How to Fold a Blanket Into a Pillow

Pillows are almost a necessity when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. Sleeping without a pillow is known to cause neck pain, stiffness, headaches and can cause issues with your spine long-term. Whether you sleep on your back, on your side or on your stomach, a pillow provides the support and comfort to help you sleep. However, sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where you do not have access to a good pillow. In such cases, you can use our easy to follow guide on how to fold a blanket into a pillow and rest easy.

How to Fold a Blanket Into a Pillow

There are multiple ways to fold a blanket into a small enough shape to be used as a pillow. What you need to do is make sure that it is roughly the size of a pillow so that it does not take too much space near your head. You also need to make sure that it is thick enough to give you the right amount of comfort.

Option 1

This is the easiest option on this list. All you need to do is fold the blanket in half until it reaches the required shape and size. This option can work for blankets of all shapes and sizes, as it is based on estimations.

Step 1: Fold the blanket in half along the longer side. Make sure that the edges are lined up properly so that it makes for an even fold at the end.
Step 2: Fold the blanket again along the other side. Keep alternating the sides and folding the blanket in half until it is about the size and thickness of a pillow.
Step 3: If you have access to a pillow cover, stuff this blanket in the cover in an even way.
Step 4: Try putting the folded blanket under your head to see if it’s comfortable enough to sleep on.

Option 2

If you have a single bed blanket, you might not be able to use the first option to fold it properly to get a pillow shape. In this case, you can use a triple folding technique.

Step 1: Lay the blanket on a flat surface with the shorter side near you and the longer sides away from you.
Step 2: Fold the blanket about a third of the way away from you. When you’re done with this step, you should have a folded blanket with two roughly equal sides, one single and one doubled up.
Step 3: Take the far end of the blanket (the single side) and fold it backward towards you. You should now have a triple folded blanket along its length.
Step 4: Fold the blanket in half from the other side. This will give you a folded blanket roughly the size of a pillow.
Step 5: Use a pillow cover to cover the blanket and use it under your head to see if it’s comfortable.

Option 3

If you want to turn a blanket into a pillow that you can use on a couch or just for sitting more comfortably (as opposed to using it under your head), you can use the folding donut method. This method does not require a pillow cover, and your blanket will keep its shape independently.

Step 1: Lay your blanket on your bed and fold it in half.
Step 2: Start rolling the blanket from one of the sides. Make sure that you’re rolling it, not folding it. The tighter you roll the blanket, the more secure the final fit will be.
Step 3: Once the blanket is rolled up, you can use the folded up side to stretch over the other side and tuck it in. This will give you a cylindrical pillow that you can use on a couch or bed.

Risks of Sleeping Without Pillows

If you’re used to sleeping on your stomach, you do not need to worry about not using a pillow. For people who sleep on their stomach, not using a pillow might actually help with your posture and give you a more comfortable sleeping experience.

However, if you’re used to sleeping on your back or your side, your neck will be in an unnatural position when you’re asleep. Imagine the distance your head has to travel between its natural position and the bed when you’re sleeping. The farther the distance, the more uncomfortable your sleeping position will be.

The risks of sleeping without pillows if you’re sleeping on your side or your back include joint pain, muscle pain and a possibility of sprains. It might also cause a lot of pressure on your spine, which might lead to long-term risks to your spine.

Bottom Line

There can be several scenarios in which you might find yourself without a pillow. Whether you’ve just moved or have more people sleeping over than the number of pillows in your house, making an impromptu pillow with a blanket is a useful skill to know.