Asked on Sep 30, 2015

Ideas for blanket storage

Jodi
by Jodi
Help! I have many fleece blankets, down comforters, alternative down comforters, and a bunch of quilts that need to be hidden somewhere besides my closet and bedroom! I once tried those space bags but my two cats let the air out of them. My husband said to put them in contractor bags and then large cardboard boxes and out them in our storage unit till they are needed. I know the obvious is donate or sell most of them but I'm not going to do that. Each one will get used over the course of a year. Some are winter weight, etc. I don't have room to hang them on those heavy suit hangers. So aside from recreating The Princess and the Pea....
  16 answers
  • Susan Susan on Sep 30, 2015
    Jodi, I have the same problem! I don't know if you have ever tried this or not but I store fleece blankets and sometimes even the down alternative quilts in between the mattresses and box springs! Every little bit helps! Space saver bags for down quilts are put standing up on a top shelf in a linen closet or bedroom closet. I have been known to double up on my handmade quilts, with one just folded all the way down at the foot of the bed atop another one. Would love to figure out the quilt wall hanging decor but i'm not too creative!
    • See 2 previous
    • Mar2192240 Mar2192240 on Oct 01, 2015
      @Susan I to storage blankets and quilts between the mattresses my grandmother. teach us to do that wen we were little and it saves much spaces.
  • Tina Hill Tina Hill on Sep 30, 2015
    I have used contractors bags , sucked the air out w a vacuum hose and quickly twisted and tied it shut and then into cardboard boxes and off to storage more times than i care to count .... has always worked well for me ... i throw a dryer sheet in the bag first and when i open it up and the air rushes in the stored items smell fresh !
    • Jodi Jodi on Oct 01, 2015
      @Tina Hill I'll try your dryer sheet suggestion if I resort to storage. It's only a few blocks from my house but it tends to get snowed in.
  • Valerie Valerie on Oct 01, 2015
    I have the same problem! If you have space under your bed, I would vacuum pack them and put them there. I have made my own vacuum packs as mentioned in the other comments. I find that folding them into thirds (long ways) then rolling them up, rather than folding, seems to help. My solution has been to turn an unused shower into a quilt cupboard. I have put oilcloth (using double-sided tape) on the inside of the glass of the shower, so that the quilts are hidden from you! I understand your reluctance to donate them, that is also not an option as far as I am concerned!
    • Jodi Jodi on Oct 01, 2015
      @Valerie I wish I had an unused shower! You are lucky.
  • Jonnie Hammon Jonnie Hammon on Oct 01, 2015
    Space bags, then put them in the wheeled under the bed storage containers, it will keep your cats from poking holes, in the bags. Blanket chest, and foot lockers will do the same, and can be set at the foot of the beds, or along the walls, and double easy benches, or to display items. An armoire will also work.
  • Madame G. Madame G. on Oct 01, 2015
    We had window seats [with the seats on hinges] built into our bedroom and the front spare bedroom. I store all our unused quilts and duvets in those.
  • Allinthefamilysingers Allinthefamilysingers on Oct 01, 2015
    pick a pretty fabric u like sew up a pillow and stuff it with spare quilts or blankets u will be using in emergency. Also sew up a bag and stuff it and tie it with pretty cord or ribbon set it on display.Pretty and easy to get to.Use a CHRISTMAS fabric and make a SANTAS bag. Then at night time u got an extra blanket for those cool holiday nights. In the a.m stuff it back.
  • Darla Darla on Oct 01, 2015
    This will sound strange, but you can put them on top of your bed under the sheet or pad to get them out of the way and make your bed a little cushier.
  • LD LD on Oct 01, 2015
    Being a quilter, I will tell you that comforters, quilts and such need to be stored so they can breath. Not sure what size your rooms are where these items are going to be used, but the best storage is in a cedar chest for it allows them to breath and protects them from bugs. Instead of having different weight covers, I would say pick a light to mid weight comforter for year round use, and in the colder months add a blanket to your bedding. Now this is a tip for everyone, instead of worrying about having to change your comforters when updating your room, just purchase a duvet cover. As far as the quilts that you have, that you don't want to let go of, deconstruct the quilt and save the top and make it into a duvet cover. Duvet covers take up less space instead of storing bulky bed covers.
  • Jodi Jodi on Oct 01, 2015
    Thank you to everyone who answered. I will try all your ideas since I have enough blankets to do them :)
  • Kay Takash Kay Takash on Oct 01, 2015
    Can you not put them in an under your bed type storage box. I think that would be practical too. Good luck.
  • Margaret Margaret on Oct 01, 2015
    Instead of wasting space in closets for linen, use your bed space between the mattress and box springs! Sheets and pillow cases for that bed can be folded flat and stored in between---when you strip the bedding for washing, the next set for that particular bed is already ready to go !! I do the same with my spare blankets in the summer time---it's a great space saver! Now my linen closet has our extra clothes and my sewing machine in it !!! Good luck !!
  • Tracy Long Alday Tracy Long Alday on Oct 01, 2015
    I bought two sets of bed risers at WalMart and stacked them two high and set my bed on those, bought the plastic storage bins and space saver bags, sucked the air outta the bags threw them in the bins and slid them under the bed for the extra height of the bed I also bought another bed skirt to hide the risers and put it directly on the bedframe then the boxspring and the other bed skirt and remade the bed.........voila....stored over 30 blankets and comforters!!
  • Thepainter Thepainter on Oct 01, 2015
    Quilts are often displayed on open shelves or glass-fronted cabinets (neatly folded). If your blankets are pretty enough you could do the same.
  • Sheryl J. Wykes Sheryl J. Wykes on Oct 01, 2015
    Have you tried the plastic storage bags that you put your items in and then decompress with a vacuum hose? Talk about saving space, it really works!
  • Pis2225486 Pis2225486 on Oct 02, 2015
    Okay... instead of storing them... I LOVE the bench storage idea - those are so handy in entryways too. The awesome thing about these is that you can MAKE them super cheap with heat treated pallets (some are exceptionally beautiful and people say it's hard word to break the pallets down but it really isn't that bad once you get your flow down and learn to recognize which pallet to saw up and which to pull apart). Anyway, if you have a ton of them, you CAN then put them in the vacuum bags inside the storage bench OR just fold them up. Really if you have more than will fit in the bench, consider what you NEED versus what you are not allowing yourself to be free from. It CAN be liberating to let go. So if you have 10, keep you favorite 7. lol or build another storage bench. (You can make them super cute by putting a cushion on top and match it to your room... Man I love DIY!
    • Jodi Jodi on Oct 02, 2015
      @Pisceslizardlady754 You know I have 2 antique doors in the garage that are going to be a standing hall bench. I hadn't thought about making the seat into a storage spot! I can refigure the plans to hinge the seat top. Thanks!
  • Pis2225486 Pis2225486 on Oct 02, 2015
    No Problem! I'd love to see the finished product if you think of it!