I Tried This Clever Hack to Store Blankets, and the Results Surprised Me

I recently purchased a hanging shoe organizer — without any intention of using it to store footwear. Instead, I was inspired by a viral Instagram video to use it to pack up my kids’ clothes on vacation — and it was genius! It got me thinking, what else can I use my shoe organizer for when I’m not traveling? (Besides shoes, of course.)

Then I saw TikTok user @cryptic_destinyy143 use a tall shoe rack to store her baby blankets. In the video, she folds and arranges all her baby blankets on a shoe rack, with lighter, thinner options at the bottom, and fluffier, bulkier ones at the top. 

Because her hack uses a vertical organizer, it frees up space on her shelves and floors, and prevents blankets from becoming one big messy pile. The video has been played by over 50,000 users, all looking for a clever way to store and organize blankets. Considering blankets of all types — especially ones my kids used as babies that I don’t want to give away — are spilling over in my closet, and with a hanging shoe organizer sitting empty after vacation, I decided to try her idea.

I gathered all the blankets in my home and got to work at my hanging shoe organizer. I folded each one up and placed it inside an individual pocket but even the smallest ones were too big to fit entirely inside. Instead, I let part of each folded end of the blanket drape over, similar to how I saw them styled in the TikTok video. They fit better this way, and looked neater, too.

I liked how easy it was to see and identify each blanket in case I was looking for something specific later. And because of the mobile nature of a hanging shoe organizer, I could hang it up and hide it at the back of a closet. My results were great with small, thin blankets like the receiving ones my daughters used as infants. But because my organizer’s pockets are on the smaller side, I had to omit large throw blankets, heavy duvets, or any covers used for sleeping. Some bulky knit baby blankets fit, but barely. This method, and type of organizer, really works best for thin, lightweight options.

That realization initially disappointed me. I had so much bedding I wished I could organize in a thoughtful way. Then a light bulb went off. Bedding doesn’t have to mean just blankets. Especially for babies. With two kids, I had crib sheets, sleep sacks, changing pad covers, and hooded towels. Each one went into a pocket, and most fit entirely inside. With pockets left over, I organized shoes and hats, too.

I realized this method could be beneficial for anyone wanting to store lightweight bedding or miscellaneous accessories, whether they had kids or not. Did this combination look as aesthetically pleasing as the video? Not even close. But I repurposed an item designed to hold one type of thing to instead store so many other items in an efficient and helpful way, so I’m not sure it mattered. 

This wasn’t a piece of furniture sitting out in my living room either; it was tucked away and out of sight in a closet. For packing clothes, storing blankets and beddings, or yes, shoes, this organizer is a VIP that can do it all.