How to choose your blanket

What 130 x 170 cm actually covers

This is the classic sofa-blanket size, and it helps to know what it does and does not cover. It is plenty for one person stretched out on the sofa, and enough for two sitting down with your legs covered. On a single bed it works as a light throw; on a double it falls short as a bedspread, though folded across the foot of the bed it looks great — which is how it gets used half the time anyway.

What they are made of

100% polyester with an extra-soft velvety finish. That means light and warm at the same time: it keeps you warm without the weight, which is the opposite of the old wool blanket. It also dries quickly and does not shrink, so you can wash it without it coming out of the drum two sizes smaller.

Washing it without ruining it

Machine wash at 30 degrees, no bleach, no ironing. That is the whole list. With velvety fabrics a short gentle cycle protects the texture better than a long one, and it is worth taking it out as soon as it finishes rather than leaving it balled up in the drum. The care label on the piece always wins over any general advice.

A blanket is decoration too

It is the cheapest thing that changes a living room, because it covers so much visual surface. Folded over the arm or thrown diagonally across the back of the sofa, it shifts the dominant colour of the room without touching anything else. If your sofa is neutral, a coloured blanket does all the work; if the sofa already has colour, go for black or a shade that is already in the room.

What to pair it with

A blanket and cushions are the combination that genuinely transforms a sofa: the blanket brings the colour, the cushions finish it off. If you are refreshing the whole room, the rest is in home textiles and duvet covers.

When it works as a gift

When you want to give something that actually gets used and you know neither sizes nor taste. A blanket has no size, takes up no wardrobe space and gets used the same evening. It works for a housewarming, for secret santa on a middle budget, and for anyone whose idea of a good night is the sofa. Summer is no obstacle either — air conditioning creates more blanket weather than winter does.

Frequently asked questions about our blankets

What size are they?

130 x 170 cm, the classic sofa size. Always check the product page, where the exact details for each model are listed.

What are they made of?

100% polyester with an extra-soft velvety touch. Warm without the weight, and quick to dry.

Can they go in the washing machine?

Yes, at 30 degrees. No bleach and no ironing.

Will one cover a double bed?

Not as a bedspread — they are made for the sofa. Across the foot of the bed, though, they look excellent, and that is a very common use.

Are the designs your own?

They are designed by Happyideas, so you will not find them everywhere else.

More ideas for the house in home decor.