Give An Old Blanket An Alternative Use By Creating Soft Floor Pads

Blankets can be used anywhere in your home, from decorative elements in your living room to a way to snuggle up and stay warm in your bedroom. Unfortunately, even with the best of care, blankets don't last forever. Sometimes, you realize you have just too many lying around, even when you use a storage hack to say goodbye to clutter and keep extra blankets out of sight. No matter the reason for retirement, you don't have to toss them out just yet. Instead, you can turn your old blankets into soft floor pads. 

These blankets-turned-pads can be set directly on the floor or under something else for an extra layer of comfort. The best part is that you don't even need to do anything to repurpose them — no fancy DIYs or tools required. All you have to do is fold your blanket to the size you need and put it where you want it. It's really that simple, and it lets you repurpose something.

Since it goes under other items to add a layer of softness, you won't see it much at all, so it doesn't matter if the blanket is dingy, falling apart, or has a stain. The same goes for the thickness and material. If the blanket is too thin to add enough support, you can fold it in half or add more layers to make it the desired thickness when you try out this alternative use for your old blankets. 

If you have a child's play area with hard flooring, putting a thick blanket on the ground can help soften the harsh surface. As an added bonus, it can muffle sounds, which is a win for people who live in apartments and have to deal with neighbors below them. If you do own a blanket you don't mind displaying — like the unbeatable faux fur blankets that add cozy charm to any room — instead of hiding it under something, you can fold it up and use it as a floor pad anyone can sit directly on. You can also layer a few blankets on top of each other if you need softer floor space. Having a little extra padding on the ground can save you when your child wants you to come into their pillow fort with them or have a fun sleepover.

An alternative use for old blankets as soft floor pads is underneath dog spaces. While there are tons of dog bed that keep your pet comfy without compromising style, they do get flat after constant daily use, so adding a blanket underneath helps keep them feeling soft, even as they lose their padding. Since these blankets are old and due to be tossed out, you don't need to worry about them getting dirty due to unfortunate accidents or spend money on something brand new that will just get messed up.