Stop Fighting Your Linen Closet: IKEA Has A Smarter Way To Store Spare Blankets

With the change in season comes the need to change over your bed linens and put away the spare blankets until you need them again. For many people, this means doing a bit of reorganization of the linen closet to try to squeeze in those bulky blankets and keep them out of the way. But there's a better way. Instead of fighting with your linen closet (and possibly losing), or wasting valuable closet space, why not head to Ikea for a clever and very inexpensive solution –- the Pärkla storage case.

It's available in two sizes with price points of $1.99 for the smaller one and $2.99 for the large. These make the ideal receptacles to stuff your blankets in and push them out of the way under your bed. The height of your bed from the floor will determine whether you can opt for the large size, which is 11 ¾ inches tall, or whether you may have to settle for the shorter one at 7 ½ inches tall. Whichever height you choose, they both measure 21 ¾ inches wide and 19 ¼ inches deep. 

If you have too many blankets for just one of these storage cases, buying another one or two isn't going to break the bank. You'll also find that if you roll your blankets instead of folding them, you may be able to make them fit more neatly. You'll find some easy video clips on social media on how to do this, like this one from @effectivespaces, or you may want to follow Nate Berkus' blanket folding technique instead.

The collapsible storage case is made from polypropylene, which is recyclable if it's no longer fit to use. Care instructions say not to wash it, but to just wipe it clean with a damp cloth. This shouldn't be a problem if you're going to be storing them under the bed because you can just use a damp microfiber cloth to remove accumulated dust. As the containers are made from a type of plastic, they're handy for keeping the contents dry. You just want to ensure that the blankets are clean and perfectly dry before storing them in the case. Of course, you could use this case for storing other winter or summer linens out of season, as well as seasonal clothing if your wardrobe is full.

As you would expect, this handy unit has a ton of reviews with an average rating of 4.8. A lot of customers liked that the case was large enough for multiple items and that it was so inexpensive. One person said that the material was quite sturdy and that the zipper closed easily, although there were a couple of customers who had issues with the zippers. Another person warned not to overstuff the case and try to zip it up because it is likely to rip. All in all, though, these are at such a good price point that if they only last for a couple of seasons, they would still be worth the investment, and they may finally help to keep your closet organized.