When the temperature drops, there’s nothing quite like staying home, wrapping yourself in a blanket, and morphing into a toasty cinnamon bun. Accessories help. A throw blanket easily looks great, and a weighted blanket feels ideal at bedtime. But a plush blanket can set you up for the coziest evening in. To help you decide on the best plush blanket to buy for yourself or gift to a beloved introvert, we spoke to six stylish women. Their 12 picks aren’t just supersoft but also provide texture, pattern, and color to elevate your space. A bunch of these options are machine washable, and you can choose between Sherpa, fleece, faux-fur, and microfiber plush blankets at various price points.
Best under-$100 plush blankets
When beauty-trend forecaster Addison Cain moved to New York from Houston, she was “fully unprepared” for the chill in her prewar apartment. She pretty much immediately bought this Bedsure blanket in white for her new home. “It was a highly recommended pick on Amazon, so I just went for it,” she says. Cain easily feels the cold, “so I always have a blanket handy, even wrapped around me at my desk when I work from home. I don’t know if this is advised — so maybe don’t try for yourself — but I’ll throw my blanket over the radiator for a couple minutes to warm it up sometimes,” she says.
One Christmas, Cain’s mom bought four of these fleece-sided blankets in green as gifts, so all four of her daughters had one to share with their respective partners. It’s a real family favorite; there are also a couple slung over furniture in Cain’s parents’ home. “It’s a nice reminder of my house in Kentucky and being cozy over the holidays,” she says. Cain’s taken the blanket beyond the couch on cross-country adventures during the pandemic from New Mexico to Colorado. Her green version falls in and out of stock, so she also recommends the red plaid — and Eddie Bauer make a reversible Sherpa that usually doesn’t cost more than $25.
This cable-knit L.L. Bean throw reminds Celebrity Memoir Book Club podcast host Ashley Hamilton of warm holiday joy. “You see that pattern in a sweater and you’re like, Oh, it’s the good part of winter!” she jokes. “It’s great if you don’t want to add too much color but you still want to add a little bit of dimension to your space.” The cream version would “go with anything and everything,” she says, with its faintly nautical look.
Meanwhile, Land’s End’s corduroy blanket makes Hamilton think of her favorite corduroy coat. “I’m a big fan of the contrast and unexpected textures,” she says. But it’s practical. As a dog mom, she particularly likes the robust, sewn-in hems — they’re harder for a pet to chew on and unravel than fringing. And the outward-facing evening-blue shade won’t show every dark dog hair. The plush white Sherpa side does the heavy lifting when you want to cocoon during long winter evenings.
For something more traditionally plush, Stephanie Holstein, project editor at Phaidon Press, recommends this Ever Lasting blanket. She loves the pattern because “it’s playful” but neutral enough not to overpower her apartment décor in the sage and white. The blanket comes in two other color combinations.
Best under-$200 plush blankets
As a Scot living in New York, content creator and social-media-studio founder Kristina Ross knows harsh winters well. “I would lose my mind if someone bought me the UGG blanket,” she says. She considers the Pippa Throw the ultimate gift, especially in the neutral Seal shade: “You could buy it for anyone regardless of their home’s color scheme,” she notes, and make sure to get under it rather than leaving it on display in a basket. “Blankets are made to be used!”
Barefoot Dreams blankets have almost become shorthand for the “plush blanket” category — for good reason. Interior designer and illustrator Elaina Fagan Darden’s mom gifted her a CozyChic throw six years ago, and it’s been a staple in her household since then. “This is my everyday blanket that I have probably had for too long,” she says. Darden says her favorite cream blanket’s breathable material means you won’t overheat when wrapped up. The microfiber is easy to care for and shouldn’t lose its softness over time.
We reached peak checkerboard about two years ago, but this blanket’s slightly psychedelic swirl of the usual pattern keeps it interesting. “Throwing a fun pattern on something really amps up the whole vibe in a room with plain furniture,” Hamilton says. It’s trippy without being too zany, and she says the carbon-silver colorway stops it from looking too intense. Plus it can be machine-washed and tumble-dried, so this plush pick is easy to care for.
The clue’s in the name here. Hardy confirms the Unhide Marshmallow blanket is just as squishy as you’d think. “I love how plush it is and that there are so many different color options,” she says. And it has some eco-credentials — each fluffy blanket is made from 90 percent recycled materials.
Best over-$200 plush blankets
Lifestyle-content creator Denise Hardy discovered Lola Blankets while looking for an ultrasoft blanket to gift. “If someone showed up with this for a housewarming gift, I would not be upset!” she says. The chunky blankets are stretchy enough to share, and they are double-sided for maximum softness. “This rich texture is going to be something that adds interest to your room and makes you want to pick it up and snuggle.” Plus she loves that Lola Blankets donates blankets to women living with breast cancer in tribute to the founder’s mom. The current restock is on preorder, due to ship out starting January 20.
When she saw this blanket on Instagram, Hardy couldn’t quite believe the size of it, but the throw really is 100 square feet. “I see it as a game-night option,” she says. “Something you could throw on the floor with some pillows and host people with a few snacks and some wine.” The retro texture reminds her of “that old-school shag carpet from back in the day,” and it (surprisingly) fits into a standard-size washing machine, should you need to clean it after an indoor picnic.
For something even more soothing, Holstein loves this Snug Crystal Weighted Blanket — so much so that she gifted one to her mom. During stressful times, “I’ll double it up sometimes and lay it on my chest because that’s a pressure point, and it just feels like you’re being held,” she says. Knowing it’s filled with crystals adds another level of luxury and helps her create a sanctuary at home. She loves the lavender colorway: “The weighted-blanket field can be very utilitarian, but this color has a restful, timeless quality.”
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