Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
Whether you're looking to live more sustainably, de-junk your home or embrace simplicity, finding ways to reuse and repurpose household items is key. And if you're like most people, you likely have a collection of blankets lying around that aren't used often enough.
With a little imagination, those blankets have creative and practical applications you may have never considered. In fact, there are countless ways you can use and reuse your favorite textiles.
Build a fort
If you haven't made a blanket fort, are you even a kid? Constructing forts or playhouses from whatever's around the house is a time-honored childhood tradition. Blankets serve as the perfect building material for even the most imaginative structures. Draped over chairs and tables or tied to doorknobs, they can create a magical space for children, fostering creativity and providing hours of entertainment.
Here's a quick and easy tutorial guiding you through the simple process of building a fort.
Have a picnic
Blankets are ideal accessories for outdoor activities. A thick blanket spread on the ground becomes the perfect picnic mat, providing a clean and comfortable space to enjoy a meal outdoors. In the current season, you can lay a blanket on the ground in a different room in your house to make it feel like you're eating a picnic somewhere new, even if it's snowing outside.
Food Network suggests whipping up some salads in a jar, fresh fruit, oven-fried chicken and a drink station indoors to make it feel like a summer picnic.
Make a costume
It doesn't get much simpler than a basic blanket. But you can treat that simplicity like a blank canvas! Blankets are often perfect for transforming into various costume pieces for children's play or even for themed adult parties.
A blanket can become a superhero cape, a royal robe or a simple toga with just a few folds and knots.
Additionally, Vogue writer Steff Yotka compiled different designers' uses of blankets and quilts used in fashion shows. Not only can blankets be used for costumes, but in everyday fashion, too!
Do a good deed
Blankets aren't just a home décor item you also like to cuddle with when it's chilly outside, but they're also a basic need for many people who are unhoused or who can't afford heat in the winter. Donating blankets to homeless shelters or organizations, such as the Road Home, can do exactly what a blanket is meant to do: make you feel all warm inside.
You can also donate gently used blankets to local animal shelters like the Utah Humane Society.
Get a workout
Whether you're on the go or haven't gotten around to outfitting your home for exercise, blankets can double as makeshift yoga or exercise mats. A folded blanket can provide the necessary cushioning for yoga poses or other floor exercises, according to Lauren Howard for YogaPractice.com.
Depending on how you plan to use it, you might want a thicker blanket for poses such as savasana and those where bony parts of your body might feel too much pressure on the hard floor.
Craft and upcycle
Crafty individuals see blankets as a source of fabric and texture for various projects. For example, a well-loved, soft blanket provides the perfect material for handmade stuffed animals. Blankets can also be cut and sewn into smaller items like tote bags, aprons or even clothing. This upcycling not only promotes sustainability but also allows for personalized and unique creations.
Snap a photo
For amateur and professional photographers alike, blankets can serve as simple, cost-effective backdrops for photos. Solid-colored blankets are ideal for portrait photography, while patterned ones can add an interesting background for product shots or creative photography projects.
This YouTube video by JH Reviews takes you through each step of the process to creating your own at-home photo studio using clamps and a blanket.
Rock on
Blankets might serve to add insulation from the cold, but they also insulate sound. For musicians or podcasters working in less-than-ideal acoustic environments, hanging heavy blankets on walls can significantly dampen echoes and reduce ambient noise. This makes those extra blankets a cost-effective solution for improving sound quality in home studios or makeshift recording spaces.
For anyone with extra blankets around, there's a world of possibility! As the world moves toward greater sustainability, a blanket is a prime example of how everyday items can be repurposed to serve countless functions – and continue bringing enjoyment to your family.
To get the best blanket ever, visit your local Minky Couture or browse their website. Each blanket is handcrafted with love and is designed to last for years to come. Be sure to check out their Valentine's Day colors for the perfect gift for your loved ones.
