Organizing Tips — Blog — Scattered Possessions

Here is a common question my organizing clients ask me regularly: where and how is the best way to store bulky items like blankets, bedspreads, curtains, drapes, and comforters? Do you keep them in drawers, on a closet floor, or on a shelf, or elsewhere? This is a great question, and the answer really depends on your home and what your storage options are.

That said, in this professional organizer’s opinion, bulky items like tablecloths, curtains, and drapes are best stored hanging vertically. This helps them keep their shape and takes up less space than putting them in a drawer. They should first be pressed or taken right from the dryer so that they stay tidy and crease-free. Then drape them from heavy-duty hangers. Add some repurposed plastic film from the dry-cleaners or a garbage bag to keep them dust-free if you do not use the item often.

Here are some great Hanger Products for Storing Bulky Items

I really like this Stainless Steel Blanket Hanger set for bulkier cloth items because it is open-ended and easier to slip the item onto and off of the padded non-slip, rubber-ringed hanger. The open end is tilted up to help the article from slipping off. It could be used for tablecloths, quilts and blankets. It is 0.3 X 17 X 7.6 inches.

Stainless Steel Blanket Hanger set from Amazon

Alternatively, this is S-Shaped Pants Hanger Set is 22” long and is also great for bedspreads, blankets, comforters, and draperies.

Many cleaners use these 18” heavy-duty wire strut hangers for comforters and drapes, which feature 10-gauge metal, with white tube already attached. They are suitable for draperies, tablecloths, and comforters as well.

Finally, I really like the World’s Strongest Coat Hanger, which is designed for cumbersome items such as hanging coats, backpacks, or other bulky and heavy items like gear for those in the military or emergency responders. It is ¾” wide X 18.5” X 11 5/8” (inside pocket is 1 ¾” X 13 ¾”).

What other creative ways do you store your bulky items? Your suggestions are welcome in the comments below!

After my recent total hip replacement surgery, I occupied much of my healing time by reading novels such as Louise Penny's book Still Life (first in her series about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec).

In one chapter of this book, Inspector Gamache and his team enter a deceased victim's home in search of clues about her. Gamache says, "Homes, [he] knew were a self-portrait. Every touch revealed the individual. God, or the Devil, was in the details. And so was the human. Was it dirty, messy, obsessively clean? Were the decorations chosen to impress, or were they a hodgepodge of personal history? Was the space cluttered or clear?"

When potential clients call and request my professional organizing services, I ask them to allow me to conduct an initial assessment of their home in its current state. A tour of their home and their comments about it reveal clues about their lives and what areas need attention.

Often the reasons for disorganization arise from situations such as: addition of a child; family illness; work and college attendance at the same time; moving to a smaller home without downsizing first; furniture and other items added for various reasons; and too many items for the room size.

My observations and the potential client's comments about their space help me figure out workable organizing solutions and devise a maintenance plan.

If you find yourself in need of organizing assistance, for any reason, consider consulting a professional organizer.