If you’re looking for something warm to snuggle into, you might find that picking the perfect blanket is a little more complicated than it seems. There are comforters, bedspreads, duvet covers, and quilts for your bed. There are just as many options for your favorite chair or couch.
Picking the right blanket might even be a little more challenging when you shop online because you can’t hold the blanket up in front of you or touch the material. Instead, you’ll need to rely on the specifications within the product description to determine the size of the blanket, the kind of fabric it’s made of, the texture, the colors, and the care instructions. Do you want chenille or cashmere? Is is machine washable? Who knew shopping for a blanket could be this tricky?
The Difference Between A Throw Blanket, A Regular Blanket, And An Afghan
A throw blanket refers to a blanket of a specific size that is intended to be used as functional decor. A blanket, in general, can refer to a number of blanket sizes, generally coordinating with the sizes of beds.
An afghan is any kind of blanket that has been hand crocheted—the most important distinction here is that an afghan is a knit piece. An afghan can technically be any size but will typically be close in size to a throw blanket. They are almost always exclusively decorative, are often made of a crochet material, and will look beautiful draped over the back of a couch.
The kind of blanket you need largely depends on what you want to do with it. A regular blanket is intended to work for your bed, whether it’s for decorative use or it’s being used as functional bedding. A throw blanket is also a piece of home decor, but it can be used as a comfort object because they are usually ultra soft. If you like to nap on the couch or in your recliner rather than your king size bed, a throw blanket is definitely what you’re looking for.
The Dimensions Of A Throw Blanket
There is a standard size for throw blankets, but at the end of the day, that standard size doesn’t mean much. The majority of throw blankets are 50 inches by 36 inches. If you can’t find size specifications on a throw blanket, it’s safe to assume it’s a standard size.
Occasionally, throw blankets will be bigger. They may measure to be 50 by 65 inches or even larger. Oversized throw blankets are a little more comfortable. If you’re not sure, opt for a larger throw blanket. You can always fold it or tuck it to make it appear smaller. You can’t make a smaller blanket function as a larger blanket. If you’re a tall person who wants to be able to completely cover up with a throw blanket, you’re definitely going to need a larger size.
Throw blankets can go as large as 90 by 100 inches, although these are much harder to come by. If you have a huge modern sectional couch, you might want to do a little specialty blanket shopping. It might be a little more tricky to find what size throw blanket will meet your needs.
What Is The Purpose Of A Throw Blanket?
A throw blanket has two purposes. The first is to add to the decor of a room, and the second is to act as a blanket. It doesn’t always look pretty to toss a big snuggly bed blanket or quilt on the couch. It’s a little bulky, and it will most definitely seem out of place.
Throw blankets are a little thinner and easier to fold and drape. You can rest a throw blanket over the back of a couch, the arm of a couch, or down the length of a recliner, and it will look like it’s always belonged there. When you’re watching TV, and you get a little chilly, just pull the blanket down and fluff it open. If you decide to turn off the TV and take cuddle up on the couch in the living room, your throw blanket is there for you. You may even want to bring a smaller throw blanket on a long flight for a little added comfort and extra warmth.
Where Can I Put A Throw Blanket?
The most common place to put a throw blanket is to drape it over a couch, recliner, or loveseat. You can also put a throw blanket across an ottoman, a chaise lounge, or over the foot of the bed. Almost any soft or upholstered surface is good for a throw blanket. If you have window seats or upholstered benches at your breakfast nook, go ahead and spruce up that space with a cotton throw blanket. They also work great as bed throws.
Throw blankets may look a little out of place on wooden chairs, benches, or trunks. Although logic would dictate that adding something soft to a harder surface would make it more comfortable, a throw blanket sends the signal that you can also take a nap in that space. If you want to make wooden furniture more inviting, adding padded seats or upholstery is your best bet.
Decorating With Throw Blankets
In addition to being comfort objects, throw pillows can also be decorative objects. They’re a great way to add colors, textures, or patterns to a room. If things look a little flat, a sherpa throw blanket is a popular non-committal way to add a pop of color.
It’s not like repainting, hanging wallpaper, or changing your furniture. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution. You can buy dozens of high-quality throw blankets and still not spend as much as you would replacing an entire couch. That’s the beauty of it. They allow you to be creative on a shoestring budget.
To pick the perfect throw blanket for decorating your space, start by building the color palette of your room. Incorporate any color with a substantial presence, like the color of your flooring, your couch, your walls, and your rugs. Look around the room for accent colors. Maybe you have some contrasting hues in your pillows or your curtains. Pick a throw blanket in a shade that will bring those colors forward by either matching them or complimenting them.
Then, look at the textures of your room. If there’s nothing exciting going on, you might want a fleece blanket or a faux fur throw blanket to add an extra layer of interest to the space. New textures break up the monotony of smooth upholstery and flat walls.
It helps to coordinate your throw blankets with your throw pillows. You don’t want them all to match exactly. You should have at least two different colors or patterns of throw pillows, with two equivalent color schemes and one accent to that scheme. You might choose two black and white striped throw pillows, two black and white polka dot throw pillows, and one navy throw pillow. Match your fleece throw blanket to the navy throw pillow to balance out your design scheme.
Other Ways To Use Throw Blankets
It’s not unusual to accumulate an absurd amount of throw blankets over time. They make great gifts and impulse buys. If you have a closet full of throw blankets, consider repurposing them to make them last a little longer.
If you like to entertain outdoors in the colder months, having bonfires and sharing drinks and telling tales, you can toss all your chunky throw blankets on a rack outside. Guests who are cold and want to bundle up by the fire can each grab their very own blanket. This is something most hosts wouldn’t think to provide, although every guest would be over the moon to have one.
Keep a few of them in the trunk of your car for long road trips or impromptu picnics. If you have little ones that tend to fall asleep in the car after they’ve exhausted themselves playing, they’ll appreciate having a blanket handy.
Thinner throw blankets with patterns can easily be folded into thirds and pinned together to use as decorative table runners. It’s best to use the ones you’re not attached to for this purpose. Since they’re older blankets, you may not mind if they accidentally get a little splash of salsa or dab of barbecue sauce on them. Better the old repurposed throw blanket than your beautiful wooden table.
Older ornate throws can be folded and used for runners for console tables or in other areas of your home where they’re unlikely to be subject to spills or food stains. You’ll be able to display the beautiful pattern without putting wear and tear on the throw. If you’d like to make a matching set of runners, one standard-sized throw blanket can be cut and easily sewn into two.
If you have a youngster on the way, your microplush throw blankets will definitely come in handy. Babies and toddlers spend a lot of time playing or crawling around on the floor. Throw blankets can create a softer, more comfortable barrier between the little ones and the floor and are especially useful if the child dozes off for a little nap mid-play.
Conclusion
Throw blankets come in a multitude of sizes and can be used for many purposes. There’s no right or wrong dimensions for a throw blanket, and there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy them. There are even reversible designs, so that you can be as creative as you want with your decor. They’re versatile, beautiful, soft, and cozy additions to every room of your home. Even if you have a closet full of throw blankets, that doesn’t mean you couldn’t do with a few more.
Sources:
https://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-mix-and-match-throw-pillows
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