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Blanket Storage Baskets: How to Choose and Style One

Blanket Storage Baskets: How to Choose and Style One

Cristiano 0 comments

The best blanket storage basket is one that holds your throws without overflowing, fits the spot where you actually sit, and looks like part of the room rather than a laundry bin. Measure the space first, decide whether you fold or roll your blankets, then pick a shape and material to match. This guide takes you through each decision, with examples for small rooms, family homes and cosy corners.

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TL;DR

  • Choose the shape by how you store: wide, shallow baskets suit folded throws, tall ones suit loosely rolled blankets.
  • Measure width, depth and height before buying, so the basket never narrows a walkway or blocks a cupboard door.
  • Roll blankets and stand them upright, or fold loosely and let one corner hang over the rim.
  • Smooth interiors and a sturdy handle matter more than the exact material.
  • Keep to what the basket holds comfortably: an overflowing basket looks messy and defeats the point.

Table of Contents

What a blanket basket actually does in a living room

A blanket basket has one job: keep throws within reach of the sofa without leaving them in a heap on the cushions. Ideal Home’s styling guide describes baskets as a way to keep extra blankets to hand beside the seating, and the same piece points out a second benefit: a blanket draped over a basket can disguise children’s or pets’ toys stored underneath.

That second use matters in family homes. A basket with a throw across the top hides a surprising amount of plastic. If toys are your bigger problem, our guide to toy storage for the living room goes into it properly.

A basket also adds warmth to a room in a way a cupboard cannot. Ideal Home’s cosy-home guide suggests placing a rolled-up blanket in a basket, and says blankets bring warmth and cosiness instantly. A visible stack of soft textiles tells guests the room is made to be sat in.

Baskets are not limited to blankets either. Ideal Home’s storage basket round-up lists blankets, books, cushions and towels among the things they suit, and discusses open designs as an airy, modern option. A living-room basket often ends up holding a throw, a spare cushion and the current book, which is no bad thing as long as it does not overflow.

Before you buy: work out what you are storing

Most people choose a basket by looks and then discover the blankets do not fit. Reverse the order.

  1. Count your throws. How many do you want within reach on a typical evening? Two or three is usual in a family living room. Winter-only extras can live elsewhere.
  2. Decide how you store them. If you are the sort who folds neatly, you need width. If you would rather just roll and drop, you need height.
  3. Check the thickness. Chunky knits and bamboo-fibre throws take up far more room than a thin cotton one, so test with your thickest.
  4. Think about who uses it. Children dragging a basket across the room need handles. A basket that stays put beside an armchair does not.

If you are short of space, this is also the moment to be honest about how many blankets you own. Ideal Home’s September decluttering advice, quoting Rebecca Crayford, says to keep the blankets you use, donate good-quality ones you do not, and discard worn-out pieces. A smaller, better-used collection fits a smaller, better-looking basket.

Size and shape: the decision that matters most

There is no single correct size. Throws vary, and so do baskets, so the practical approach is to match the basket to your own blankets and your own room.

Basket shape Best for Watch out for
Wide and shallow Folded throws laid flat, or a couple of folded blankets stacked Takes up floor space, so check the walkway
Tall and narrow Loosely rolled blankets standing upright Can topple if nearly empty; a weighted base or a snug fit helps
Round with a wide mouth Soft, chunky throws that you drop in rather than fold Folded blankets can look untidy unless you roll them
Basket with handles Anything you move between rooms Handle comfort when full

The logic is simple. A folded throw is a flat rectangle, so it wants a wide, shallow container. A rolled blanket is a cylinder, so it wants to stand. Choose the shape that matches your habit rather than fighting it.

Measure the spot first

Grab a tape measure and note the width, depth and height of the space where the basket will go. Then check two things: that the basket will not narrow a walkway, and that it will not stop a cupboard, cabinet or door from opening. A basket that looks perfect online and then blocks the TV unit doors goes back in its box.

For the capacity, leave some air. A basket packed so tightly that you have to wrestle a blanket out defeats the purpose, and professional organiser Samantha Pregenzer, quoted by Martha Stewart, warns that an overflowing basket looks messy.

Handles

Handles earn their place if the basket will be moved often: from sofa to bedroom, or out of the way when you vacuum. For a basket that lives beside the sofa for years, they are a nicety, not a necessity. Either way, choose handles that are firmly attached, because a full basket of blankets is heavier than it looks.

Where to put a blanket basket in the living room

The best position is wherever you reach for a blanket. In most homes that means one of four spots.

  • Beside the sofa. The obvious place. It keeps a throw at arm’s length and works as a makeshift side table for a mug if the top is flat or lidded.
  • Next to a reading chair. A small basket by an armchair means the chair always has its own blanket, and it stops the sofa throws wandering.
  • Under a console or behind the sofa. Samantha Pregenzer, quoted by Martha Stewart, recommends a tall, slim basket behind a sofa or sectional. That puts storage in space you were not using.
  • An empty corner. Corners are often dead space. A large basket there gives the room visual weight and a home for the spares.

In a small living room

Floor space is the constraint. Ideal Home’s small living room ideas point out that willow baskets are attractive and sturdy enough to hold varied clutter, and stress the importance of keeping floor space clear. In practice that means one properly sized basket rather than three small ones scattered around, and choosing a tall, narrow shape that uses height instead of floor.

If you are trying to rein in the whole room, our budget living room storage ideas and the guide to decorative storage cover the wider picture. Our Living Room collection gathers the pieces for this room in one place.

Materials: what to look for

Natural materials are the usual choice for blanket baskets, and for good reason. Ideal Home’s contributors describe texture and natural materials as effective ways of making a living room feel warmer and more inviting, as in the cosy-home guide. Willow, wicker, seagrass, bamboo, jute rope, cotton rope and fabric all appear in baskets sold for this purpose. Here is how to judge them.

Smooth inside matters most. Blankets catch. A basket with rough edges or fibres sticking out from the weave can snag knitted and delicate throws, so run your hand around the inside rim before you commit. If the weave is coarse, a fabric liner or an old pillowcase tucked inside is a cheap fix.

Checking a basket rim for snagging fibres

Rigid versus soft. Rigid woven baskets hold their shape when half empty and look tidy with a single rolled blanket. Soft fabric or rope baskets are kinder to delicate throws and slump when under-filled, which can look relaxed in a casual room and scruffy in a formal one.

Open weave versus solid. Open weave looks lighter and lets air move around the blankets, which suits a room with a modern, airy feel. Solid sides hide whatever sits underneath, which is useful if you are using the basket to conceal toys.

Lid or no lid. An open top makes grabbing a blanket effortless. A lid keeps dust, pet hair and the odd sticky hand off the contents, but adds one more step. If the basket is also a side table, a lid helps.

Four blanket basket features to compare

Basic care

Look at the label or product page for care guidance for the specific basket, since weaves and finishes differ. As general good practice, keep natural-fibre baskets away from damp, avoid soaking them, and brush or vacuum out dust and fluff from time to time. Do not put away blankets that are not completely dry, because trapped moisture is the quickest route to a musty basket.

Arranging blankets so they stay tidy

A good basket can still look chaotic if the blankets are stuffed in. The stylist-approved methods are simple. Ideal Home’s guide to styling blankets suggests either rolling the blankets and standing them vertically in the basket, or folding them loosely and hanging one corner over the edge for a draped effect.

Two habits keep it working:

  • Roll, do not wrestle. A rolled blanket slides out in one movement and goes back the same way. It also lets you see each blanket’s colour or pattern at the top.
  • Mix, but do not crowd. Pair a textured throw with a smooth one, and keep to the basket’s capacity. Two or three blankets in a basket that could hold five looks generous. Six crammed into one that holds four looks stressed.

Professional organiser Rachel Rosenthal, quoted by Martha Stewart, calls baskets simple, functional and pleasing to look at, and says they can sit by a couch or armchair without blankets needing precise folding. If neat folding is not your style, a basket is the right answer.

Throw blanket basket ideas for different styles

The basket is also a piece of decor, so it should echo something else in the room.

Natural and Scandinavian

Pale willow or seagrass beside a light sofa, with a cream or oatmeal throw rolled inside. Keep the palette quiet and let the texture carry the look. Our Natural Bamboo Rug sits well beneath this sort of corner.

Warm and traditional

A dark or honey-toned woven basket with a chunky knit throw draped over the rim. Add a framed print above and the corner reads as deliberate, not accidental.

Modern and minimal

One round, wide-mouthed basket in a neutral shade, tucked beside a sofa, with only one blanket visible. Our Round Storage Basket suits this approach, and the multiple variants let you match it to your colour scheme.

Layered and grouped

If the basket sits on or near a shelf or sideboard, remember what Ideal Home quotes Sam Sutherland saying in its 3-5-7 styling rule: varied height and texture create visual flow when you group objects. A tall basket next to a low one, with a vase or ornament nearby, achieves that quickly. You can explore the idea in our Ornaments collection.

Family living room

Choose sturdy sides and a wide opening that children can use. If the room doubles as a playroom, a basket with a throw on top gives you instant toy concealment, and a few more ideas for storing toys neatly at home show how to keep the rest of the clutter out of sight too. For children’s own things, our Kids Storage Baskets are made for the job, so the blanket basket stays for blankets.

Our perspective

We see the same mistake over and over: people buy a basket for how it looks in a photograph and forget how it works on a Tuesday evening. A blanket basket succeeds when the blanket is easier to put back in the basket than to leave on the sofa. That is the whole test.

So we would always begin with your habits. If you roll, buy tall. If you fold, buy wide. If you have children or pets, give the basket a sturdy shape and treat the throw on top as part of the system, not an afterthought. And if you are torn between a basket that is slightly too small and one slightly too large, go slightly large: a basket with room to spare looks calm, while a full one looks cluttered.

We also think a basket should earn its place beside other pieces. A good rug, a throw you actually enjoy and one or two ornaments will do more for the room than a large number of accessories. Pick fewer things, and pick them to work together.

— Cristiano

Find your blanket basket at Homable

If you are ready to choose, start with our Round Storage Basket, which comes in several variants, and pair it with our Water Lily Bamboo Throw Blanket for a ready-made corner. You can see the rest of our range, from rugs to ornaments, on the Homable homepage. Orders over £100 ship free.

A short checklist before you order

  • Measure the spot: width, depth, height, and the clearance for doors and walkways.
  • Test the interior: smooth edges, no loose fibres.
  • Choose the shape for your habit: wide for folding, tall for rolling.
  • Check the handles if the basket will travel.
  • Decide on a lid if there are pets, dust or small children around.
  • Leave room: the basket should hold your blankets with space to spare.

For more ways to use baskets around the house, see our eight basket storage ideas, seven stylish storage solutions for modern homes and ten creative storage designs.

FAQ

How many blankets should a storage basket hold?

There is no fixed number, because it depends on the thickness of your throws and the basket’s size. Two or three blankets is usual for a living room, and leaving some space at the top keeps the basket looking tidy. If blankets are spilling out, either move some elsewhere or choose a bigger basket.

Should I fold or roll blankets in a basket?

Rolling is usually easier. A rolled blanket stands upright in a tall basket, comes out in one go and shows its pattern. Folding loosely and draping a corner over the rim also works, as Ideal Home’s styling advice suggests, and suits wide, shallow baskets.

Where is the best place for a blanket basket?

Put it where you reach for a throw: beside the sofa, next to a reading chair, or behind the sofa if you choose a tall, slim shape. In a small room, pick one basket that fits the space and keep the floor clear. Always check that it does not block a door or a walkway.

Can a blanket basket hide toys?

Yes. Ideal Home notes that a blanket draped over a basket can disguise children’s or pets’ toys stored underneath. Choose a basket with solid sides so nothing shows through the weave, and keep the throw on top neat.

What material is best for a blanket basket?

Choose natural woven materials such as willow, seagrass or bamboo for warmth and texture, or soft fabric for delicate throws. Whatever you pick, feel inside the rim first: a smooth interior will not snag your blankets.

Sources

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