The Best Blanket Ladder

Buying Guide

Blankets provide more than comfort. They can also save you money. In the chilly winter months, having each member of the household use a blanket can allow you to drop the thermostat down, using less heat. Over the course of days, weeks and months, that can dramatically reduce your utility bills.

If you have a multi-person household, those blankets can add up. Sure, you can fold them and set them on a piece of furniture, but that takes up seating space. Storing them in closets keeps them out of the way, but out of sight, out of mind, so you can easily forget to bring the blanket back out when you’re ready to relax.

That’s where a blanket ladder can help. These simple but highly functional decorative items give you an eye-pleasing way to store your blankets in the very rooms where you regularly use them. They come in a variety of heights and widths, but the general idea is that of a ladder, which means it has rungs attached to two side rails.

It’s important to note that blanket ladders are not functioning ladders. They do not have the weight capacity to hold humans, even smaller ones, so it’s important to make sure children don’t try to climb it. You’ll also need to check the capacity of each rung before hanging your heavier blankets on it. Many can hold throws and even heavier blankets, but you’ll want to check to make sure.

There’s also the look of your ladder. Some feature a rustic design, while others come in simple wood or black metal designs. Only you know what’s best for your space, but black and wood can be more versatile than something more trendy.

• Blanket ladders can vary in size. Take a look at the dimensions and measure the area where you’ll be setting it up to make sure you know what you’re getting.
• The safety of your blankets is important, too. Look for materials in your ladder that won’t snag or crease your blankets. Wood that splinters can be especially bad, so you’ll want a high-quality laminate or a wood that’s finished.
• Some blanket ladders have rungs that are wide and sturdy enough to hold more than one item. Keep that in mind as you’re considering capacity.
• Look not only at the height of the ladder itself, but also at the distance between rungs. This can determine the size and thickness of the blankets you can store.
• Blanket ladders aren’t just for blankets. Some keep them in the bathroom for storing towels, while others set them in the bedroom as a handy place to store clothes they plan to wear again. Whatever your needs, you can find a blanket ladder that works for you.
• You’ll likely have to put your blanket ladder together when it arrives. Look at the assembly instructions. Will you need special tools? Make sure the ladder comes with instructions and the necessary hardware to put everything together.
• Typically, your blanket ladder will prop against the wall. That means the base will come away from the wall a little to create an angle. That angle can vary, but you’ll need to make sure you keep it close enough that it still supports your blankets without throwing the ladder off balance.
• If you’re limited on space, you can find blanket ladders with a slimmer profile designed for sliding into small areas like half baths.
• You might find you use two ladder rungs for some bulkier blankets, so keep that in mind as you’re ordering. That five- or six-rung ladder might not hold as many of your larger, thicker blankets as you think.