Want some ideas for throw pillow storage? I’m sharing how I organize my own pillow stash!
I’m the first to admit that I’m a total sucker for a pretty pillow and that suckerdom has resulted in me having a pretty impressive pillow stash. I often get asked where I store my pillows that I’m not using, which tells me that I’m not the only one with a little bit of a pillow hoarding problem 🙂 Today I’m pulling out my pillow stash to give you some throw pillow storage ideas for your own home along with a few tips for buying pillows so you don’t have quite as many to store in the first place! (affiliate links included in post – full disclosure statement available {here})
One of the keys to taming my throw pillow stash is storing my throw pillow covers and inserts separately (except for any odd shaped pillows where the insert has only one matching pillow cover). I’ll share how I store my extra throw pillow inserts first…
Throw Pillow Insert Storage: Vacuum Pack Them!
My stash of extra pillow inserts includes a few extra standard sized inserts plus several lumbar sizes that I only use every now and then. I would have told you that my pillow insert stash was pretty small but after putting them all in a pile, I have a few more than I thought 🙂
Here’s my secret weapon to storing them in about ¼ of the space they’d normally take up – vacuum storage bags. They are awesome! After I vacuum packed this stack of pillows (I divided them into three of {these} jumbo vacuum storage bags), this is how much space they take up now:
You couldn’t even tell that Hope was snoozing away behind that pile before could you?! I label the outside of each bag with the sizes of the pillow inserts and store them under my bed stacked in pairs:
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The key to vacuum packing the bags so that they lay relatively flat is to vacuum out the air a little bit at a time, pausing to smooth and even out the bag several times until you’re done. I’ll show you guys in a video on Instagram Stories – you can find me {here} on Instagram if you aren’t following me over there already. These vacuum storage bags are also great for bulky comforters and blankets and a friend of mine even gave me the genius idea of using them to decrease the bulk of clothes and bedding for road-tripping my daughter to college this fall – totally going to do that so we can pack all we can into the car!
Throw Pillow Cover Storage: KonMari Them!
For years I’ve been folding up my extra pillow covers and placing them in a drawer – it’s worked pretty well but always involved a lot of rooting through the pillow stacks to find the ones hidden in the bottom of the pile. After seeing the KonMari method of folding clothes in a drawer so you can easily see and access everything, I decided to do the same with my pillow covers. I folded each pillow cover into an 8″ square and placed them in {these lidded fabric storage boxes} that fit my pillow squares perfectly:
I have one storage box for my 22″ and 24″ pillow covers, a second box for my 20″ pillow covers, and a third box for my 18″ and lumbar pillow covers. I labeled each of them with a tied on tag so I know which box to grab at a glance:
Several of my pillow covers are no longer available, but these are the ones I have and love that still are:
Scroll & Click/Tap to Shop My 22″ + 24″ Pillow Covers:
Scroll & Click/Tap to Shop My 20″ Pillow Covers:
You could also store these boxes just about anywhere, including stacked in a closet where they wouldn’t take up much of a footprint at all. I store all three of my boxes (plus a fourth that I use to hold extra picture frames) in these cabinets at the base of our our family room bookshelves:
The boxes are the perfect width for my cabinets and they aren’t super deep so I have space to store quite a bit behind them too!
And while I’m sharing a peek behind our cabinet doors, I wanted to show you another organizational feature I love! I can’t take any credit whatsoever since they were here when we moved in but our cabinets have two hidden drawers with built-in hanging file storage:
It allowed us to get rid of the standing file cabinets we had when we moved in which is really nice. Now we try to file most things electronically (more details on the handheld scanner and mail sorting system we use in {this post}) but we still have quite a bit of paperwork stored in here from years past. Weeding through them and scanning the paperwork we need to keep is somewhere on my never ending to-do list…
Two Quick Tips for Buying Pillows
Let’s wrap things up with two quick tips for buying pillows that might help keep you from having as many to store in the first place (trust me, my stash would be 10 times as obscene without these). First off…
1. Whenever possible, buy throw pillow covers without the inserts. If you buy every pillow with the cover and the insert, not only are you paying for something you don’t need but you’ll end up with so much more bulk to store. Invest in a small number of high quality inserts and when you want a pillow change, just swap the covers. My favorites inserts are 25% down/75% feathers – I’ve invested in several of these but they’re admittedly pretty pricey. For something a little less expensive but still great quality, 5% down/95% feather inserts are great too (I’ve used both {these inserts} and {these inserts} and liked them.
2. Invest in some high quality, solid color pillows in your most-used colors that you will use again and again for years. Having a set of neutral pillows that work with everything will keep you from having to buy as many new ones when you decide to change up your pillows with the seasons. My favorites are these cream tassel pillows (available {here}) – I have six of them because they go with everything and are in constant rotation in our house. From our family room to our kitchen banquet to our guest room and my daughter’s room, they are my go-to’s!
All Sources for This Space Are Linked {HERE}
I hope you pillow addicts found today’s post helpful – I’m glad to have finally found an organization system that works for me and hope you’ll be able to take a tip or two away that works for you too! Now I just need to tackle the cabinets in the other bookcase in our family room – you would think that it would be super organized judging by the inside of the cabinets I shared today but there’s one big disorganized mess hidden behind those other cabinet doors. Another thing that’s on that never-ending to-do list…
Enjoy your weekend friends!
Karen Bunch says
What a great post. I try to buy pillow covers of the same size, but sometimes that’s just not possible.
I’ve never used the vacuum bags but as we have downsized, I can see the wisdom of maximizing every square inch.
Enjoy your weekend.
Karen
Kris Jarrett says
I try and do the same thing Karen but then I end up falling in love with ones that only come in odd sizes! 🙂
[email protected] 5th and state says
this pillow hoarder loved your post Kris! I have a whole room in the shop basement for inserts!! then there is all the fabric hoarding to make more pillows.
amazed at your organizational abilities, and your daughters ironed sheets. have I told you how amazing I find you lately?
xo
Debra
Kris Jarrett says
Ahh…. I would love to have all of that storage space! And you are awesome for making your own – that’s a skill I’ve never managed to get!
Gail Storti says
Oh Kris…I am a pillow addict too but I make all of mine. I’m always on the hunt for wonderful fabrics but that’s getting harder and harder if you’re not a designer. You pillow storage is genius and I’d love to shop in your pillow cover bins!
Kris Jarrett says
I love that you make all of yours – learning to become better at sewing is on my some-day bucket list!
Sara says
Great ideas!! Tell us about those great looking tags you used… Did you make them, and if so, how?
Kris Jarrett says
I printed out 2″ x 4″ Avery labels and then stuck them on 2″ x 5″ cardstock tags. They match up perfectly on one end and then I just trim the second end with scissors!
Rachael says
Thank you for sharing! I was just thinking about how to tackle this project…perfect timing! Love the tips
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so glad that you found the post helpful!
Alysa says
I love your reading your posts because they address a lot of practical issues but are so important! Sometimes I feel like your reading my mind! LOL
Thanks for being real
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so happy that you found it helpful! My pillow problem is kinda embarrassing – lol! Love that you can relate!
Michelle says
Where is the bedding from in the gray and white bedroom? I love it!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Michelle, if you click the little square pic of it under my photo of our bedroom, it will take you directly to it!
Erin says
I love this post so much Kris! Such a great storage system. We have more storage room in our current house so I’ve gotten lazy with pillows and just keep buying new inserts with the covers so I don’t have to switch them out. Not good! I suppose I should first just work on my pillow hoarding problem in general.. I’ll add that to my never ending to-do list. 😉
Kris Jarrett says
Erin I’m so envious of your storage space! I’m kinda forced into being organized because I’m 100% out of space! 🙂
Susan says
All of my feather pillow inserts seem to have a problem with the feathers poking through. Any thoughts on this?
Kris Jarrett says
I have had some inserts in the past like that but most of the higher quality ones have down proof fabric so you don’t have an issue with the feathers. That’s why I started spending a little more to get better inserts in the past few years 🙂
CINDY hattersley says
I am too embarassed to even comment on this post. I forget which but one of your office organizational posts I pointed out to my husband. His comment was do you really think you will ever do it? Well obviously I never did since I can’t even remember what it was! I am in awe of your organizational skills and love all these ideas. Maybe in my next life I will try a few!!
Kris Jarrett says
Cindy you crack me up! Honestly I have SO little storage space in this house that I’m forced into being organized! It’s either that or tripping over things left and right!
Mary says
Is the dust ruffle on your bed still available? Thx!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Mary – I’m not totally sure but don’t think it is – it’s Pine Cone Hill brand.
Dena says
Great post! I’m an accidental pillow hoarder. I say accidental because I don’t know how it happened but this post gave me the tools/ideas to conquer my insert and cover pile once and for all! Once I know how many inserts and what sizes I need for the couches and chairs in my house, I will only keep/buy covers in those sizes. I like to rotate my covers seasonally and now I know I can just store the covers neatly folded. Thanks so much!!!
Kris Jarrett says
I will join the accidental pillow hoarder club too! 🙂 Glad you found my post helpful!
[email protected] says
I too am a pillow hoarder. Why had I not thought to vacuum seal the inserts? Genius!!! Currently they are taking up the entire shelf in my office closet.
Kris Jarrett says
So glad you found it helpful Lauren! XOXO
J L Garr says
Really helpful; both the tips AND knowing there are others out there who might have the tiniest of pillow obsessions!
Gwyn says
You are amazing LOL Thank you for every bit of information that you share. It has built my decor confidence enormously!
Sarah says
Brand new to your blog but definitely bookmarking it. Thanks for these great tips- I’ll be purchasing the vacuum bags and storage boxes through your links. I am wondering how you know what size the pillows and covers are? They often don’t have tags and I’ve heard you’re supposed to stuff a bigger insert into a smaller cover? I’m measuring but confused!