How To Store Blankets: Blanket Storage Ideas (2022)
Do you have a pile of throw blankets with no way to store them? Use these blanket storage ideas to protect your blankets and keep your home clutter-free!
I don’t think anyone can ever have enough throw blankets. There’s nothing better than cuddling under a soft chunky knit blanket during family movie night! Plus, homemade blankets make any home feel cozy, and they make great DIY gift ideas.
The downside to throw-type blankets is having them thrown all over the place, making your home look cluttered. They may be great to use on cold winter evenings, but what do you do with them during the day (or during the warm weather months)?
Having some solid blanket storage ideas will make a difference between torn-up blankets and a cluttered house versus maintaining your neat space while still having those cozy blankets nearby when you want to snuggle under one.
Short Term Blanket Storage Ideas
Do you have too many blankets you do not want to give up? These simple storage ideas are designed to simply put blankets away when you aren’t using them during the day to protect them (and keep your home clutter-free!).
If you’re wondering about creative ways to store blankets in your home, I’ve gathered several innovative blanket storage ideas that will keep your home tidy but your blankets close.
I’m featuring some simple short-term storage solutions and some practical long-term storage ideas that you could use during the warm weather months.
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Blanket Ladders
The blanket ladder is optimal for displaying decorative blankets in an organized way. It’s a simple ladder with rungs that leans against the wall, and you hang a blanket on each rung.
This blanket storage method is ideal for beautiful handmade blankets that you love looking at, such as quilts or knitted blankets. I love that it’s a practical yet stylish storage solution that allows you to simultaneously display your beautiful blankets!
You can lean your blanket ladder in your TV room or bedroom for a pretty decorative touch and quick and easy access to where your family will use them the most.
The ladders do not take up a lot of floor space, so there is no need to worry about small rooms.
You can buy ladders in everything from wood to metal. You can even make your pipe blanket ladder from metal pipes from the hardware store.
Over the Door Blanket Ladders
Think of this as the blanket equivalent of the over-the-door shoe holder – except it’s prettier! The over-the-door ladder is essentially a blanket ladder that hangs on a door and is adapted from a towel rack idea for the back of the bathroom door.
This idea is perfect for anyone who lacks the floor space needed for a typical blanket ladder. It would also work well for families with small children who might pull a blanket ladder down on their own.
And, it’s a versatile enough solution to hang it in plain sight or find a more hidden place so the blankets are entirely out of view.
Large Decorative Blanket Basket
This method is my go-to for blanket storage because it hits that happy middle ground between my desire to keep the house tidy and my husband’s desire for a quick and easy way to put the blankets away (usually without folding them!).
I have a large knit blanket basket we put our blankets into each evening when we go to bed. We use fabric baskets, but you could use any blanket basket you like.
Just make sure it’s big enough to hold at least a couple of blankets!
Storage Ottomans
I love furniture that does double duty, like storage ottomans with built-in storage space. That space is perfect for holding blankets!
You can find many options, and I feel confident that if you acquire an ottoman like this, you’ll never regret it.
Wall Blanket Rack
This idea plays on the blanket ladder idea, but it’s a simple decorative blanket rack permanently attached to your wall. It just looks like a piece of art on the wall when it’s empty.
Put your blankets in it; roll them up and slide them in!
Industrial Basket Table
An industrial basket table is perfect for blanket storage! The top will come off, and you can pop your blankets directly inside.
The only disadvantage to a basket table is that you can see the blankets, so you will need to roll or fold them if you want them to look neat.
An industrial basket table makes a great end table, and if placed in your living room, it makes it an accessible access location to grab a blanket whenever you need one.
Metal or Rattan Log Holder
A rattan log holder is a cheap and easy way to store blankets where you need them but in a neat and pretty way. The log holders look best with rolled blankets.
Before you store your blankets in a rattan or wicker log holder, check for any rough sections that may stick and pull at your blanket.
If any bits are sticking out, they could catch and rip your blanket. For this reason, I much prefer metal log holders.
The log holders also work well if you need to transport your blankets from your living room to another location like your fire pit!
Coffee Table
Store blankets inside your coffee table for easy access when you’re in your living room and need a bit of warmth. Storing them inside a coffee table makes a lot of sense because they are easily accessible and, when not required, are kept out of sight.
If your coffee table doesn’t have storage space, you can use a pretty wicker basket to store the blanket on the bottom shelf.
A storage coffee table also makes a great space to toss throw pillows when they are in the way instead of tossing them on the floor!
Look for industrial-style coffee tables high on character but offer a great deal of inside storage space. You can often find an industrial-style coffee table at auctions and antique stores for a discount!
Laundry Room
Store blankets in extra space in your laundry space. If you don’t have a linen closet and the room is premium, check your laundry space for storage space that you can use for your blankets. Often overlooked, the laundry can be an excellent place for storing items.
Storage Bench
You can store many blankets inside of a simple storage bench. Storage benches are great for hiding things you need in a specific room that you do not want to play around with when not in use.
You can put a storage bench out of sight in a living or family room.
Towel Bars
Towel bars make excellent blanket storage if tucked away in a closet. The bar is strong enough to hold even a heavy quilt and keep it off the ground. It’s also a great way to store blankets you do not want to damage.
Hall Closet
The hall closet may have some storage space available where you can tuck away a few blankets. A quick reorganizing of this space may yield just the spot you’re after.
The hall closet can sometimes be full of last season’s clothing and shoes, but if weeded down may present some extra storage.
End Table and Nest Tables
Nesting tables and end tables make perfect storage areas for blankets. End tables in your TV or living room are always at hand and will be where folks want to hunt for a blanket when it gets cool.
Neatly folded blankets do not look messy when stashed on an end table shelf.
Blanket Hanger
You can buy specific blanket hangers that are usually flocked in velvet. These hangers are solid but have the flocking to help protect the blanket from snagging. The hangers also help prevent the blankets from slipping to the ground.
Coat Rack
Coat racks work great for casual storage of light blankets. You can set them up where you need them, and putting them away is as easy as hanging them on a hook.
The coat rack will also be a convenient storage method to spot when you have guests.
Wall Hooks
Wall hooks can be temporary or permanent. You can fasten wall hooks to the wall with an anchor and screw, but be sure the anchor you purchase can handle the weight of your blanket. Better yet, find a stud to secure your hook.
Alternately if you have a few light blankets under 15 pounds, you can use heavy-duty 3M hooks. The benefit to 3M hooks is the ability to remove them without damaging the wall.
Hooks are great; they keep blankets off the floor and organized, and for only a few bucks, they use wall space as storage.
Toy Chest
A wooden antique toy chest makes a beautiful conversation piece when placed in the living room or even a bedroom. The toy chest doesn’t have to be for kids! It provides lots of space and can work in many design-type areas as a storage container.
DIY Wall Rack
Or do what we did and just make a solution! For example, you can easily DIY some extra shelves and fasten them to the wall with anchors, screws, and brackets.
DIY shelves are a great way to add extra space in the closest that is usually under-used or in bedrooms where additional shelves will not look out of place.
Antique Handles
For a few dollars, you can find pretty long antique handles in a thrift store. Use them as-is, or add some chalk paint to have them match your decor. They make a lovely decorative addition that serves as an easy blanket storage idea.
Make sure your handle is wide enough to pull a blanket through!
Vintage Glass Cabinet
Go to any antique dealer or second-hand thrift store, and you can find antique glass cabinets from the victorian era to the 2000s. So long as the glass is in good shape and the drawers and doors work, you can paint to match your decor.
Summer yard sales are also great for finding a vintage glass cabinet.
These cabinets make wonderful blanket storage, especially for antique quilts, it’s a safe storage space where they will not get damaged, but you can still see and appreciate them.
A Quilt Rack
Quilters will rest their blankets over a quilting rack to make it easier to work on as they are sewing. These racks make wonderful storage display ideas for anyone with an antique or special quilt they do not want to use, but want to show off!
Under the Mattress
And if you are really short on space and have nowhere to store extra blankets but you need to keep some on hand, you could store them under your bed mattress.
This storage method works great for extra sheets and quilts. If you store thick blankets like comforters, the mattress will flatten them quite a bit, so avoid trying this method with big blankets.
Long Term Blanket Storage Ideas
Now that you have some ideas for storing blankets, how can you store blankets that you won’t use for a season or two in a way that protects them and keeps them out of the way?
Here are some practical solutions you’ll love.
Blanket Chest or Storage Trunks
No matter what you call them, steamer trunks have been around for ages because they make a simple but very effective storage solution for all kinds of things.
A chest can be your perfect storage solution for your blankets with many attractive options (that can double as a coffee table or bench); a chest can be your perfect storage solution for your blankets or pillows!
Bonus points if it’s cedar-lined for extra protection for your knit blankets.
Do you have a bulging blanket collection that requires lots of storage space?
Trunks also tend to have a larger storage capacity over closet shelves for thick blankets and comforters; if storage capacity is an issue, you may want to consider purchasing many storage trunks!
Plastic Bins or Bags for Under The Bed
I often think of that space under the bed as useless space. Why not put it to use by storing your out-of-season blankets?
You can use hard plastic bins or see-through plastic blanket bags zip-locked.
Both options allow you to store blankets long-term, so they stay protected from critters.
Linen Closet
We used to live in a house that had a good-sized linen closet. I used to put our blankets in blanket bags to protect them and then put those on the closet shelves. So they were saved but also out of sight and out of mind.
An antique cabinet makes a beautiful storage closet for anyone with a collection of hand-knit quilts and soft blankets you want to keep that way.
Large Plastic Blanket Bags
Don’t have room under your bed or in a closet? A blanket bag is still super helpful and can hold several blankets at once, giving you a clear window to see what’s in it without opening it up.
I now use blanket bags without a large closet and put them on a shelf in my small general storage area. This way, they’re protected and out of sight.
Clear Plastic Storage Containers
You can also use large clear plastic storage bins you can find in Target or Home Depot. They may not be incredibly stylish, but these bins have several advantages:
- They’re easy to find and affordable.
- Each one can hold several blankets.
- Storage bins keep the critters out to protect your blankets.
- You can stack the storage bins in a closet, an attic, or a storage area.
- You can see what’s inside without needing to open them.
- You can store several thin blankets in a medium-sized storage bin.
File Boxes
File boxes are incredibly cheap, stack, and have handles for easy moving, and they are easy to label. So if you’re looking for a long-term or even short-term blanket storage idea, this one fits the bill and is for only a few bucks.
Storage file boxes will easily hold one oversized comforter or several smaller thin blankets.
Wooden Crates
If you have a farmhouse-style home or don’t mind rustic touches, an antique wooden crate will make a great location for blanket storage.
Check the crate over to look for any splintered wood that may catch or tear your blankets before using.
Final thoughts on Blanket Storage Ideas
If you have many small blankets as I do, I hope you find these blanket storage solutions helpful and inspiring! You can keep your home clutter-free and enjoy your cozy blankets, too!
There is never too much space, but there are always creative ways to manage a small space to make it feel bigger!
- Related: See our post on 21 ways to stay warm without breaking the bank!
Looking For More Storage Ideas?
We have several home storage posts you may want to check out if you enjoyed this article about blanket storage ideas :
- Small Bathroom Storage Ideas
- Kitchen Storage Ideas
- How to Store Christmas Trees
- How to Store Christmas Ornaments
Interested in Learning How To Knit Blankets?
We have two very easy tutorials with two different methods to make a large chunky blanket from wool. Check out these posts if you ever wanted to knit a blanket but didn’t know where to start.
Editorial Note: This post was originally published on July 21st, 2021, and was updated on April 17th, 2022
