First week with a navy blue laundry hamper. 42 inches tall. That's what I bought. And the first thing I did was move it three times in six days.
The one decision that matters most is not the color. It's not the material. It's the placement. Get that wrong and you'll hate it. Get it right and it's the best thing in your bedroom.
I started with it in the corner next to the closet. Wrong. The door wouldn't open all the way. Then I put it by the bathroom. Wrong. It got wet. Finally I put it right next to my dresser. That worked. But only after I measured the gap.
Here's what I figured out. You need about 12 inches of clearance on the side you'll use. If it's a pop-up, you need more. Mine is a rigid frame. 42 inches tall, 16 inches wide. It fits in a 18-inch gap. Now it's fine.
The first week setup is simple. Unbox it. Let it expand if it's a pop-up. Put the bags in. Done. But the one thing I didn't think about was the lid. I bought one with a lid that swings. It takes up more space. If your room is tight, get one with a flip-top or no lid. I wish I had.
Another thing. The navy blue. It shows dust. I mean, it looks sharp. But after three days I saw a film of dust on the top. Not a big deal. Just wipe it.
I also learned that a laundry hamper is not a decoration. It's a workhorse. So don't buy one that's too small. I thought 42 inches was huge. It's not. My family of three fills it in two days. If you're alone, it might last a week.
The bags. The ones that come with it are thin. I ordered extra because I knew they'd rip. Now I have spares. The one mistake I made: I didn't buy the same brand. The spare is a bit bigger. Doesn't fit perfectly. But it's fine.
If you're thinking about a navy blue laundry hamper, measure your space first. Then think about the lid and the bags. That's it. The rest is easy.
Who should skip this? If you have a tiny apartment and no spare floor space, get a wall hanging hamper instead. I saw that Wall Hanging Laundry Hamper: If It Flops, It's the Hooks and it's a better idea. Or if you're the type who never does laundry, just use a pile. Honestly, a hamper is only as good as your habit. So think about that first. And if you're buying a navy blue one to match your couch, that's the wrong reason. But I get it. It looks good.
For more tested advice, check out Best Laundry Hamper: I Tested 6 for a Month, Here's the One I'd Buy or First Week With a New Laundry Hamper: What I Wish I'd Known.