You are all so good to use "real" containers. I use an old round leather suitcase for my major stash (picked up at a yard sale), it looks nice on top on my amoire. I plan to look for others in the spring and make a stack next to my knitting spot for easy access. Then there are a number of WIP projects in old wicker baskets sprinkled around my house. I feel they make good decorations because the yarn colors and textures look so pretty. I also have a few plastic bags with yarn that I need to keep looking at directly under the coffee table, because, who knows why? That is about as good as it gets for me!
:D