Second Magazine article- Home design and decorations

Decorating with Throws

H O M E S T Y L E

 By Andrea Fuguet

28 Central Florida Lifestyle | November 2011

The main job of a throw, or small blanket, is to keep us warm. But they also serve another purpose: decoration. When it comes to decorating the living room, adding a throw could add that instant color to an otherwise neutral-hued sofa. “If you want to add warmth, texture or color to your living room, putting a throw blanket over your couch is the way to go,” says Gloria Van Dusen, interior designer and owner of Envi by Design, located in Orlando.

According to Van Dusen, throws add style and interest to any sofa, even ones with brighter colors. They can be found in a variety of fabrics and can be used in sofas or loveseats. Throw blankets can be cheap or expensive depending on the type of fabric and pattern. The snuggly blankets are available in materials such as wool, cotton, cashmere, silk or eco-friendly textiles like Van Dusen has been using in her projects since her company, Envi by Design, has gone green for the environment. Cathy Sands, principal designer of Blue Daze Designs (BDD) recommends throws made out of bamboo fibers or any delicate textures that will provide the warmth and softness one looks for in a blanket.

 “Texture is very important. It has to be something you want to snuggle with,” says Sands. When decorating with throws, Sands prefers to keep it casual for that old-fashioned look. When choosing colors, Sands suggests picking contrasting tones that enhance the sofa or loveseat. She also recommends that for colder months to use darker colors like gray or brown. “It depends on the color scheme you have in mind. Contrasting colors like a burnt red throw on a chocolate brown sofa can really make a room pop,” Sands says.

 To decorate with throws, simply place the throw over the top of the sofa or chair either on the left or right side and let it fall like a drape on the back of the couch. This way it adorns the sofa while it’s easily accessible for you to snuggle with during a movie night. According to Sands, on holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving seasonal throw blankets can also be used as a way to decorate for the season. So next time you’re looking for something to add a little extra style to your living room, remember throws give a nice decorative touch and they keep you warm, too.