Not Baskets, Not Racks: The Forgotten Vintage Furniture For Storing Blankets

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

What's a couch without a cozy blanket? It's the one thing you need on those chilly nights spent binge-watching your favorite show, and the Sunday morning essential you need when reading a good book and sipping hot coffee. But once you're done, where should you put that blanket? Sure, you could fold it into a neat little square and leave it on the couch. Many of us do this, but it doesn't look quite as polished as we'd like. Baskets and racks are a common solution, but they feel functional and don't add much visual appeal to your interior design. Instead, there's a unique blanket storage idea that has been forgotten about, but that brings both order and style to your living room: The vintage blanket box. It's a charming, old-school furniture piece that can hold your blankets until the next movie night.

Blanket boxes go way back, but they're still useful today. As the name implies, they're boxes meant to store blankets, throws, or pillows. Historically, they were used to keep valuables, too, so they sometimes have a small key and lock mechanism. Vintage ones are often made of wood such as cedar and oak, allowing them to survive through the decades. Some old models are especially valuable (reaching the thousands of dollars), but there are also simpler and more basic models that cost just $100 to $200.

Typically, these boxes are fairly bulky. Think around 36 inches long, and about 16 to 18 inches in height and depth. Despite their size, they typically open from the top, which means you can fit them in narrow spaces. Think alongside a wall, on the side of a couch, or under a TV. And if you don't have enough space for a full-size blanket box, look for small or narrow models instead.

As with many treasured vintage and antique items, you'll likely find gems at your local thrift shops and antique markets. If you're shopping online, you can look through shops like eBay for "vintage blanket boxes" and "blanket chests". Keep in mind, these are fairly large, so shipping and handling costs might be added to your orders.

Because this type of furniture is so old, there are tons of styles to choose from. For avid thrifters, that's great news because it means they can find a chest that really matches their style and space. For example, you could style a sleek mid-century modern chest into a warm and modern living room. More antique and rustic-looking raw-wood chests will fit beautifully into cottage-core decor, while hand-painted, colorful chests will add a bit of whimsy to a farmhouse-style home. Rattan or metallic blanket baskets are a more lightweight and easier option if you need to move often. All of these typically have a chest-like design, with a hinged horizontal door on top that can open and close to reveal the chest's contents. Some have a drawer at the bottom, others might have ornate details around the opening, and dainty handles to open or lift the box.

While they're perfect to hold blankets in the living room, you can use these to store toys, shoes, or outdoor equipment. They fit perfectly in roomy entryways, guest rooms, at the end of a bed, or below the TV. In tight spaces, you can use one of these as a coffee table alternative that doubles as storage. Where racks and baskets only do so much, these chests are a real multi-function decor piece that adds vintage charm to your space.