug hooks screwed directly into the ceiling. This allows you to place individual baskets wherever you like, but I worry about the weight of larger baskets pulling the hooks right out of the ceiling if your ceiling is made of drywall.

Of course, there’s always Command Hooks. I think these little wire hooks would be the ones that would work best hanging from a ceiling. The hooks themselves would be visible, but I don’t think they would be too terribly noticeable, especially with all the beautiful baskets to distract your eye.

Have you ever hung baskets from your ceiling? Which method did you use?

More decorative thrift store accents: DIY Thrifted Straw Hat Wall

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