Winter Blankets: Create The Cosiest Bed Ever With These Layering Tips

Everyone loves snuggling into a cosy bed when it's cold outside, don't they? 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.

Snug bedding can also help you get a good night's rest. Research shows we sleep better in a cooler room, so that nice warm blanket cocoon saves on heating energy and makes for a better-quality snooze.

How to stay toasty? Rather than popping on one big heavy cover, layering is the way to go if you want to maximise cosiness. All those warm air zones between blankets keep you snug through the night, plus you can always remove some if you get overheated.

Here's how to layer blankets for maximum warmth (and style) on the bed this winter. Sweet dreams!

Quick Links

• Start With A Knit
• Make It Snug With Outer Blankets
• Finish With A Throw (Or Two)
• Choose The Right Fabric For You

Start With A Knit

Once you've got your fitted sheet and top sheet in place (we love flannelette sheets for winter!), 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 added 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 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.

Make It Snug With Outer Blankets

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.

Finish With A Throw (Or Two)

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.

Warm lighting, scented candles and some extra plush pillows will complete your snug winter-time sanctuary. Add a few bed cushions for decoration to finish!

Choose The Right Fabric For You

Certain fabrics are better suited for summer over 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!

Cotton

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 are sitting to your skin! Use them in winter with other coverings or on their own for light summer bedding.

Faux fur

Make a cosy statement with luxe faux fur or faux shearling sherpa blankets for an extra fluffy and inviting bed. Faux fur is quick 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, teddy

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.

Knits and weaves

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 into the rest of your bedding scheme.

Knits are stretchy, making them really nice to grab and 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 boho-type look for your bed.

Velvet

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 and it can come 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!

Wool

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!

Learn How To Layer Blankets With Spotlight

There are so many ways for how to layer blankets for maximum warmth, and you can get everything you need for layering blankets on the bed at Spotlight! Browse our magnificent bedding range online, safely pay and we'll deliver your winter bedding straight to your front door. Otherwise, visit your nearest Spotlight store and our friendly team will help you choose the perfect 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 throws. And if it's bedding ideas and styling inspiration you need, read our blogs on winter blockout curtains and blinds, 13 ways to keep your house warm in winter and how to create a winter coastal style theme in your home.