About.com Rating

There's a good variety of storage bins on the market including containers made of fabric, plastic, wicker, wood and cardboard. In fact, it can be very difficult to make a decision because each type has its pros and cons, as well as differs in terms of durability.

Sometimes, style must trump sturdy plastic especially if the storage bins will be in plain view and not hidden in the bowels of the basement or garage.

So when choosing storage containers, the first consideration should be whether you merely want function, or a container with a decor-ready design.

That's where this Merangue storage bin comes in. A chick black and white patterned fabric  (or solid black) with stiff inserts to keep it erect, combined with a (when-not-in-service) compact collapsible design, offers storage that is both versatile and functional. The key to any storage bin is a design that meets your particular needs, so capacity and overall (bin) size are very important.

I was looking for a couple of bins to hold accessories such as scarves, mitts and gloves. The bins would be kept on the shelves of a storage rack in my home's main entrance. So they had be functional, but also look nice and hopefully enhance the room's decor.

They also had to fit within a non-standard size shelving space, preferably with the handle or an easy-to-grab edge, up front for ease of access. It wasn't easy finding a bin that would work with the handle in the front because of size limitations.

The Single Merangue Foldable Bins (I bought two) are 11" H x 12" W x 10" D and fit nicely on the shelves.

I purposely wanted open bins for quick grab-and-go convenience. Another feature I was looking for was a smooth interior. Wicker baskets look awesome but unfortunately, unless I were to line the interiors with soft fabric, there would be too many (wicker) ends for mitts and scarves to catch on. That would not work well.

The Merangue bins are well made with nice details. Even the bin interiors look nice. These suit my purpose very well and would also be suitable for other things, such as for storing crafts, needlework projects, wool and so on. They would also be nice in closet cubbies for personal accessories or small clothing items.

I paid $10 for each bin and I'm very satisfied with this purchase. I've seen them higher in some retail outlets, so looking around for the best deal is recommended. I noticed that there are other bin sizes plus a double design also available from this brand.

Organizing the entrance or mud room makes for a quicker get-away, especially in the morning where every minute counts. And reducing frustration in the morning can help to start your day on an up note. So a little outlay to declutter and organize an entrance is well worth the expense.

• Check prices of Merangue bins at Amazon
• What else does Merangue make? Check prices of Merangue stuff at Amazon

Read more about organizing your home:

• 5 Things to clear out of the kitchen (so you can take back the space)
• Check prices of storage bins at Amazon
• Storage type gifts that will wow them
• A handy charging station: devices all in one place
• Best clothing hangers and closet organizers
• Declutter and organize wires and cables
• Go to Storage and Organization