One of my favourite things to do on a quiet weekend morning is to slip downstairs and enjoy a cup of tea and a book before anyone else is awake, snuggled up in my favourite blanket.
I’m a big fan of throw blankets. Many of us think of them as a utility item, not a decor object. But they can easily cosy up a sofa and dress up a design.
Throw blankets are essential for any sofa, chair, bed or bench, in my book.
Here are several ways you can use them in your space:
Drape it casually. Use a lightweight blanket, as a chunky or overly large one does not look as good. Drape your blanket over the edge of the sofa, letting it spill into the seat. Rearrange any bulkier spots. If there is a spot that still doesn’t feel like it is working well, you can always throw a pillow over it. Have fun with it!
Add a blanket to your bedding. Throws on a bed can bring colour, texture and warmth to the bedroom. They may serve as the cherry on top of an already delightfully layered confection. Whether you drape them casually or fold with precision, they can turn neutral bedding into showroom-stylish. A blanket draped at the foot of the bed — folded in thirds — can make for a beautiful runner.
Fold them neatly for display. In traditional design, you can’t go wrong with your blanket neatly folded on the seat or arm of your sofa or chair. Lightweight throws or blankets that have great patterns to feature (autumnal plaids, for example) can sit beautifully on the arm of your sofa, the back of it (centred or not), or on a seat cushion.
You can fold and feature your blanket in several ways. Folding it in thirds works particularly well. A racing stripe on a plaid blanket that is folded and featured at the centre of this sofa looks great. This elegant and sophisticated esthetic requires precision, so make sure your folds are even. You can let tassels and fringes flow freely, or tuck them for a polished look.
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Hide them in plain sight. We all have throw blankets that are really comfortable, but may not be the prettiest to look at, or, perhaps, no longer match our decor. I’ll admit to having a few. But you won’t find them on display in my living room; they’re hiding in plain sight. Using a basket to roll extra throw blankets is a useful, fun way to store them when they are not in use. For continuity, you can tuck a few decorative throws and pillows on top of these blankets in the basket. On family movie night, we each pick our favourite cosy blanket, and, when it’s time for bed, back into the basket they go.
However you decide to style your throw blankets, I hope they bring you a lifetime of cosiness.
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