How to Store Blankets, Sheets and Seasonal Bedding the Right Way

Before we dive into storage techniques, it’s important to understand the different types of bedding you may have and how to properly care for them.

Blankets

Blankets are made of various materials, including fleece, wool, cotton and down. Each type of material requires slightly different care. For example, wool blankets need to be stored in a breathable bag to prevent moisture accumulation, while fleece blankets are more forgiving and can be stored in tighter spaces.

Comforters and Duvets

These are often the bulkiest items in your bedding collection, stuffed with down, synthetic fills or wool. When storing comforters and duvets, you want to avoid compressing their filling too much to preserve their fluffiness and insulating properties.

Sheets and Pillowcases

Typically made from cotton, linen, silk or synthetic blends, sheets and pillowcases are easier to store because they’re lightweight and foldable. However, preventing wrinkles and ensuring they’re stored in a clean, dry place is key to keeping them ready for use.

Seasonal Bedding

Seasonal items, like heavy quilts for winter or light coverlets for summer, require rotation in and out of storage. Seasonal bedding is best stored in self storage or another storage area in your home that you don’t need to access year-round.

Specialty Items

This category includes mattress toppers, bed skirts and other less frequently laundered items. They often need special care, like airing out and gentle folding or even dry cleaning, to maintain their shape and functionality.

Before tucking your bedding away, a little preparation can go a long way in preserving its quality and ensuring it remains ready for its next use.

Wash Away Dirt and Debris

Storing your blankets, sheets and bedding starts with clean, dry items. Like anything that comes into contact with our bodies, these fabrics have absorbed oils and cells from our skin that need to be washed thoroughly. Not only will they discolor your bedding if left unclean, but dead skin cells also attract bugs and other pests that can eat holes in your favorite comforter or expensive down duvet while in storage. So, before you start packing things away, run them through the wash and dry them thoroughly, following the care instructions.

Repair Tears

Inspect each bedding item for signs of wear and tear, such as loose threads, holes or frayed edges. Make any repairs before you store your bedding so that it’s ready to use when you take it out of storage. This also prevents small problems from becoming worse.

Know What You Own

Creating an inventory of your bedding items can help you keep track of what you have and stay organized. While it may not be as important if you’re living alone, taking inventory is especially useful for seasonal bedding that may be out-of-sight for most of the year or for households with multiple bedding sets. In a spreadsheet, list items by category (e.g., sheets, pillowcases, comforters) and note their size, color and any special care instructions. If you’re storing your blankets and bedding in a storage unit, label the box clearly.

Finding the right storage solution is key to keeping your bedding safe from pests, moisture, smells, stains and other damage. This means storing it in the right container and choosing the right location.

Storage Containers for Bedding

• Vacuum Bags. Vacuum-sealed bags are excellent for bulky items like comforters, duvets and pillows. They reduce the volume of these items, making them easier to store in tight spaces. However, it’s important not to compress natural fibers (like down) for too long, as this can damage their insulating ability.
• Plastic Bins With Lids. Plastic bins are ideal for protecting your bedding from moisture, pests and dust. Opt for clear bins to easily identify their contents without opening them. Bins are also stackable — saving floor space — and you can slide them under beds or place them on closet shelves. Avoid cardboard boxes, which tend to be a favorite nesting material for mice and other little critters.
• Canvas Storage Bags. Canvas storage bags are a great choice for items that need to breathe. They’re perfect for wool blankets or any bedding that might be susceptible to moisture because the canvas material allows for air circulation, which prevents mustiness and mildew.

Storage Locations for Bedding

• Shelving Units. If space permits, shelving units in a closet or a dedicated linen closet can give you easy access to your blankets, sheets and bedding. Fold items neatly and place items you need to access regularly on lower shelves, as well as seasonal items above. If you’re stacking bedding on top of one another, remember that heavier items should also go beneath lighter ones.

• Self Storage. Storage units are a convenient way to keep seasonal bedding from cluttering up your home storage areas. If you use a storage unit, be sure to avoid stacking heavy items on top of your blankets and bedding that could compress and damage the fabric over time. Ideally, choose a climate-controlled unit to keep temperature and humidity levels consistent.

Once you’ve identified the types of bedding you own and where you’ll be storing them, keep the following tips in mind to maximize space and keep your blankets, sheets and other linens in pristine condition.

Pack by Weight

Pack folded sheets, curtains and heavy blankets at the bottom of your plastic bin or canvas bag. Place down comforters and other fluffy items on tops where they won’t get squished by the heavier stuff.

Protect Against Pests and Moisture

Even if you’re packing everything into plastic pins with locking lids, it makes sense to take a few extra preventative steps to protect against moths and other pests. Pack the bedding with a couple of cedar blocks and/or some silica gel desiccant sachets to help deter them. You can find more info and tips on storing any kind of fabric safely here.

Keep Stored Linens Smelling Fresh

Fabrics that have been stored for a while can end up smelling musty even if they’re protected from moisture. You can keep them smelling fresh with a couple of dryer sheets, bars of soap (it’s a great use for travel soaps picked up from hotels) or linen sachets tucked into each bin.

Organize With Pillowcases

Do you have bedding sets for different rooms or multiple sheet sets for each bed? After you launder a set, fold it and tuck the fitted sheet, top sheet, pillow shams, and other items into one pillowcase. When it’s time to change the beds, you’ll never have to hunt for matching pillowcases or bed skirts again.

Fold Comforters the Right Way

By folding your comforter or duvet properly, you can save space in your storage container and keep it neater. Here are some tips on folding comforters.

If you're folding a fluffy comforter:

• Lay the comforter flat.
• Fold it in thirds widthwise, with both sides coming into the middle.
• Fold it in half lengthwise, then in half again.

For a thin comforter:

• Lay the comforter flat.
• Fold two opposite corners in to meet in the middle.
• Fold the unfolded corners in to meet in the middle.
• Fold the comforter in half and in half again.

These tips are what you need to know if you're storing blankets and linens for a period of time or packing them for a move. But there are also everyday blanket storage solutions for those blankets you’re using often.

There are some blankets you want to keep close at hand — the snuggly one you wrap up in for binge-watching your favorite show on a rainy weekend, for example — and others that are just too pretty to hide out of sight. Here are five ways to store blankets in your living room, bedroom or family room. Not only are they quick and easy, but most of them double as design accents.

Casually Toss Them Over a Chair

Cozy and hygge are back in style — and that includes homey touches like a blanket or throw casually tossed over the back of a sofa or the arm of a chair. If you’re compulsive about neatness, you might like one of our favorite hacks: roll or fold your unused comforter and tuck it into a decorative pillow cover, then toss the pillow on your sofa or chair.

2. Toss Them in a Blanket Basket

Baskets are a decorator’s best friend. They’re attractive and functional, and best of all, they can hide oceans of clutter behind a pretty facade. Big baskets are especially popular right now and come in a variety of materials such as rope, cloth, wire and more to suit any and all aesthetics. Just choose your favorite basket — or DIY one (here’s a tutorial on making one with a Dollar Tree laundry basket and a couple of hanks of rope) — and station it beside your couch, bed or comfy chair. You can toss blankets in as is or roll/fold them loosely to keep things a little neater.

Hang Them on a Blanket Ladder

Got pretty blankets you want to display and a little bit of wall space going to waste? A blanket ladder is a great solution. It’s exactly what it sounds like — a ladder with rungs you can fold your blankets over. Like baskets, blanket ladders are trendy room decor items right now, which means you can buy them just about anywhere that sells home goods. Most are meant to lean against a wall, though there are also over-the-door versions, as well as free-standing “quilt racks” you can place at the foot of your bed. And, of course, if you're decorating on a budget — or just like being able to say, “I made it myself” — a blanket ladder is pretty easy to make if you have even the most basic carpentry skills.

Hide Them in a Storage Ottoman or Bench

Storage ottomans and benches are perfect for bedding and blankets you want to keep close but don’t use all that often. Not only do they provide storage and look great in your room, but they also provide extra seating and somewhere to put your feet up. 

This living room blanket storage option is for those blankets you want out of sight, out of mind — until you need them. That makes them ideal for storing bedding for the pull-out couch or holding a couple of heavier quilts or comforters that you just might have to break out for cooler nights. Just keep in mind that this is an actual storage option, so all the usual rules apply — clean them first and tuck in a few dryer sheets or other sweet-smelling goodies to keep your blankets smelling fresh. 

5. Stuff Them Under the Sofa

Okay, do not really stuff them, but if you have at least five inches of space under your sofa, that space is fair game for storage. Obviously, you don’t want to just put your clean blankets and comforters on the floor, but there are quite a few under-bed storage options from which to choose. HGTV lists several here for under-bed storage options — and most of them will work just as well under a sofa with enough clearance.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing under-sofa storage for blankets and other cloth items:

• Avoid cardboard boxes and “non-woven” zippered storage bags to prevent a pest infestation.
• Opt for hard-sided storage bins, like wheeled under-bed plastic storage boxes with locking lids.
• Vacuum storage bags can help maximize the space under your bed, but you should use them in conjunction with closed storage bins.

Need more ideas for maximizing space? Check out our blog posts on making the most of your small living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom for ideas and inspiration.