West Elm's choice of throw blankets

Believe it or not finding the perfect throw blanket can be a hard task, I know this first hand.  My first throw blanket was a deep red, beautifully soft, knitted, thin tasseled throw blanket.  I threw the blanket over my bed, the color went perfectly with the painting on my wall of a ballerina in mid-bow, most likely after a show, holding a large bouquet of flowers close to her chest that was similar in color as this certain throw blanket.  After about a month of using this throw blanket I slowly became more and more aggravated with it, the thin tasseled edges began to knot and soon were snarled around each other.  It was impossible to sit there and try to get the knots out so I stopped trying and gave in to the fact that I indeed made a bad decision to buy.

Other times the throw blanket can be too thin, the texture not quite right.  So yes, finding the perfect throw blanket can be a hard task.  But of course you learn from your mistakes, I've learned... 

1.  You must consider the edges:  are there tassels?

If so, will they get knotted & tangled?

2.  What is the fabric?

Do you prefer knit, faux-fur, etc.?

Will it shed or will lint and things get easily picked up on it?

3.  How large is the throw blanket?

Is it too large or not enough for the space you plan to use it?

These are usually the three things I look out for now when considering any kind of throw whether rug, pillow or blanket.  That being said let's consider throw blanket options from West Elm.

The Chunky Tassel Throw for a very good price and in three different shades is a great option, the knit texture is always comforting and makes one feel at home.  And though I've had a bad experience with throw blanket with tassels, the tassels on the Chunky Tassel Throw seems much too chunky to get tangled and knotted.

Chunky Tassel Throw $55.00

The Cozy Throw, even a great price couldn't get me to buy this blanket!  The loose thin-tasseled edges is a MUST STAY AWAY sign.  Take it from me, after a month of use these edges will be tangled!

Cozy Throw $55.00

The Faux-Fur Throw, my favorite.  My first concern was that the faux-fur would get on everything, my clothes included.  My mother has had a faux-fur throw blanket for some time now and even after as much use as it gets not once have I seen the faux-fur on me or on any of the furniture.  Of course where you get this faux-fur throw blanket and the quality which it is made is a big factor, so ask the nearest salesperson or simply... rub yourself up against the faux-fur rug and test it out for yourself.

Faux-Fur Throw $95.00 - $119.00

Accent Pillows

A throw pillow isn't just a throw pillow just like knobs aren't just knobs- details count in the complete picture of a room.  Not too long ago I bought a pair of throw pillow covers from CB2 with green birds on a cream colored backing to replace a couple of plain cheap pillows I had bought in what may have likely been Linen's And Things or Bed Bath & Beyond.  I bought the covers on sale for a very decent price of $6.00 a case and used the old pillows for the stuffing.  It worked out beautifully and now my couch looks half way decent, if anything, the couch needs now to be replaced in order to live up to the standards of the throw pillows!

Below are pictures of a few throw pillows and pillow cases I thought were worth looking at.

Sometimes just a nice plain  throw pillow will do, below are pictures of the Leisure Clay throw pillows from CB2.  I was at CB2 last weekend and saw the cushions up-close and personal and  found the pillow definitely lived up to the picture and would even go as far as to say they look better in person.  At 23" square they are a good size, neither too big or too small and with a soft velvety front it's the ideal simple cushion.  The throw pillow comes in three colors:  white, blue and yellow.

 

CB2 Leisure Clay 23" Pillows $39.95/each

Back view of the Leisure Clay Pillows

For a little more comfortable and homey feel with the simplicity still intact I found from West Elm the Alpaca Textured Pillow Cover.  In four different pastel-like shades:  Cream, Gray, Purple and Brown and two different sizes 16"sq and 24"sq - a variety of looks can be achieved, with the variety in color and size giving you the option to mix and match or go for all one-size and one-color.  The Alpaca Textured Pillow Covers are made in Peru and handcrafted; hand-spun and hand-loomed with alpaca yarns ultimately creating a pillow case with "supreme" softness.

West Elm Alpaca Textured Pillow Cover $29-39.00
Made of Alpaca, wool, nylon & cotton backing with zipper

I found that Urban Outfitters is a good place to look for many interior home decor items, such as throw pillows.  Often Urban Outfitters will have unique looking decor such as the Hand Quilted Velvet Pillow below for fair prices.  Keeping to 'simple', the Hand Quilted Velvet Pillow from Urban Outfitters comes in four different solid colors all with dimensions: 15"sq and 4" deep and with a velvet textured front that makes this pillow so attractive.

 

Urban Outfitters Hand Quilted Velvet Pillow $24.00

Comes in colors:  Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green

Below is my favorite throw pillow find than none other than Jonathon Adler the Mod Model Pillow at 15"sq, hand made with 100% wool front with velvet back and zipper and feather/down insert.  A throw pillow can't get any hipper than this.  And with the odd combination of a wool front and velvet back it doesn't get anymore chic.

Jonathon Adler Mod Model Pillow $165
Hand made, 16"x16", 100% wool front, velvet back with zipper, feather down insert

Making Things Cozy With A Throw Blanket

Ever sit on the couch and watch some teli wishing you had a nice cozy blanket to wrap around yourself?  I often do and last month I came across this faux fur blanket that was awesome for just that... but just one thing, I didn't buy it.  I've thought back quite often about how I should have bought it when I had had the chance, I plan to go back and get one- redeem myself once and for all for that stupid mistake.  I saw the blanket then I saw the price, I began to have doubts of it's usefulness and so I let it slide, but deep down I knew that I wanted it, I knew that it would be useful, and so here I am relaying this story so that you won't make the same mistake.

The truth is, a throw blanket to sit on the couch is never a bad idea, it's one of those items that seem more decorous than anything but in truth it's quite useful.  I've grown up in an household where often we would take naps on the sofa or the house would be too cold because of the wooden floors, the throw blanket has always been useful.

CB2 Knit Throw $69.95

Anthropologie Sari Throw $198

Bed Bath & Beyond Stewart Plaid Blanket $9.99
On Clearance Now!

Cost Plus World Market Chocolate Faux Fur Throw $59.99

Cost Plus World Market Novica Earth Alpaca Wool Throw $112.95