A throw blanket is an essential décor item in a home, serving both style and functional purposes. Whether you place them in your bedroom or on your couch, throw blankets provide comfort throughout the year. So, what’s the best material for a throw blanket?
The best throw blanket is subjective, and it depends on a few factors. Your style preference and the climate you live in are chief determinants. Allergic concerns can also affect your choice.
This article explores the various throw blankets available and the best material for a throw blanket. I also share tips on selecting the best throw blanket for your home and the distinctions between a throw and a blanket.
How Do You Select the Best Throw Blanket for Your Home?
Contents
There are five characteristics to keep in mind when choosing the best throw blanket for your home, and they include:
Style
As a décor and comfort item, style is a major factor for your choice of throw blankets. Thankfully, you have an array of textures, colors, and patterns to select from.
Some throw blankets also include fringed borders. The best throw blanket should reflect your personality and match other design elements in your space.
Thickness
Your throw blanket’s thickness should match the level of warmth you want and the time of year. The weight of a blanket corresponds to its thickness, and you can measure it by grams per square meter (GSM).
Higher GSM throw blankets are thicker and plusher, while lower GSM levels mean the blanket would be ideal for a summer night.
Softness
Nylon, polyester, plush, sherpa, faux fur, and acrylic are synthetic materials that make the softest throw blankets. Of course, cotton is your best natural option. Besides softness, chunky, silky, and fluffy are also ‘feel’ qualities.
Maintenance
The care and maintenance of your throw blanket are essential, and you should ensure to select an easily maintained one. Machine washable and dryable blankets enable you to keep up with the routine cleaning required.
Some items like cashmere or luxury silk need hand-washing, so check the label for instructions before buying.
Size
The average size of throw blankets is 50 inches in width by 60 inches in length. A throw blanket of this size can wrap you nicely without being overwhelming and serve as an accent piece on an average size sofa.
What Is the Best Material for a Throw Blanket?
Netflix and chill won’t be complete without a warm and cozy throw blanket around you or you and your partner. You may call it ‘snuggle and chill’ if you have a good book for company. Choosing the right throw blanket gives you a practical and sophisticated addition to your home décor.
Throw blankets come in various styles and colors, and you may find it challenging to select the best for you. However, your preference is the top priority in choosing the best throw blanket.
The factors that determine the best material for a throw blanket are:
- Your environment: Living in a cold climate will have you seeking warm materials like fleece or wool. However, lightweight fabrics, like cotton, will serve you better in tropical environments.
- Allergies and environmental concerns: All-natural fibers like cotton and wool may help prevent allergic reactions. Animal-friendly materials like faux fur also appeal to people dedicated to living sustainably.
- Style: Your eyes will see the throw blanket more than anyone else, so it should reflect your aesthetic inclination. If you like bright colors or mixed patterns, materials that blend well would be best for you.
To further highlight the features of each material, consider them in these categories to simplify your decision:
The softest materials for a throw blanket
Synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic, or nylon make the softest throw blankets. High-grade fleece blankets can feel as soft as faux fur against your skin, and sherpa also falls in this group.
Although natural materials aren’t as soft as synthetic ones, they make some soft throw blankets. Cotton—brushed cotton—is the gentlest natural material, with the final product feeling like fleece, and cashmere and alpaca are excellent alternatives to wool.
The best materials for a summer throw blanket
The summer heat will have you blasting the air conditioner and wrapping yourself like a burrito while trying not to overcook yourself in the blanket. Hence, a good summer throw blanket should be breathable and have moisture-wicking properties.
The three materials you can use are:
- Cotton: This is the most breathable fabric, and it helps regulate your body temperature. Your cotton throw blanket will cool you down if you get too warm.
- Bamboo: This material is 40% more absorbent than cotton, and throw blankets made from it have a silky texture. Bamboo is also stronger than cotton, making it suitable for a throw blanket that sees frequent washing and heavy use.
It is odor-resistant, with antibacterial and moisture-wicking properties. So you can relax with your bamboo throw blanket in comfort, without worrying about weird odors or feeling hot. - Linen: It comes from fibers of the flax plant, and its loose weave allows it to regulate temperature. Your linen throw blanket will absorb sweat away from your body and enable a lot of air to get to you.
The warmest materials for a throw blanket
Their thickness and ability to trap warm air close to your body distinguish warm blankets. The artificial and natural materials that have both features include:
Cashmere
It’s a fabric from cashmere goats, local to Pakistan, India, and Tibet. Cashmere provides great insulation and is also light and immensely soft.
The higher the quality, the warmer it is and the smoother the texture. Also, cashmere is hypoallergenic and softer than wool.
Fleece and wool
These synthetic and natural materials, respectively, are the top choices for warm throw blankets. Wool retains heat and wicks moisture away, while many fleece blankets come with a double layer of fabric.
The double-layer increases heat, keeping you warm and toasty as the wind rattles your windows.
Sherpa
These throw blankets are a mic of fleece and faux sheepskin—one material on either side. Materials such as cotton and polyester blend with faux sheepskin and comprise one side of the blanket. The fleece is also double layered.
Having laid out the options available, I hope you can whittle down the variety and select your perfect throw blanket.
Is There Any Difference Between a Throw and a Blanket?
People often use throws, blankets, and afghans interchangeably, but there are subtle and sometimes glaring differences between them. While a throw is a blanket, not all blankets are throws.
Their function remains the same, though—providing warmth. Other significant differences include:
- Design and material: Most blankets comprise one massive piece of fabric, while throws include knitted components. Wool, fleece, and flannel are common blanket materials, while satin, crushed velvet, and faux fur make for elegant throws.
- Size: This is the primary distinction between a throw and a blanket. Most blankets use bed dimensions and come in sizes suitable for a king or queen mattress. On the flip side, throw blankets have a standard size fit for one person to use.
- Purpose: Throws are more for decoration, while blankets have a more functional purpose. When your throw blanket isn’t keeping you warm, you can lay it on your sofa to add flair to the space. You cannot decorate your couch with your blanket.
Now that you can tell the differences between these two warmth-giving items, you are better suited to choosing what’s best for your home.
