Sofa throws: tips and tricks on how to use them

A throw may have a million and one uses but its magic lies in its subtlety. It’s not something you notice straight away when you walk into a space but it can break up a sofa, soften a room, hint at the potential for serene, snuggly warmth all within an arm’s reach. To take pleasure in a throw is to enjoy the simple moments in everyday life, that spot on the sofa you long for all day and finally settle in. Some time just for you.

If you’re unsure what throw to buy or how to style it, you’ve come to the right place. Below we tuck into the possibilities with five great uses for a sofa throw.

1. A texture to a sofa

A throw or blanket can add colour and texture to any room in your home. Fold one at the end of a bed, drape over a chair or hang it over the back of your sofa, the options are endless.

If your sofa is a great big block of solid colour, throws and cushions can really help to break it up visually. Mix textures and tones to give a sense of depth. Look for subtle colours and designs that complement and enhance your room scheme and personal style.

Try blankets in natural materials like wool or silk to add a touch of luxury, and look for high-quality weaving that will elevate your look. A 100% wool blanket provides the extra benefit of being naturally hypoallergenic, smell resistant and able to absorb harmful pollutants, helping to purify your air.

2. Something to reach for when you’re cold

If you’re having a long sit on the sofa, reading a book or watching a movie and suddenly get cold, a cosy throw is just what you need. It adds a tactile quality to the experience of film night, reminding you of snuggling up with your siblings or friends squabbling over whose toes were sticking out.

Sometimes you almost want it to be colder than it is, so you can luxuriate in the comfort of being wrapped in something soft.

3. Disguise wear and tear

Throws are a great way to bring an old sofa to life, give it a little extra something, or hide the general wear and tear that comes from living. It might be a little stain from some long-forgotten lunch, a threadbare patch on the arm, or sun-bleached areas where your favourite armchair has been sitting near a window. Any of these can be gone in an instant with a strategically placed throw.

4. Keep things clean

Speaking of stains, rather than mask them, it may be easier to protect from them in the first place. If you have pets, children or enjoy a glass of red with your favourite reality tv show, a throw on the seat of your sofa can save you a lot of trouble. Simply lay your throw over the part you sit on and tuck it in neatly at the sides. Anyone who’s ever tried to sit on a cream sofa in jeans will know just how useful this can be.

For this, we’d recommend using a 100% wool throw, which is very strong and durable. You don’t need to worry about overusing it as it’s very resistant to tearing, stretching or wearing down with use. You won’t need to wash it very often as it’s naturally resistant to smells but when you do simply wash it in the machine on a wool setting and hang it to dry. (There’s no need to iron it as wool is wrinkle resistant.) As soon as it’s completely dry, pop it straight back on the sofa and voila, it’s protected again.

5. Mark the seasons

Soft furnishings like throws can really help transition a room from one season to another.  Mark the beginning of autumn with cosy wool pieces and take pleasure in the cyclical nature of it all. Making your living space as cosy as it can be - be it a bedroom, study or living room - can really help you mentally prepare for the changes in weather.

Come spring you might want to pack away the thicker wool blankets, switching them up for a more lightweight fabric or colour. Think pastel hues, soft cashmeres and more loosely woven pieces. (Though don’t forget, wool may be a great insulator but it’s also very breathable - great at regulating your temperature in warmer weather too!)

Do I want a pure wool throw or wool blend?

For a reliable winter warmer, pure wool blankets are excellent insulators and very hard-wearing too. But blends of different natural fibres can bring all sorts of other advantages. 

Rise & Fall throws come in three different premium materials - each one 100% natural. All of them are made by a family-owned company in Lake Como, Northern Italy with over 150 years of experience weaving beautiful wool blankets. Find out more about the manufacturers of our wool throws here.

100% Lambswool

Our Tonal Check Throw is 100% lambswool and comes in two classic colour options, grey and blue.

  • The pure lambswool makes this throw super strong - you could take it outside for a picnic and lay it on the grass with no trouble at all.
  • It’s really good at keeping you warm whilst also regulating your temperature, so you could just as easily use this throw inside on the sofa or outside on an autumn evening.
  • Like all wool, it’s hypoallergenic, biodegradable, wrinkle-resistant, odour resistant, water-resistant, warm, and breathable - making it an easy-going wool blanket, with a multitude of uses.
  • At a lower price point than the others, it’s a more affordable option, bringing everyday luxury.

Alpaca + Lambswool

Our Basket Weave Throw is a 50/50 blend of Alpaca and Lambswool and comes in two beautifully textured colours.

  • Alpaca weighs less than 1/3 of the amount of lambswool. So with the same amount of weight you can get a whole heap more cosiness.
  • This snuggly throw actually weighs in at 260 gr/sqm making it extra warm. In fact, it’s the warmest of our throws - excellent for those chilly winter evenings.
  • Alpaca is a little smoother and softer as a fibre, pair that with its beautifully intricate weave and you’ve got yourself a gorgeously premium product.
  • Like all wool, it’s hypoallergenic, biodegradable, wrinkle-resistant, odour resistant, water-resistant, extra warm, and - thanks to those hollow fibres - extra breathable too.

Cashmere + Silk + Lambswool

The height of luxury, our buttery soft Two-Tone Cashmere Throw is a blend of cashmere, silk and lambswool.

  • This blend brings the softness of cashmere, the sheen of silk, and the strength of lambswool. This softer, silkier fabric makes for a luxuriously tactile throw.
  • It still provides plenty of warm cosiness but the buttery soft fabric makes it great for the summer months when you might be wearing a t-shirt or have more exposed skin. There’s nothing like brushing that silk and cashmere blend against your skin.
  • This throw is the most premium of the three, it is exceptionally beautiful to look at and touch but made to last. 

How should I take care of my wool throw?

With a few simple steps, you can keep your wool blankets looking and feeling good year after year.

  • Wash on the wool cycle at a maximum 30°C. (Too much heat or spin will shrink it!)
  • Use non-bio detergents, as the enzymes found in bio detergents will damage the fibres.
  • Do not bleach or use fabric softener.
  • Do not iron or tumble dry, simply give it a good shake and hang up.