I use them... to make my house look pretty.
Not sure I've ever actually used either one for storage in the nearly 8 years I've played this game. Basically, we're talking alternate forms of the birch basket and wooden crate. I don't think enlarging them will actually encourage me to use them, either, as by the time I have my quality up for clay, I've got enough metal to make chests.
Opinions expressed in this statement are the authors alone and in no way reflect on the game development values of the actual developers.