12 Blanket Storage Ideas for Small Apartments

A small apartment collects blankets the way a kitchen collects mugs, one at a time, until the sofa disappears under them. A throw on the sofa is cozy, but four throws on the sofa is a mess, and a pile of blankets on a chair is a laundry pile that never gets done. Every blanket needs a home, and in a small apartment that home has to be easy to reach, since a blanket stored too far away never gets put back.

These 12 blanket storage ideas for small apartments give every throw a spot that is close to where you use it. Baskets by the sofa, a ladder on an empty wall, and an ottoman that hides three throws cover the living room, and the bedroom ideas do the same work there. For the bigger storage picture, see the apartment storage ideas, and for the forgotten spots in a small home, the small space storage ideas show where storage hides.

1. The Big Wicker Basket by the Sofa

A big wicker basket by the sofa is the simplest blanket storage there is, and it is the one that actually gets used. Look for a basket 18 to 22 inches wide and 16 to 20 inches tall, which holds three or four folded throws and costs 20 to 40 dollars. Put it within arm’s reach of the sofa, so putting a blanket away is easier than dropping it on the floor.

The basket works because it is a one-step system. A folded throw goes in the basket, and the basket sits by the sofa, so there is no trip to another room and no lid to open. Wicker breathes, so blankets stored in a wicker basket never smell musty, and a basket with handles moves to the bedroom when guests stay over. Roll the throws instead of folding them, since a rolled throw takes up half the space of a folded one and looks better in an open basket.

How to make it work

Keep the basket to three or four throws, since a stuffed basket is just a pile with walls. Put the most used throw on top, so nobody digs through the basket to find it. Empty the basket once a month and shake out the throws, since a basket that never empties collects dust and crumbs.

2. The Blanket Ladder on an Empty Wall

A blanket ladder turns an empty wall into blanket storage, and it is the prettiest storage in this post. Look for a wooden ladder 5 to 6 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, which holds four or five throws draped over the rungs and costs 40 to 80 dollars bought, or 25 to 40 dollars as a DIY build from two 1-by-4 boards and four dowels. Lean it against the wall at a slight angle, and the throws become wall art.

The ladder works because it stores blankets in plain sight without looking like storage. A throw draped over a rung is a display, and the ladder fills a blank wall that would otherwise need a picture. The ladder is also renter friendly, since it leans instead of hanging, and the no-drill storage ideas cover the same lean-it-don’t-drill-it logic for the rest of the apartment. Put the heaviest blanket on the lowest rung, so the ladder stays bottom heavy and does not slide.

How to make it work

Keep the ladder at a 10-degree lean, so it rests firmly against the wall without slipping. Put a felt pad under each foot, so the ladder does not scratch the floor. If you build one, sand the dowels smooth, since a rough dowel snags knit throws.

3. The Ottoman That Hides Three Throws

A storage ottoman hides three throws inside and gives you a footrest on top, which is two pieces of furniture for the price of one. Look for an ottoman 30 to 36 inches wide and 15 to 18 inches tall, which holds three folded throws and costs 50 to 120 dollars. Put it in front of the sofa, where a coffee table would go, and the blankets are always within reach.

The ottoman works because it is invisible storage. A basket shows the blankets, but an ottoman hides them, and in a small living room the difference matters. A fabric ottoman in a neutral color doubles as extra seating when guests come, and a lift-off lid is better than a hinged one, since a hinged lid slams and a lift-off lid lifts away. Keep the ottoman to three throws, since a stuffed ottoman will not close.

How to make it work

Measure the ottoman against the sofa height, since an ottoman taller than the seat is awkward as a footrest. Put the least used throw at the bottom, so the daily throw is always on top. Vacuum the inside of the ottoman once a month, since a closed ottoman collects dust.

4. Under the Bed, Rolled Not Folded

Under the bed is the biggest empty storage space in a small apartment, and rolled blankets fit it better than folded ones. Roll each blanket into a tight cylinder, and slide three or four rolls into a flat under-bed bin 32 by 18 inches, which costs 15 to 25 dollars. A rolled blanket takes up half the space of a folded one, and it unrolls without creases.

The under-bed spot works because it is storage you never see. A bin under the bed holds the off-season blankets, the guest blankets, and the extra throws, and the bedroom looks the same as before. A bin with a clear front or a label saves you from pulling out three bins to find one blanket, and a bin on wheels is worth 5 dollars more, since it slides out without lifting the bed skirt. The under-bed idea is the classic forgotten-area storage from the small space storage ideas, applied to blankets.

How to make it work

Vacuum the under-bed area before you slide bins in, since dust collects there fast. Keep the guest blanket in the front bin, so you can grab it without moving the others. Air out the stored blankets once a season, since a blanket stored for six months smells like the bin.

5. The Shelf Basket in the Bedroom

A basket on a closet shelf is the bedroom version of the living room basket, and it keeps blankets off the bed. Look for a fabric or woven basket 12 to 16 inches wide, which fits a standard closet shelf and holds two folded throws. Two baskets on one shelf cost 20 to 30 dollars, and a label on each one keeps the system honest.

The shelf basket works because it is a labeled home, not a pile. A pile of blankets on a closet shelf collapses the first time you pull one out, but a basket holds its shape, and a label tells you which basket is which. Put the winter blankets on the top shelf and the light throws on the eye-level shelf, so the daily throw is always in reach. A basket with a lid is better for the top shelf, since it keeps dust off the blankets.

How to make it work

Measure the shelf height before you buy baskets, since a basket 1 inch too tall does not fit. Label each basket with a simple tag, like winter and light, so nobody has to guess. Keep one basket empty, so there is always a spot for the blanket that is in use.

6. The Back of the Door Hooks

Over-door hooks hold a blanket where nothing else fits, and they cost less than lunch. Look for an over-door rack with four to six hooks for 10 to 15 dollars, which hangs on any standard door without screws. Hang one throw per hook, and the back of the bedroom door becomes blanket storage.

The door hooks work because the back of a door is dead space in every apartment. A hook rack uses it without a single hole in the wall, and a throw on a hook airs out instead of sitting in a pile. Put the rack on the bedroom door for the night throw and on the bathroom door for the extra towel blanket, and the system covers two rooms for 15 dollars. A hook rack with a flat top hook is better than a curved one, since a flat hook does not slip off the door.

How to make it work

Check that the door still closes with the rack on it, since some racks are too thick for tight doors. Keep one hook empty, so there is always a spot for the blanket in use. Do not hang more than one throw per hook, since two throws on one hook slide off.

7. The Coffee Table With a Shelf

A coffee table with a lower shelf stores blankets where you use them, and it is the living room version of the under-bed bin. Look for a coffee table with a shelf 6 to 8 inches off the floor, which holds two or three folded throws and costs 60 to 150 dollars. The shelf is the blanket spot, and the table top stays clear for mugs and books.

The shelf works because it is storage at arm’s reach. A throw on the coffee table shelf is one motion away from the sofa, so it gets used and put back, which is the whole point. A shelf with a basket on it hides the throws completely, and a shelf without a basket shows them off, so pick based on how tidy you want the room to look. Keep the shelf to one row of throws, since a stacked shelf looks cluttered from the sofa.

How to make it work

Measure the shelf height before you buy, since a shelf 6 inches off the floor fits a folded throw but not a thick comforter. Keep the daily throw on the shelf and the guest throws in the ottoman, so the shelf never overflows. Put a small tray on the table top for mugs, so drinks never land on the blankets below.

8. The Bench With a Lift-Up Seat

A bench with a lift-up seat is a seat, a shoe rack, and a blanket box in one piece, and it belongs in the entry or at the foot of the bed. Look for a bench 36 to 42 inches long with a lift-up seat, which holds two or three folded throws and costs 60 to 150 dollars. Put it by the door for the throws you grab on the way to the sofa, or at the foot of the bed for the night blanket.

The bench works because it hides blankets in a piece of furniture that earns its floor space three ways. A bench is a seat for putting on shoes, a box for blankets, and a surface for a bag, and in a small apartment that is a good trade. The bench sizing matches the small entryway bench ideas, and a basket under an entryway table does the same job in a smaller footprint, as the vintage entryway table ideas show.

How to make it work

Add a soft-close hinge for 5 dollars, so the lid does not slam on fingers. Keep the bench to two or three throws, since a stuffed bench will not close. Put a folded throw on top of the bench, so the bench looks inviting even when the box is full.

9. The Vacuum Bag for Off-Season Blankets

A vacuum bag shrinks a blanket to a third of its size, and it is the best storage for the blankets you do not use for months. Look for a pack of four vacuum bags for 10 to 15 dollars, which holds four folded blankets and compresses them with a regular vacuum cleaner. A compressed blanket fits on a closet shelf that a fluffy one never would.

The vacuum bag works because it removes the air, and air is most of a blanket’s volume. A winter comforter that fills a shelf uncompressed takes up one third of a shelf in a vacuum bag, which frees the shelf for the light throws you actually use. A vacuum bag also protects the blanket from dust and moths, since it is sealed. Label each bag, since a compressed blanket is impossible to identify by touch.

How to make it work

Fold the blanket flat before you put it in the bag, since a lumpy fold compresses unevenly. Seal the bag twice, once at the zip and once at the valve, since a slow leak re-inflates the bag in a week. Store the bags flat on a shelf, not standing up, since a flat bag stacks and a standing bag topples.

10. The Throw Draped Over the Chair

A throw draped over a chair is storage and decoration at the same time, and it is the only blanket storage that needs no furniture at all. Drape one throw over the back of an armchair or the arm of the sofa, folded in thirds so it hangs evenly, and the throw is stored, displayed, and within reach all at once.

The draped throw works because it is a one-throw system. One throw on a chair looks intentional, while three throws on a chair looks like a laundry pile, so the rule is one throw per chair and the rest go in a basket. A throw draped over a chair also softens the chair and adds color to the room, which is why designers do it in every photo. Fold the throw in thirds lengthwise, so it hangs in a neat rectangle instead of a lumpy heap.

How to make it work

Keep the throw to one per chair, and put the rest in the basket. Choose the throw that matches the room, since a draped throw is on display. Shake out the throw once a week, since a throw that never moves collects dust on the fold.

11. The Rolling Cart for Blankets

A rolling cart is blanket storage that moves, and it is the best choice for an apartment where the sofa moves too. Look for a three-tier rolling cart 16 to 18 inches wide, which holds four to six folded throws and costs 25 to 40 dollars. Roll it beside the sofa for movie night, and roll it into a corner when guests come.

The cart works because it is storage on wheels. A basket stays where you put it, but a cart goes where the blankets are needed, which matters in a small apartment where the living room is also the guest room. A cart with a top tray holds a mug and a book, so it doubles as a side table, and a cart with a handle is worth 5 dollars more, since it is easier to pull out from a corner. Keep the heaviest blankets on the bottom tier, so the cart stays stable when it rolls.

How to make it work

Lock the wheels when the cart is parked, so it does not roll away when someone grabs a throw. Keep the top tier for the daily throw, so it is always in reach. Do not overload the cart, since a cart that is too heavy to roll is just a shelf.

12. One Blanket Per Person, One Basket Per Room

The last blanket storage idea is not furniture, it is a rule: one blanket per person, one basket per room. Count the people in the apartment, and keep one throw per person plus one guest throw, and no more. Put one basket in the living room and one in the bedroom, and every blanket lives in one of the two baskets.

The rule works because blanket clutter is a numbers problem, not a storage problem. A household of two people does not need eight throws, and no basket system fixes a collection that is twice as big as the storage. One blanket per person is enough for the sofa and the bed, and one guest throw covers visitors, so the total is three or four throws for two people. Give away the extras, and the baskets stay tidy without any effort.

How to make it work

Count the throws tonight, and put the extras in a bag for donation before you buy any storage. Label the baskets by room, so a bedroom throw does not migrate to the living room basket. Check the count once a season, since throws multiply quietly, one gift at a time.