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Accessories
To Drape a Throw or Fold It?
Spilling softly or crisply creased, throws on chairs, sofas and chaises offer beauty and comfort
You know those people who can fling a throw in the air and get it to land in a perfect, graceful cascade on the target piece of furniture? Yeah ... I'm not one of them. But that doesn't stop me from trying — there's something about the gentle, sinuous drape of a blanket that evokes a lived-in sensibility and an air of genuine warmth. Design mavens tend to disagree (I have a friend and former colleague who calls it the "toss like a salad" approach). In most of the interiors I see, throws are neatly folded and graphically placed, which offers a cleaner, crisper look.
Neither tactic is wrong. It really depends on the feel you want to create and the spin you want to give your space. Whichever style speaks to you, the photos below will help you make it work.
Neither tactic is wrong. It really depends on the feel you want to create and the spin you want to give your space. Whichever style speaks to you, the photos below will help you make it work.
On the other hand, a neatly folded blanket on the end of this chaise sets off the crisp lines of the pattern and of the entire space.
This sheepskin throw wouldn't look nearly as luxurious if it were folded and squared with the sofa. Its lushness calls for a sexy slump to the floor.
The trick in a collected space is to avoid creating a messy look. Keeping this yellow throw cleanly folded helps to keep clutter in check.
By contrast, this offhandedly tossed blanket reinforces the unstudied, casual look of this cozy corner. Its secret? Not trying too hard.
Twin throws centered on the backs of these slipper chairs enhance the room’s modern notes rather than its traditional ones.
A draped throw in a brilliant color helps to loosen up this formal entry. The pooch doesn't hurt either.
This living area is all about definition: lines, curves, angles. A graphically placed throw doesn’t disrupt the balance.
Discuss balanced interiors with a professional designer
Discuss balanced interiors with a professional designer
Puddling gently on the floor, this throw whispers of a leisurely afternoon spent with a good book or an evening with a glass of champagne and a nibble. It wouldn't look nearly as inviting if the blanket were neater.
Two accents that could have felt overly sweet — the heart artwork and the plaid throw — get a contemporary, graphic spin.
Pair a Throw With a Pillow