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Winter Blankets: Create The Cosiest Bed Ever With These Layering Steps
Snuggling into a cosy bed when it's cold outside is the best way to find relief from the chilly winter air. Creating a winter-time nest by layering plenty of winter blankets and throws makes for a bedroom style that's warm and welcoming - the perfect place to sip on a cuppa or read a good book before nodding off.
Mastering the art of bed layering can also help you achieve a good night's rest with a warm blanket cocoon, assisting in saving you on heating energy and making for a better-quality snooze.
Rather than popping on one big heavy cover, layering your bed with blankets is the way to go if you want to maximise the cosiness of your sleeping arrangement. All those warm air zones between blankets keep you snug through the night, plus you can always remove some if you get overheated.
At Spotlight, we're here to help you find everything you need to make a cosy bed. From a great range of blankets and throws to helpful tips and tricks for winter layering, discover how to layer your bed for maximum warmth and style right here.
Quick Links
- Comparing Types of Blankets To Find the Best Winter Layers For Your Bed
- Step 1: Start With Your Basic Bed Linen
- Step 2: Begin Your Layering With a Textured Knit
- Step 3: Make It Snug With Outer Blankets
- Step 4: The Perfect Finishing Touch With A Throw (Or Two)
Comparing Types of Blankets To Find the Best Winter Layers For Your Bed
Certain fabrics are better suited for summer than winter, so make sure you're choosing cosy and insulating materials for all your winter bedding materials. Here are some of our favourite winter fabrics perfect for your bed blankets and throws!
Classic Cotton Blankets
Cotton blankets with plenty of texture (like waffle knits) make ideal, naturally breathable, inner blanket layers. Cotton blankets are also easy to wash and care for, which is useful given how close they sit to your skin! Use them in winter with other layers or on their own for light summer bedding.
Fluffy Faux Fur Layers
Make a cosy statement with luxe faux fur or faux shearling sherpa blankets for an extra fluffy and inviting bed. Faux fur is quite thick and very textured, so keep your faux fur blankets on the very top of your bed and not hidden under any other layers, as their texture may show through a thinner upper blanket. Faux fur is also a great material for your bed cushions! They're great to lounge about on and are an easy way to add unique texture to your bed.
Fleece, Plush and Teddy Textures
Plush blankets like fleeces and teddy throws trap warm air in their textured fibres and make a wonderful outer blanket option. Choose complementary colours or go for a single statement hue that's rich and cosy-looking. These are made from synthetic materials that will keep you very warm but aren't super breathable, so make sure to only use them as a top layer option and not in amongst your sheets.
Inner Layers of Knits and Waves
Looser knits and weaves are ideal inner blanket layers, providing plenty of little pockets for warm air to be stored. For decorative throws, choose interesting textures and patterns that work with the rest of your bedding scheme.
Knits are stretchy, making them really nice to wrap around yourself while you sleep. As a decorative top layer blanket, they're prone to sliding around and hanging off the edge of your bed, so choose extra-large blankets in these materials if you're after that rustic, relaxed aesthetic for your bed.
Chic Velvet Materials
Soft and touchable - and undeniably glam - velvet is wonderfully cuddly and can have a great sheen, too. Its density and thickness make it a fabulously snug choice for your outer blanket. Velvet blankets are available in a variety of elegant colours that are perfect for adding a more luxurious touch to your bed.
Velvet is a type of weave, so it can be made from natural or synthetic materials. Choose whichever you love the feel of, and keep in mind the different cleaning methods for natural and synthetic materials should you decide to have a drink and a snack in, or on, your bed!
Timeless and Cosy Wool Blankets
Wool is a hard-wearing and naturally breathable choice that will give your cosy bed scheme a classic look and feel. Wool blankets are a great choice for an outer blanket or a knitted inner layer, and they come in a range of lovely natural colours that will make your bed look oh-so cosy!
Step 1: Start With Your Basic Bed Linen
To start, set up your bed with the standard bed linen, such as a fitted sheet and flat sheet. This will ensure a fresh and comfortable set-up. We love flannelette sheets for winter, as they provide extra warmth for winter and are super soft on your body. Cotton sheets are also a fantastic option for year-round comfort.
Step 2: Begin Your Layering With a Textured Knit
Once you've got your fitted sheet and top sheet in place, it's time for your first winter blanket layer. This shouldn't be too thick and heavy. Ideally, you want a looser knit or weave, something with plenty of little spaces to create warm air pockets right next to you as you sleep. Natural fabrics are great for keeping you warm and wicking away sweat - look for cotton, bamboo, wool, flannel and other similar materials for your blankets to keep you warm without feeling stifled and sweaty.
A cotton waffle blanket is a great option, with the bonus of keeping breathable natural fabrics close to your skin. Any knitted or loose-weave throw will work, just make sure it's nice and soft to the touch. For added cosiness, sandwich another bed sheet on top - this is what fancy hotels do to create luxurious warmth, as well as stylish layers, for their guests.
Tip: We tend to think that blankets are the things that keep us warm - but actually it's the other way around! Layers of blankets trap our body heat inside, keeping us nice and cosy through the night, so make sure to jump into bed while you're still warm from your dressing gown and slippers. The trick is to balance warmth with breathability, which natural materials will provide.
Next comes a toasty outer layer (or two if it's extremely chilly!). Here we need something quite heavy and dense to insulate all that good warm air and keep it inside. Think quilted coverlets, wool blankets or throws in plush or fleece - nice, weighty and touchable.
Remember that this outer blanket will be on show once your bed is made up, so aim for warm and welcoming colours and textures for that extra cosy look. Velvets and faux furs are snuggly and glamorous. Cords and quilts are invitingly touchable. Choose something that says 'good night's sleep' to you while also matching the decor theme of your bedroom.
If you're using two outer blankets, try laying one over the whole bed, and fold the second one down about one-third from the top. This shows off the style and feel of both blankets and creates a fuller, fluffier look on the bed.
A decorative throw or two completes your cosy nesting look. What says 'snug' to you? Try soft and inviting textures like knits and chenilles, or look at throws edged with tassels or pom poms to add a touch more fun and whimsy to your space.
Having a throw at the foot of your bed makes it easy to grab when you want to curl up in a reading chair, or you can pull it up for extra warmth when you're ready for sleep. Fold your throw lengthwise and place it over the foot of your bed, or go for a more casual look and drape it over one corner.
Above the bed layering benefits, a draped throw at the end of your bed will elevate the styling of your bedroom, introducing a relaxed and cosy ambience to your space. Warm lighting, scented candles and some extra plush pillows will complete your snug winter-time sanctuary. And of course, don't forget to add a few bed cushions for decoration to finish!
Discover the Best Winter Layers For Your Bed Here at Spotlight
There are so many ways to master how to layer blankets for maximum warmth. You can find everything you need for layering blankets on your bed right here at Spotlight! Browse our magnificent bedding range online, safely pay and we'll deliver your bedding straight to your front door. Otherwise, visit your nearest Spotlight store and our friendly team will help you choose the perfect winter blankets and throws for layering in person.
For more information on the kinds of bedding we offer, check out our buying guides on quilts, bed linen and blankets. And if it's bedding ideas and styling inspiration you need, read our blogs on the Best and Warmest Bed Linen, the Best Blinds For Winter and 13 Ways For Keeping Warm At Home.
