A bed that’s missing a throw blanket is a bed that’s missing warmth, texture and style.
In fact, these small decorative additions have the ability to make the whole bedroom look magazine-worthy.
No need to fret if you don’t know where to begin when it comes to styling a bed with a throw as we have 23 easy-to-follow ideas to inspire you.
It’s time to get scrolling because the quicker you find the perfect drape, the quicker you can up the coziness factor.
1. Folded corner placement
Placing your throw on one of the bottom corners of the bed will give it maximum exposure, as it’s an area that is roughly in the middle of the bedroom.
This level of visibility comes with extra scrutiny, so it’s a good idea to adopt a folded corner placement for a neat and tidy look, and maybe set the throw at a slight angle to loosen things up a bit.
2. Knotted drape
If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can style a bed throw into some really creative and artistic displays.
Tying a knot in the throw so it looks like a bow tie is an excellent example of how to make a decorative statement. It’s not the most practical idea, but definitely one to consider as a home staging tactic to woo buyers and renters.
3. Splay it out
For something that’s not so much a decorative touch as a whole new look for your bed, splay out the throw as much as possible.
This is perfect if you need to jazz up plain bedding or to infuse the bedroom with a large block of color and texture. You can’t help but feel overcome with warmth when your own bed is wearing the throw like a duvet.
4. Over the side drape
If you can’t make your mind up on where to drape a throw on the bed, use the bedroom door as a reference point.
Maybe the door faces the side of the bed, in which case drape your throw over the side of the bed. This way, you get to catch a glimpse of your beautiful throw blanket while walking down the hallway if the door is left open.
5. Straddle the foot of the bed
This one is our favorite in terms of the ease with which you can jump in bed and curl up in the throw on those cold winter nights.
But that’s not the only reason to straddle your throw over the foot of the bed. Again, it’s a chance to ooze style by grazing the floor, and you’re left with a lovely symmetrical finish that just completes the room.
6. Zigzag fold
If you really thrive in an energetic bedroom, you could be the perfect candidate for a somewhat edgy bed throw styling method.
In other words, strike your bed with a bolt of lightning!
There’s no question that a folded zigzag placement will stimulate the eye like nothing else, so what you lose in terms of coziness is more than made up for in decorative appeal.
7. Arched corner drape
What’s not to love about draping a throw over the corner of the bed in the shape of an arch? This is a very popular technique indeed.
So many boxes are checked when it comes to the arched corner drape: it’s causally elegant, easy to execute, and the curvature of it helps to break the rigid structure of the room.
8. Drape it over the footboard
Returning to our point about using the door for reference, if your bed faces the door then draping your throw over the footboard is an obvious choice.
And since the footboard is a solid piece of furniture, often with straight edges and sharp corners, styling it with a comfy throw blanket will go a very long way to soften up the space.
9. Try a triangle
There’s something rather poetic about inserting a geometric shape in the corner of a larger geometric shape.
If you think your bedroom could benefit from some poetic throw styling, fold your throw into a triangle and slot it into either one of the bottom corners. Now your rectangular bed offers a burst asymmetry.
10. Wrinkled drape
The last thing you want in a bedroom that feels distinctly flat is a flattened bed throw, otherwise your problems will only get worse.
So think twice before ironing out those delicious wrinkles in your throw blanket, as this is what fuels it with texture and character.
Depending on where you sit on the organic spectrum, a few creases here and there may be all that’s needed, or feel free to rumple it up completely for heightened impact.
11. Diagonal drape
A throw that doesn’t conform to the shape of the bed is a throw that sends pulses racing every time you stare at it.
To this end, pick up a large-scale throw and place it diagonally over the bed to go from a static shape to something with heaps of dimension.
12. Folded side placement
Draping a throw on a bed organically isn’t for everyone. If you’re a stickler for tidiness then knock yourself out with a small-scale folded placement.
You can’t go wrong letting your folded throw hang over the side of the bed, especially if it has a striped design that criss-crosses the design of the bedding.
13. Rippled drape
Homeowners who can’t decide between a prim and proper fold or a lose and casual drape would do well to choose the ripple effect when styling a throw on a bed.
It really is the best of both worlds because it travels across the bed in a nice straight line while remaining organic at its core with a series of ripples to give the display a little bit of oomph.
14. Lower half drape
When you want to make a big comfy statement with your throw without eclipsing the bed, choose a lower half drape.
After all, the bedding and cushions and such are pieces of bed decor in their own right and need space to shine.
This probably isn’t the look for you if there’s not much visual interest at the top end of your bed, otherwise the aesthetic will be thrown off-balance.
15. Create a waterfall effect
The concept behind the waterfall drape is simple enough: hang the throw over the end of the bed so that it cascades down towards the floor like a waterfall.
The payoff is massive but so is the level of difficulty to pull off this fantastic look. Give yourself the best chance of success by using a textured throw as the friction with the bedding should keep gravity at bay.
16. Folded footboard placement
Not only is it easy to grab, folding a throw and placing it over the footboard is just a great way to polish things off if you’re worried about overpowering the bedding.
Don’t be afraid to target the headboard with the same style of placement for utmost convenience when you need the throw and you’re already lying in bed.
It’s not too dissimilar to the folded arm placement when putting a throw on a couch.
17. Casual fold
You do realize you can fold your bed throws without joining them up at the corners, don’t you?
Instead of committing to a neat fold, try fanning it out a little so that it becomes shapeless. The end result is a blanket that’s ready and waiting to warm you up, as opposed to a rigid piece of decoration.
18. Skim the floor
A great way to make your bedroom look and feel more cohesive is to have your throw make physical contact with other nearby decor.
Got a floor rug? Let your throw blanket hang over the edge of the bed and gently graze the rug for an aesthetic that is equal parts cohesive and cozy.
This is also a good reason why you should opt for a bed throw which features detailed edging such as tassels, as it gives the throw additional reach without slipping off the bed.
19. Full length drape
A typical bed is longer than it is wide, so it shows an eye for good design by choosing a lengthwise drape.
As ever, ruffle it up and set it at an angle for that organic feel. We also recommend making the throw narrower towards the end to give it a sense of direction, almost like it’s pointing you to your bed.
20. Over the corner edge
The beauty of targeting the corner edge is that your luxurious throw unifies the top, side and end of the bed with a single placement.
It’s an acutely relaxing look, and you don’t have to worry about it moving around or falling off the bed as the corner edge anchors it in place and the weight of the throw is spread out.
21. Fit to size
Chucking a throw at the bed and having it spill over the edges in glorious fashion will suit most people’s needs, but what if you’re all about precision?
In this instance, bring out the tape measure and fold your throw into a shape and size that matches the dimensions of the bed for a clean-lined look.
How much of the surface you want to cover is up to you, though a third tends to be the sweet spot for this particular throw styling technique.
22. Over the bench
If your bed doesn’t have a footboard, and your throw is too small to reach the floor, you can still showcase some cohesion by touching a bench.
And don’t worry if the bench isn’t level with the bed as this enhances the organic flow of the throw blanket by tenfold.
23. Lost at sea
When you fold a throw and place it somewhere in the center of the bed with no sense of orientation about it, it has the appearance of being adrift at sea.
But don’t feel sorry for your blanket! Despite losing its bearings, a throw styled this way gives off a carefree impression that does wonders for making the bedroom feel more relaxed.