Choosing a throw for your sofa is about more than colour. The size determines whether you can use it as an accent over one seat, drape it over the back or actually wrap it around yourself. A tape measure and a clear purpose make that choice much easier.
The selected Bloomingville throws measure 130 × 160 cm. That is a useful reference point, but not an automatic match for every sofa or every body. Below, you can compare size, material, care and patterns.
The quick answer: which size do you need?
- For one seat or an armchair: measure the visible area and decide how much fabric you want to hang down at the front or side.
- For snuggling under: compare the length with the distance from your shoulders to your feet, and the width with how much you want to wrap around yourself.
- Over the sofa back: measure the section you actually want to cover, rather than just the sofa's total width.
- As a full sofa cover: measure the seat, back and tucking allowance separately. A throw is not necessarily large enough to protect an entire sofa.
Step 1: decide what you want the throw to do on your sofa
An accent on one seat
If you want to highlight one corner of the sofa, measure the width of that seat and the distance from the backrest to where you want the throw to end. You can fold a rectangular throw lengthways for a narrow strip or arrange it more loosely to show more of the pattern.
Allow for cushions that hide part of the pattern. Try laying out a sheet of roughly the same size; this lets you see the proportions without guessing from a product photo.
A throw to snuggle under
For personal use, measure yourself rather than the sofa. One person may only want to cover their legs and feet, while another wants to pull the throw over their shoulders. Note both the length you need and how much fabric you want wrapped around your body.
For two people, sit together as you actually would when using the throw and measure the width you need. The same size works differently for one person than for two.
Draped loosely over the sofa back
For decorative draping, the visible section matters most. Measure the width of one back cushion, a corner section or the middle of the backrest. Then decide how much of the throw can hang down at the front and back.
Look at the pattern and fringe too. Turning the throw changes which edge runs over the backrest and where the finishing details show.
Covering the entire sofa
If you want to use the throw as a loose cover, you need more measurements: the full width, seat depth, back height and any space needed to tuck the fabric in. Compare that total with the throw's actual size. Never let the word “generous” in a product description take the place of measuring.
Also check whether the product is intended for this use. A decorative throw is not automatically a protective cover.
Step 2: how to measure without guessing
- Choose one use: an accent, the backrest, personal use or full coverage.
- Measure the relevant area: the seat, backrest section or your body.
- Decide on the direction: choose whether the long or short side will lie horizontally.
- Add your preferred overhang: measure this on both sides if the throw needs to hang symmetrically.
- Make a test shape: fold a sheet to the product dimensions and lay it on the sofa.
- Check how it is measured: find out whether fringe or tassels are included in the stated dimensions if this matters for your space.
What does 130 × 160 cm mean in practice?
The three examples below are 130 × 160 cm. Place the short side across a seat and let the length hang down, or turn the throw to show more of the pattern across the width. For personal use, compare both sides with your body measurements. If neither orientation is large enough, choose a different size. The number of seats on the sofa alone is not a reliable guide.
Three Bloomingville throws measuring 130 × 160 cm
1. Eydis: soft colours with two different looks
The Bloomingville Eydis throw has a floral pattern on the front and woven stripes on the reverse. Its natural-coloured base, dark flowers and fringe make it suitable when you want to alternate a visible pattern with a quieter look.
Fold Eydis narrowly for a colour accent or display a larger area of the floral motif. Always check the care label for this version before cleaning.
2. Eviaya: blue, red and a contrasting reverse
The Bloomingville Eviaya throw, SKU 82062682, is made of 79% cotton, 10% polyester, 10% viscose and 1% wool. The front has a blue and red pattern, the reverse has a contrasting stripe and there are yellow tassels at the corners.
When draping it narrowly, mainly show the colour you want to repeat. Also decide whether the tassels should hang freely; this affects where the woven section lies on the backrest.
3. Remy: a choice between print and stripes
The Bloomingville Remy throw combines a printed pattern with woven stripes on the other side. The contrasting edging and corner tassels remain visible when you lay the throw loosely over a sofa corner.
Use a test shape to see how much print remains visible after folding. On a busy sofa, the striped side may look calmer; on a plain sofa, the print can provide the accent. Follow Remy's label when cleaning.
Choosing material: look beyond the front
Read the full composition of every throw. “Recycled cotton” does not automatically mean that no other fibres have been used.
Compare four points:
- the full fibre composition, including percentages;
- the weave and finish, such as fringe, edging or tassels;
- the washing and drying instructions for the specific product;
- any material variation mentioned in the product information.
Do not infer care requirements from the main material alone. The fibre blend, weave and finish can make a difference.
Care: follow the instructions for your throw
Before washing, check the product information and the sewn-in care label. Even with two throws from the same brand, do not assume the instructions are identical. Composition and finish can vary between versions. If in doubt, ask for guidance specific to the product before treating a stain or washing the throw.
For Eviaya, the instructions are: wash at 40 °C, tumble dry on a low setting and iron on a medium setting. These instructions apply to SKU 82062682 and must not automatically be used for Eydis, Remy or any other throw.
Combining colour without losing sight of size
Finish measuring first, then decide whether you want calm or contrast.
- A harmonious look: repeat a shade from the sofa or the largest cushions.
- A clear accent: choose one contrasting colour and repeat it in a smaller accessory.
- A patterned sofa: show the quieter side of a reversible throw.
- A plain sofa: leave enough of a graphic or floral motif visible for it to remain recognisable.
Find more styling ideas in our guide to combining texture in your interior. Keep your measurements as the starting point for your purchase.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring the entire sofa when you only want to cover one corner.
- Comparing only the length and forgetting how much width you need around you.
- Not allowing for back cushions that hide part of the throw.
- Assuming the first stated dimension must always run horizontally across the sofa.
- Assuming a measurement includes or excludes fringe without checking.
- Inferring an unconfirmed wash programme from “recycled cotton”.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 130 × 160 cm throw large enough to snuggle under?
That depends on your body and how much coverage you like. Measure from shoulders to feet and compare this with 160 cm. Then compare 130 cm with the width you want to wrap around yourself.
Which throw size fits a three-seater sofa?
The number of seats is not a reliable measurement. Measure the section you want to cover. For one corner, 130 × 160 cm may work; for the full sofa, compare the width, back, seat and any tucking allowance separately.
Should the long side go over the sofa back?
No. Turn the throw both ways and look at the overhang, pattern and position of the fringe or tassels. The best direction depends on your sofa and the look you want.
Can you machine-wash a recycled cotton throw?
Only if the care label for that specific product allows it. The material description alone is not enough to determine a programme, temperature or drying method.
Is the fringe included in the dimensions?
This can vary by product and measuring method. If a few centimetres matter for the fit, check whether the stated measurement refers to the woven section or the total length including the finish.
Choose with your tape measure to hand
First decide whether you want to cover a seat, backrest or person. Then make a 130 × 160 cm test shape and compare colour and material only once the proportions work. With the Bloomingville throws, you can compare the current patterns against your measurements. This makes the throw both an attractive accent and a size that suits how you want to use it.
