SONGMICS Storage Basket with Lid, 42.3 Gallon (160L) Storage Bin, Woven Blanket Storage Basket with Handles, Foldable, Removable Liner, Metal Frame, for Bedroom, Laundry Room, Brown URST76BR

Why I brought this basket home

I wanted a single, good-looking catch-all that could live in the family room without screaming “laundry hamper,” but still pull its weight for blankets, off-season clothes, and the weekly tide of odds and ends. After several weeks with the SONGMICS storage basket (the 160L brown version), I’m convinced it hits a sweet spot between furniture-like presence and practical, hard-working storage.

Design, materials, and first impressions

The basket arrives folded flat and assembles into a rectangular chest with clean, woven lines. The brown, wicker-like PP rattan has a warm, furniture-friendly look—rustic enough to feel cozy but neutral enough to blend into modern spaces. Unlike natural wicker, the synthetic weave is waterproof and wipeable, and it doesn’t fray easily under normal use.

A metal frame gives the body its structure. Once opened and squared up, it feels surprisingly solid and holds shape well. The lid is attached and light enough to open with one hand, which I appreciate when I’m juggling an armful of blankets. Closed, it tidies the room instantly and helps corral any laundry odors while keeping dust out.

Inside, there’s a removable polycotton liner that wraps the interior. It’s a thoughtful addition for anything soft or snag-prone, and it lifts out easily for washing.

Capacity: what actually fits

At 160 liters, capacity is the headline, and it’s not just marketing. In my family room setup, I fit:
- Six bulky throws and two couch pillows, with room to spare, or
- A week’s worth of laundry for two adults, or
- An entire heap of kids’ plushies that used to colonize the couch

In the closet, it swallowed a stack of winter sweaters and jeans plus a down throw. For shoes, I managed more than a dozen pairs without compressing the top row. The rectangular footprint makes the space feel usable end-to-end; there’s minimal dead space compared with round hampers.

The manufacturer rates it to 66 lb. I didn’t max it out, but I loaded it heavy with blankets and denim and saw no bowing in the sides and no creaking at the frame.

Setup and foldability

Assembly took me under ten minutes. Unfold, square the frame, drop in the base panel, fit the liner, done. No tools, no drama. The fold-flat design is genuinely useful if you’re rotating storage seasonally or switching rooms; it collapses quickly and tucks behind a shelf or under a bed.

Lid and everyday use

Day to day, the lid is convenient. It’s light enough for one-hand opening and closes flush to conceal clutter instantly. If you’re using it for laundry, the lid helps contain odors while the ventilated rattan prevents that damp, stale smell that soft bins can accumulate. For living spaces, the lid’s biggest advantage is visual calm—no visible chaos, no temptation for stuff to overflow.

That said, the lid isn’t designed to carry weight. It flexes if you press on it, and I wouldn’t treat this as a bench or coffee-table stand‑in. It’s a functional top for hiding contents, not a seat or display platform.

Ventilation and moisture resistance

The woven PP rattan allows airflow around whatever’s inside, and it’s waterproof enough that I’m comfortable parking this near a laundry area. A quick wipe with a damp cloth takes care of lint and dust; I also ran a vacuum brush along the weave once and it cleaned up well. The liner protects knits and delicates from rubbing the weave directly, and it’s machine-washable—I ran it on a gentle cycle and line dried with no shrinkage.

Portability and handling

Cut-out handles on the sides make moving the basket straightforward. They’re comfortable for short hauls between rooms, though if you truly fill it to the brim with heavy items, you’ll feel the weight on your fingers—understandable for this format. The rectangular shape and rigid sides make it easy to slide along floors without collapsing the structure.

Build quality and durability

For a collapsible piece, this feels sturdy. The metal frame does the heavy lifting; the panels don’t bow when full, and the corners stay square. The weave is tight and consistent on my unit. I did notice two tiny nubs where the rattan could snag a loose knit—nothing dramatic, but it’s worth running a hand over the seams initially. If you use it for delicate throws, keep the liner in place and you’ll avoid snags entirely.

The lid hinge and panel alignment stayed true after repeated open/close cycles, but the lid itself has a little flex. It closes cleanly; it’s just not a reinforced top, so treat it accordingly. I also noticed a faint factory smell from the liner out of the box; airing it for a couple of hours (and the first wash) cleared it.

Where it shines

• Living room blanket chest: Swallows throws and pillows and keeps the room neat. The woven finish reads as furniture rather than utility.
• Bedroom/closet organizer: Ideal for off-season clothes; the ventilation helps prevent mustiness, and the lid keeps dust off sweaters and bedding.
• Toy or gear storage: The capacity makes quick work of plush toys and board games. The lid keeps colorful chaos out of sight.
• Laundry: As a hamper, it’s roomy and practical. The removable liner makes transporting laundry to the washer easier, and the airflow helps with damp gym clothes.

Where it falls short

• Not a bench: The lid flexes and isn’t made to support weight.
• Occasional snag points: Minor, but present; use the liner for knits.
• Handle comfort with very heavy loads: Fine for typical blanket/laundry duty, less comfortable if you push the weight limit.
• Light out-of-box odor: Temporary and resolves with airing/wash.

Value and positioning

This basket occupies a nice middle ground between collapsible soft bins and heavy wooden chests. It looks intentional in a living space, carries serious volume, and shrugs off laundry-room humidity. The materials are pragmatic: PP rattan isn’t natural wicker, but it’s significantly easier to maintain and far more forgiving around moisture. For the size, structure, and finish, it represents strong value.

Practical tips

• Use the liner for anything knit or delicate, and keep it tucked neatly under the rim to avoid catching the lid.
• Don’t stack heavy decor on top; treat the lid as a dust cover, not a tabletop.
• If you place it on hardwood, consider felt pads at the corners to avoid scuffs when sliding it.
• A quick monthly vacuum with a brush attachment keeps the weave dust-free.

Final thoughts and recommendation

The SONGMICS basket does exactly what I want a high-capacity storage piece to do: it swallows a lot, looks tidy with the lid closed, and stands up to everyday use without fuss. It isn’t a substitute for furniture you can sit on, and it’s not the right choice if you need a rigid top surface. But as a handsome, high-volume storage solution that’s easy to assemble, easy to clean, and easy to live with, it’s been a reliable upgrade for my home.

I recommend it to anyone who needs versatile, large-capacity storage that can live in plain sight. The combination of a sturdy frame, ventilated waterproof weave, washable liner, and a genuinely useful lid adds up to a practical, good-looking piece that makes staying organized feel a lot less like a chore.