The most compact way to fold a blanket for storage

After the warm months arrive, the housewife has a lot to do: she needs to put winter clothes in the wardrobe for storage, pack and hide warm blankets. Bulk bedding takes up a lot of space; in addition, they unfold, move apart and do not maintain a compact shape. But what to do if there is absolutely no free space in the closet? There are several methods for folding a blanket compactly, turning it into a neat bundle that takes up minimal space on the mezzanine or in the chest of drawers.

Fold the blanket into an envelope

A small sequence of steps will turn a large blanket into a compact square in less than a minute.

So, how to fold a blanket correctly to avoid falling apart during storage:

1. Lay the blanket evenly on the bed or floor, straightening all the corners.
2. Fold the long edge closest to you under the main mass approximately to the elbow or more.
3. Fold the left side together with the folded part towards the center of the blanket.
4. Place the remaining side on top of the left. It should be a rectangle.
5. Fold the rectangle in half, turn it over to the other side and, grabbing the newly made pocket, turn it out, securing the entire structure.

Ready. The huge bedspread turned from a “monster” into a small princess pillow.

Materials for decorating your ideas

Textile. Nowadays, the Japanese gift wrapping technique called “furoshiki” is very popular. They came to us from ancient times. Wrapping such a gift is very simple. Place a blanket in the middle of the scarf or square of fabric. We tie the edges together crosswise into strong knots. After all, it’s also a bag in which you can bring a present. On top of the package, in the bundle, you can put some original little thing, symbolically connected with the theme.

Sweater. You can use an old sweater to wrap a blanket. We put it inside and tie it with sleeves. The cleanliness of the container is important here.

Sackcloth. It is textured and reliable. Feel free to use it to decorate New Year's gifts as a ribbon. Its rough surface is perfect for pine cones and spruce branches.

In general, don’t be afraid to take the decision on how to wrap a blanket or blanket as a gift into your own hands. Once you try it, you won't be able to tear yourself away from this action. You will begin to pay attention to the design departments in stores. For new designs of gift paper and shades of ribbons. In the end, the game is worth the candle: the birthday boy will use the blanket every day. Remembering you with gratitude. And this is so important in our information age!

Storing bed linen in pillowcases

A basic, but no less ergonomic option for storing a bedding set on the shelves of a small closet.

This is convenient because you don’t have to rummage through your closet looking for pillowcases and duvet covers that match the print.

How to fold bed linen functionally:

1. Immediately set aside one pillowcase; it will serve as “packaging” for the remaining parts.
2. Start with a duvet cover, taking its folded size and future reference. Check that it fits easily into the pillowcase.
3. Sort through the sheets and other bedding pieces, trying to get everything to fit the same size.
4. Remove the stack evenly, lifting the edges of the “packaging” so that nothing falls out of bounds.

Warnings

• Do not store your blanket in direct sunlight. This will cause the color of the blanket to fade.
• Use only sealed bags and storage containers to avoid pests such as mice and moths.

Whatever storage option you choose for your favorite blankets, remember that the space in rooms and closets can and should be used to the maximum. Proper organization of free space and used things always means order, neatness and a significant reduction in time spent searching for the necessary items.

And of course, there is no need to remind you that all things put away for storage must be clean and dried - this will prevent them from yellowing during storage, the occurrence of an unpleasant odor and will allow you to maintain their original attractive appearance. A neat little trick: to make your bed linens smell fresh, add lavender sachets to your drawer/trunk. The same result can be achieved using flavored vacuum bags.

Storing fitted sheets in envelopes

Fitted sheets are both a reward and a punishment for their owners. An elastic band that always bends in the wrong direction puffs up the rest of the fabric, preventing everything from being folded neatly onto the shelf. But there is a way to tame stretched sheets, and not even just one.

First option:

1. While standing, fold the sheet in half along the long sides. Pull out the corners that are inside and place the structure on a horizontal surface.
2. Take the left side, lift it up and spread it with your palms. From the outside it should look like the letter T.
3. Place the right edge of the “letter” to the center of the sheet, and leave the opposite edge at the left edge.
4. Cover the left part with the right unfolded part so that the farthest corner is at the top of the structure.
5. Carefully turn the sheet over with the elastic band facing up, grab it and pull it toward you a couple of times. It should look like a “worm”.
6. Bend the left edge towards the center, inserting your hand into it.
7. Place the other part in the resulting niche, straighten it and put it in the closet.

The second option on how to store bed linen:

1. Place your palms in the far opposite corners.
2. Place the right one over the left one and straighten the sheet.
3. We do the same with the newly formed corners and straighten the fabric.
4. Lay everything out on the bed with the elastic corner facing right and up.
5. Fold the bottom side to the center and cover with the top.
6. Fold the “worm” into an envelope as in the previous method.

Using special means

As additional funds, you may need very inexpensive and affordable items; you can purchase them at any hardware store. Craftswomen with sewing skills can sew covers themselves without any problems.

Vacuum package

This method is suitable for storing bulky blankets, blankets, and pillows made from synthetic materials. We will need a vacuum bag made of durable polyethylene. It has a tight clasp and a special valve from which excess air can be released using a vacuum cleaner or manually. Packaging in a vacuum bag has a number of advantages:

• things are folded as compactly as possible;
• the material does not absorb odors and moisture;
• bedding accessories are protected from the harmful effects of microorganisms, mites, fleas and dust.

Vacuum packaging will keep bedding, blankets, and rugs perfectly clean.
Blankets made from natural materials are not recommended to be stored in this way, as they require good circulation and a vacuum is created inside the sealed package. In other cases, we perform the following sequence of actions step by step:

1. Wash and dry the product according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you neglect this recommendation, then the removed items will smell bad.
2. We carefully lay it out in the bag and distribute it over the entire surface, including the corners. If it has zippers, fasteners and other sharp objects, put them inside so as not to damage the polyethylene. If the packaging is damaged, dust and moisture will get into it, and over time the material may become saturated with dampness.
3. Slowly move the clip along the fastener seam, repeating the action 4-5 times to obtain a good seal.
4. Turn on the vacuum cleaner, set the minimum power and apply it to the valve. If you don't have a vacuum cleaner, then you can press with your hands or knees to release the air.
5. As soon as the package has significantly reduced in volume, close the valve and place the compact package for storage in a bedside table, closet or chest of drawers.

Vacuum packaging will keep bedding, blankets, and rugs perfectly clean.

Stitched cover

There is another trick that housewives use - compact storage of the blanket in a sewn or purchased cover. Suitable for bedding accessories made from natural ingredients. They are made from durable, waterproof but breathable material; for convenient use, the covers are equipped with a zipper. There are rectangular products on sale, but you can sew a cylinder-shaped case yourself. The blanket is folded and placed in it in a twisted form.

Blankets can be stored in baskets or in large durable boxes on mezzanines, as well as using factory packaging.

Factory packaging

Using factory packaging, housewives protect textiles from dust and parasites and provide folded or rolled storage, however, this method is inferior in compactness to the previous one, which uses a vacuum bag.

Helpful advice! The sun's rays are a kind of disinfectant. Ultraviolet light kills many germs and bacteria contained in dust. This fact has been proven by numerous studies conducted by scientists. That is why, before folding the blanket compactly, it should be dried in the sun to prevent the growth of mold, fungi and other microorganisms harmful to human health.

These simple tips will help keep your bedding looking great and quality until next season.

Similar materials

Marie Kondo's method

A popular, slightly minimalist way to store bedding items, where everything is strictly divided into categories and drawers.

How to fold bed linen using the Konmari method:

1. Start by choosing separate shelves for each type of linen (sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers).
2. Place everything in small, even piles.
3. Turn the stack over as if you were holding books in your hands.
4. In this position, put the accessories in the closet.

Storing bed linen using this method is convenient because, if necessary, taking one thing from the shelf does not have to disturb the full structure. Just pull out the necessary thing as if from a file cabinet without any problems.

Spectacular packaging is also a gift: 36 amazing gift design ideas

It's always nice to receive gifts. And a gift, exquisitely and inventively packaged, will be doubly rejoiced.

Cardboard or paper boxes, bonbonnieres, bags help to beautifully present the purchased item.

I offer a selection of gift packaging ideas, ideas for designing and decorating a gift box.

You can wrap the gift in paper or put it in a specially made box.

If individual elements of the product are visible through the holes, then the result is very unusual.

The packaging should create a positive mood.

Cute little bonbonnieres in the shape of strawberries will appeal to many. Especially if the treasured diamond ring flashes inside

Boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are easy to make using a template.

A wonderful idea for those with a sweet tooth - in the form of a miniature plate with delicious contents.

We put the kits into rolls

In this form, the linen accessories take up very little space, look neat and are easy to remove. If you are not afraid of creases, then this option is for you:

1. Fold a sheet or duvet cover into a middle rectangle.
2. Do the same with the remaining components, reducing the size by two to three times.
3. Place the smaller rectangle in the center of the larger one and roll everything into a “roll”.
4. To prevent laundry from falling apart, fold the rolls seam side down.

Instead of a large rectangle, you can take a pillowcase as a base and put everything inside, and then roll it up.

Types of packaging

You can beautifully wrap a blanket as a gift using wrapping paper. It is advisable to choose its color according to the type and character that is inherent in the recipient. You also need to consider the gender of the person you are preparing the soft offering for. Gifts intended for women, girls and children are wrapped in light colors of wrapping paper, and darker shades can be used when you want to please a man.

Please note that red, gold and silver shades will suit everyone without exception. Moreover, these colors should be used when you give a blanket for the New Year.

Then you need to start choosing high-quality gift paper. Today there is no shortage of this. You just need to take into account the required size and density, and the following information will help you decide on the option.

• If your blanket consists of a soft and delicate material, then you can choose glossy paper for wrapping. It is beautiful, but its downside is that it is a very fragile material. However, for delicate items this wrapper is quite suitable.
• Papyrus Whatman paper will give your gift a presentable appearance. It is also called silence. This material is designed for a tight fit and is usually used to wrap soft toys. You can also wrap it in a blanket.
• Durable fabric is craft. This product practically does not tear, and with various variations you will be confident in the safety of the item. In addition, its specific properties will create the illusion of volume. A good argument for those who love large gifts.
• A blanket in corrugated paper will look elegant due to its large embossing.
• The gift also looks great in stretch film. Polysilk is specially created for wrapping soft gifts, and its surface is painted in an attractive metallic shade.
• Mulberry patterned paper. Due to its compactness, it can create volume in the packaging. Your gift will acquire advantageous contours, and the pliability of the material will help give the package a great look.

Fold laundry in an envelope

The beauty of these envelopes is that in tandem with the konmari method, the bedding sets will look as if they were folded along a ruler. How to properly fold bed linen into envelopes:

1. First, fold the duvet cover lengthwise, then crosswise, and lengthwise again.
2. Do the same procedure with the sheet, adding another circle of folds.
3. Fold pillowcases into squares.
4. Now place everything on top of the duvet cover in the center, starting from the largest.
5. Bend the left goal of the structure to the middle, feel for a pocket inside it and place the second part there.

The neat and compact envelope is ready. You can combine such sets according to your categories (colors, sizes, etc.).

Bedding with elastic, folding method

In European countries, fitted sheets are found in every home. Their popularity in the West is due to the convenience and practicality of using this textile product. In our everyday life, fitted sheets appeared relatively recently. We use them with pleasure, but we have not yet learned how to store them correctly.

Important! To prevent a sheet with an elastic band from spoiling the overall appearance of the shelves with its crumpled appearance, you need to learn a simple way to fold it:

• Using your hands, straighten the corners of the sheet. Stretch it along its entire length.
• Place one corner of the sheet into the other.
• Place the next corner under the previous two.
• Tuck the fourth corner of the sheet in the same way as the third.
• Carefully place the resulting rectangle on the table and straighten out any wrinkles that have formed on it.
• Holding the corners, fold the sheet so that the elastic is inside the roll.
• Fold the sheet again. The result should be a small square.

That's it. Everything is ready. You may not be able to fold the sheet perfectly the first time, but after a while you will be able to easily cope with this task.

How to easily tuck a blanket

If your duvet “monster” eats up a lot of time and effort when changing the duvet cover, then this life hack will make life much easier. But it is only suitable for underwear with a cutout on the smaller side.

Method to tuck a blanket faster:

1. Place the duvet cover turned inside out on the bed with the neckline facing up.
2. Lay the blanket flat on top of it and bend its bottom corners so that the bottom is angular.
3. Fold the linen fabric on top as well.
4. Start rolling the blanket from the bottom.
5. Turn the finished “roll” through the cutout and straighten it.

The duvet is tucked into the duvet cover in less than two minutes.

DIY packaging options with step-by-step instructions

In most cases, the items in question are factory-made and packaged in plastic grippers, zipper bags or beautiful boxes with branding. In this case, you can give a gift by adding a ribbon and a card.

However, what if there is no factory packaging or the gift is made by yourself? They will come to the rescue:

• wrapping paper with a suitable pattern;
• homemade box;
• handmade package;
• ribbons, beads, etc.;
• your own imagination and love for the recipient of the gift.

Wrapping

To make a gift look original, just choose the right wrapping paper and appropriate accessories. For example, if the recipient of the gift remembers the times of the USSR, or this era is of interest to him, you can use kraft paper (technical, light or dark brown, thick), jute twine and sealing wax. How to pack:

1. cut a sheet of paper 2.5 times longer than the widest part of the folded gift;
2. place the gift diagonally on the paper so that from any corner to the edge of the paper there is a distance equal to or greater than the height of the object plus 3 cm;
3. wrap the item, starting from the corner, tuck the edge of the paper under the top of the package;
4. tie the bundle with jute: place the gift on the spread twine, cross the twine over it, pull it, turn the bundle over, cross it again, threading the ends under the stretched thread, and tie tightly with a bow;
5. cut the ends of the rope, fold them together, pour in a little melted sealing wax and press it with a seal.

Instead of craft paper, you can use any other paper, even newspaper (preferably made of thick paper) will do. Everything you need can be purchased online, but you need to take care of this in advance.

Another option involves rolling the gift into a cube shape. In this case, the gift is placed in the middle of a square sheet of paper, its ends are gathered together and tied together with a small piece of thin wire, the ends of which are tightly twisted. A satin bow is tied on top. You can give it!

Helpful storage tips

To ensure that your laundry lasts longer and is not damaged during storage, here are some care recommendations:

1. If you have time, do not neglect ironing your bedding. This makes them easier to fold, and additional heat treatment never hurts.
2. Have two similar or identical sets. If you need to change one pillowcase or just the sheet, the rest of the linen won't get mixed up.
3. Buy or make your own fastenings for the sheet so that it does not slide off the mattress.

Storing blankets made from different materials

• Wool blankets are stored in cotton bags or bags. The bags should contain medications (in tablets or tablets) designed to repel insects. Natural wool items are most often attacked by moths. Therefore, to prevent the blanket from being eaten, you need to take protective measures.
• Bedding made of eucalyptus fibers (Tensel) is stored in cotton covers or bags. They should be ventilated frequently and not exposed to sunlight.
• A blanket filled with down or feathers should not be kept in a vacuum. It will immediately form a dense lump, which will later be very difficult to make fluffy again. It would be better to wrap it in a cotton sheet. And in the summer, on a hot day, hang it outside several times so that sunlight falls directly on it. In this case, dust mites and mold fungus will die, and the smell of dampness will go away.

Advice!

To keep the color of your bedding the same, you can protect it from fading by throwing a sheet over it.

• Storing bamboo blankets is not difficult - it is important to protect them from dust. And just before use they are simply whisked. This material does not absorb dampness and odors, and moths and mold do not grow in it.
• Cotton blankets should be stored in a vacuum. They absorb moisture very well and it will be best to keep them in waterproof bags. Before use, they are removed and allowed to straighten on their own. It is advisable to do this outside, in dry weather.

Note! Even with proper care, a pillow can last no more than three years, and a blanket – five. After this period they are replaced with new ones.

How to pack a blanket beautifully?

Getting to know a gift begins with its packaging. Interestingly decorated items acquire even greater value in the eyes of the recipient, and the very moment of presenting such a gift is remembered for a long time. A warm woolen blanket is a wonderful gift that will bring both benefit and joy, but it requires special packaging, since this item is non-standard. There are several ways to pack it: in craft paper or a basket, make a “candy” or a big heart tied with a satin ribbon, and also purchase a convenient and practical suitcase for the gift. Take a closer look at all these methods to choose the best packaging for your gift.

Heart decorated with satin ribbon

We offer step-by-step instructions on how to beautifully decorate a blanket for a gift with your own hands. First, fold it into a narrow strip, folding it several times along its length. On both sides, fold the blanket towards the center, and then secure the resulting “heart” with a beautiful wide ribbon. To give your gift a festive look, attach a flower to one side of the heart. This option is suitable for a home gift that will perfectly express warm feelings for a loved one. And if you need to transport a blanket, then use several more methods, which we will discuss in this article.

Making a gift in craft paper

One of the most popular materials for wrapping any gifts is craft paper. Compared to decorative types of paper, it looks solid and leaves many options for external design. Kraft is a dense fabric that practically does not tear, so the blanket packed in it will be reliably preserved. Craft paper is breathable and hygroscopic, so this material is considered an ideal option for wrapping a blanket. It will protect it from dampness and allow the material to “breathe”.

The main shades of paper are brown, yellowish and white. A great way to decorate a gift is to stick photos or beautiful cards intended for the recipient on top of the package. A gift decorated with care and love will become even more valuable. Additionally, you can write warm wishes to the birthday boy or hero of the day. But the possibilities of decorating a gift wrapped in craft paper are not limited to this. Sweets, decorative ribbons, sprigs of pine needles and funny drawings are often used.