A blanket ladder is the ultimate storage hack, but it’s also a style opportunity you shouldn’t pass up. A blanket ladder gives you a unique canvas to style with blankets, decor, and lighting to let your personality shine through. Follow these simple steps to learn how to style a blanket ladder for maximum appeal.

Tip!

Have a ton of blankets? Check out our guide for even more creative Blanket Storage Ideas.

How to Style a Blanket Ladder

Once you have the right blanket ladder for your space, it’s time to make it your own. Follow these steps to find how to use blankets, decorative objects, and lighting to create a dazzling functional display.

1. Pick Your Placement

The first step is to decide where you want your blanket ladder display to live. Although some blanket ladders are wall-mounted, most are freestanding and simply lean against a bare wall. These are ideal if you like to move things around often.

Choose a wall where your blankets will be out of the way, but still easily reachable for when you need to grab one for extra comfort. If you plan to add extra decor, choose a place that is in clear view from most angles of the room, so your carefully curated display doesn’t get hidden away.

2. Layer Your Linens

If you decide to include both blankets and decor on your ladder, start by hanging your blankets. Keep in mind, if you layer decor over the blankets, they won't be as easy to retrieve without disturbing your decor. Fold your blankets, quilts, or towels into a narrow rectangle and drape it over each rung of the ladder. For a casual lived-in look, you may choose to drape a thin blanket over the run without folding.

Leave an open rung on the top and bottom of the ladder to avoid overcrowding and to leave free space for decor. Keep blankets that you use more frequently on the middle and lower rungs, while keeping decor towards the top to make them easier to access.

3. Add Finishing Touches

Now it’s time to choose the perfect blanket ladder decor. Some common options that work well with decorative ladders include fairy lights, small hanging plants, garlands, small lanterns and decorative throws. Fairy lights and garlands can easily be draped or wrapped around top rungs over blankets. You can even hang a small hanging plant or lantern on the top of one of the side rails without interfering too much with your blanket storage.

If you choose to keep your ladder blanket-free, you can freely wrap fairy lights around multiple rungs and hang potted plants in various spots. Choose a hanging planter and a trailing plant like a pothos or string of pearls. If you choose to use live plants, make sure your ladder gets appropriate sunlight and that no pets are able to access them – faux is always a safe and maintenance-free option! Any other decorative objects that can be hung from the rungs or side rails will work as well.

4. Switch Things Up Seasonally

If you’re someone who likes to switch out decor as the seasons change, you’re in luck! You can easily switch out seasonal patterned throws, garlands, wreaths, and even lighting.

• Spring: If you celebrate Easter, find Easter-themed garlands, or hang Easter egg ornaments from the rungs. If you want to keep things strictly spring-themed, choose colorful faux bloom garlands to reflect nature outside.

• Summer: Stick with colorful blooms or try eucalyptus garlands for a simple summer look. Summer is a perfect time for fairy lights and miniature lanterns as well. If you’re a beach-goer, incorporate a coastal aesthetic with sea-themed decorations featuring starfish, shells, and rope, or drape a sun hat over the top of a side rail for easygoing beach vibes.

• Autumn: Invoke autumnal vibes by draping burlap material over the rungs in place of throws, or choose decorative throws in autumn colors like deep orange, olive green, or plaid patterns. Place a mix of real or faux pumpkins and gourds on the floor at the base of your ladder display. If you love Halloween, create a creepy display with faux spider webs or hang little ghost ornaments from the rungs.

• Winter: Switch out fairy lights for traditional Christmas lights and pile on the evergreen garlands and swag. Embrace winter with flocked garlands and hang some of your favorite winter-themed ornaments from the rungs. If you’re looking for a simple winter blanket display, stick with white or frosty blue throws or winter-themed patterns like snowflakes.

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