Storage for Blankets & Towels

Along with requests for how to store reusable bags and kitchen appliance organization, my fellow members of a local moms group asked around for lots of other seasonal storage ideas. The most recent ones? Storage for blankets and storage for towels (like hand towels and large beach towels).

Storage for Blankets

Blankets are so lovely and warm, so comforting and nostalgic, and oh so big and space-hogging when it’s warm outside! Using blankets on beds and couches as well as laying them out for display in colder months is certainly easier than when it comes time to store them all.

We currently have two beds in our house (and a 3rd in the backyard ADU, but we have no spare bedding for that one). And even we easily get overwhelmed with blankets. The thing is that I’ve also collected blankets over the years – largely handmade by family. I have no desire, therefore, to part ways with any of them.

How Many Blankets do You Need?

As with just about everything we talk about here, let’s make sure you aren’t holding onto more things than you need.

Assuming it’s the coldest time of year (so your blankets are in use), do you still have extra blankets? Those are the ones to look through and see if there’s any that could happily find a new home!! Remember to think about what you use in other parts of the year – we have lightweight blankets for those hot summer nights.

It could be a blanket that’s so beautiful but not big enough or warm enough. Perhaps it’s too hot and you never want to use it. Don’t hold onto anything purely for style or out of guilt. Plenty of people and animals need warmth, so pass it on. Check this list out for where to donate household goods including blankets and towels.

Now that you have the number you need, it’s time to be logical…and then it’s time to get creative.

Storage for Blankets

Every home should have some kind of linen closet, shelf, or drawer. If you’re like us – you may have more than one. I’m a firm believer that (hidden) storage locations don’t have to make sense; you just have to remember where it is!

The most logical thing to do once you’ve filled your main storage space is to keep blankets near the spaces in which they are most used.

We have a blanket for our bed in the closet in our room, blankets for the couch in a basket nearby, and throw blankets for our guest bed rolled into a large tote bag in the closet (see photo).

I do really love these FAIR TRADE BASKETS for stylish storage.

In the past, I’ve used the vacuum-sealed storage bags with varying luck. I found that they rarely kept sealed after a use or two, but if you sucked out the air and tucked it into the tight space right away, it might expand, but it was still stored in that tight spot! I now won’t buy those as they contain a lot of non-recyclable plastic and I just don’t think they’re worth the cost, but you do whatever you need to do.

And then there’s aways creative ways of using under bed storage – yes, the bags, but also other bags and large, short, containers (yes, even the plastic bins). These are great for sliding away anything out of season – or that you don’t use frequently.

Towel Storage Ideas

Not far behind the space that blankets take up is the space of towels. Towels, however, are much easier with which to work!

How Many Towels Do you Need?

6. No, just kidding, you know the answer is something to be determined by you and your household. Because we often replace towels, view them as decoration, and because they’re usefulness is actually incredibly long, most of us have far more towels than we need – and we know it.

While it might be hard to get rid of a towel you know has some life left in it, let that be a reminder not to buy new ones so quickly but also, grab your towels and take them to a local animal shelter! The cute puppies (and the people who care for them) need them!

And when it’s time to replace, try supporting one of these sustainable towel brands! We use (and love) these organic cotton towels. Use code LUCI10 for 10% off!

Towel Storage in Small Bathrooms

For a while, we kept our extra towels in a hall cupboard outside of the bathrooms. And after a while, I grew tired of the leaning tower of towels as well as having to leave the bathroom to get one.

Moving our towels into the bathrooms was a few-part process. It started with the hand towels (and the few washcloths I’ve held onto). I cleared out a bunch of bathroom stuff (old toiletries, etc.), opening up a basket on our bathroom shelf (the medium size of this one).

I roll the hand towels in there, so they’re very easily accessible but out of sight and staying clean. As for bath towels, we have a total of 8 – one for each of us, a spare for each of us, and two for guests. This allows a little wiggle room, but keeps us under control.

Beyond that, we also own two beach towels, which also double (or quadruple?) as picnic blankets, car blankets (e.g. for covering seats), yogurt pot covers, and wiping off things that have been outside. They don’t fit our decor vibe, but they’re necessary for everyday life.

So anyway, our spare towels needed a new home. I recently decided to roll them (for ease of grabbing one out) and put them in this white tub behind the door in one bathroom and in a nice (and old to us) basket in the other bathroom. The tub certainly doesn’t fit my style, but honestly, it’s hidden behind the door and so functional that I don’t really care too much!

Moral of the story. Once you narrow down how many blankets and towels you actually needs, these simple storage for blankets hacks and towel storage ideas should do the trick for keeping these big, bulky, and totally necessary items from cluttering your space.

These sustainable swaps in the bathroom also cut down on clutter, buying new, and the need for storage space! And refill pouches are actually great space savers as well!

Small Home Living Tips

Want some organization tips for small home living? Check out these posts of kitchen appliance organization, how to store reusable bags, seasonal clothing storage, and mail and paperwork organization! If you’re working to downsize your closet, see my step-by-step tips for a minimalist wardrobe (that feels anything but small).

You’ll also want to read how we’re making our home more sustainable; my go to clean home cleaning products; and how to declutter your mailbox!

Keep an eye on this constantly updated list of sustainable product reviews for every aspect of life! Don’t miss these refillable cleaning products! And if you shop online, you’ll want to read these tips for shopping more sustainably on Amazon.

If you have kiddos in your home, you’ll appreciate how to incorporate babies into your home decor. And be sure to dig into these small laundry room ideas!