What size throw should you choose?
A throw is a fleece blanket commonly found in homes. Among other things, it can be used to dress up a bed, decorate a sofa, protect furniture, and—most importantly—keep you warm when temperatures drop during the colder months of the year. When choosing a throw, there are several factors to consider, including style, material, comfort, and color.
However, the size of the throw is not a deciding factor and is a less important consideration. On the contrary, it’s essential to take it into account so you don’t choose the wrong model. Discover the different sizes of throws available, along with a few tips for choosing the right one.
How do you choose the right size for your throw?
To choose the right size throw, you should primarily consider how you plan to use it. In addition to this factor, personal tastes and preferences can also help you find the right throw based on size.
Choose Based on Intended Use
A throw blanket therefore has several uses in the home. For example, you can use it to cover yourself from head to toe on winter days and evenings, whether in bed or on the couch. In this case, the blanket should be proportionate to the user’s size, whether they are a baby, a child, or an adult. In addition, the size should be chosen based on the dimensions of the bed, couch, or sofa.
Used as a decorative accessory to cover or embellish a piece of furniture, a throw should be sized appropriately for the furniture it’s meant to decorate—neither leaving it exposed nor covering it too much. A medium-sized throw is recommended in this case. Finally, when used as a bedspread, sofa throw, or bed cover, a throw should ideally be large enough to easily slip under. Larger sizes also allow you to cover the edges of the bed.
Choose based on your tastes and preferences
Although personal taste and preference are secondary considerations, they can help you choose the right size. After all, regardless of its intended use, a throw should suit the user’s aesthetic preferences. Therefore, you should avoid choosing a size that is either too large or too small, as this could make you feel overwhelmed or ruin your interior decor.
What are the different sizes of throw blankets?
To suit each user's needs and preferences, throws come in a variety of sizes. From large to small, including medium sizes, here's an overview of the different options along with their exact dimensions.
Very small throws
The smallest size of throw measures approximately 70 cm × 100 cm or 80 cm × 100 cm. This type of throw is used as a baby blanket. As such, it is used to keep little ones warm during both their first months and their early years of life. These very small blankets are quite practical and are used to cover children in their cribs, in their parents’ arms, in a stroller, or in a car seat.
Small throws
Small throws are typically about 100 cm wide and 150 cm long. They are often used as blankets for children— in bedrooms, on cots, at school, and so on. When not used for this purpose, they can serve as play mats for children or as covers for small sofas and armchairs to protect them from potential stains. They also make a nice decorative accessory for a child’s bed. It’s also not uncommon to see blankets of this size used to cover and protect pets, particularly dogs.
In addition, small throws can be used as extra blankets on a sofa or armchair in the living room, in an office, or on a patio. For adults who want to cover their knees or are looking for an alternative to a shawl or traditional scarf, a small throw—especially a square one—is the perfect choice. This size is known for being compact and therefore easy to carry.
Medium-sized throws
Throws considered medium-sized range in size from 120 cm to 210 cm. The most common styles are:
- 120 cm × 180 cm;
- 130 cm × 180 cm;
- 150 cm × 200 cm;
- 160 cm × 210 cm.
Medium-sized throws are usually used as extra blankets draped over a sofa for one or two people. In this case, they’re perfect for a cozy moment: you can wrap yourself up in them all day long or on cold fall and winter evenings.
Throws of this size can also be used as picnic blankets or as bedspreads for standard queen-size mattresses. Practical and easy to fold, they can be stored in an armchair or a basket, or draped over a bed, a couch, a sofa, etc. Plus, for travelers and adventurers looking to stay warm during their journeys, medium-sized throws are perfect and can be taken along wherever you go.
Large throws
Large throws range in size from 180 cm wide to 260 cm long. They are generally used to cover oneself and to drape over two- or three-seater sofas. They can also serve as interior decor accents, blankets, and bedspreads.
As decorative items, the 180 cm × 210 cm sizes are the best option. However, when they are to be used as a blanket, add 20 cm to each edge of the fabric. Thus, for standard-size beds—that is, those measuring 180 cm wide by 200 cm long—you’ll need a throw measuring 200 cm by 220 cm.
It should also be noted that within the category of large throws, there is a subcategory known as extra-large throws. Their dimensions can exceed 200 to 220 cm in width and 220 to 260 cm in length. These extra-large throws, known as “king size,” are designed to cover beds of equally impressive dimensions.
However, throws of this size are quite rare. Furthermore, they are rather bulky and impractical because they are very heavy. After reviewing the different throw sizes, it is important to note that there is no universal classification system for throw sizes. In fact, standards vary from one manufacturer to another.
In any case, the intended use—and, to a lesser extent, personal preferences—remain the main criteria to consider if you want to be sure to choose a throw that is neither too small nor too large. However, large throws offer the most versatility because they are both long and wide.
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- Solid-color or patterned throw: Which one should you choose?
- How do you choose a throw blanket for a child?
- Which blanket should you choose for a baby?
- How do you choose a throw based on the season?
- How do you drape a throw over a sofa?
- How can I use a throw blanket to cover a sofa in an attractive way?
- What's the difference between a sofa throw and a sofa blanket?
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