Great New Looks for an Accessory You Already Own

Sometimes the best things are surprisingly simple. A blanket, for example — you probably have one within reach. Besides the fact they keep us warm in winter, blankets are amazingly versatile accessories.

I have blankets in almost every room. They not only look great, but they keep the peace in my house. I am always colder than my husband, and we struggle to find an agreeable setting for the heater; we’ve settled on 74 degrees and blankets for every room.

I enjoy things done in new and different ways, especially when I can do them myself for no cost. If you, like me, are forever cold and have blankets aplenty, try one of these new ideas for showcasing them in your house.

Have a favorite quilt you want to display? Hang it up behind a bed as a visual headboard. I think this is a very good way to showcase a handmade blanket, especially if a friend or family member made it for you.


If you have collected blankets over the years, display them out in the open, where they can be appreciated and used. When things are tucked away in closets and drawers, we tend to forget about them.


If you have a favorite blanket that has holes and runs but still looks and feels good, repurpose it as pillow covers.


Use a blanket to showcase your family initials or crest. You may think a crest is old-fashioned, but a lot of families have them. I have been asked many times to think of a way to display a crest. A blanket would work. It also would work for initials or a special date.


Visualize unique applications for blankets. I love this idea of jazzing up a stair handrail with blankets.This sparked a lot of ideas for me. Similar applications would be wrapping a column or a doorjamb.


Bedding can be expensive, but one great blanket at the foot of a bed can really pull off a sharp look. Try using a plain white duvet and plump white sleeping pillows with a distinctive blanket. Keeping the blanket at the foot of the bed will give you temperature options. Pull the blanket up when it’s cold, down when it’s warm.


If you are like me and like to change looks often, try blankets as rotating canvases. Find several blankets you like and rotate them in and out. If you keep the bigger, stationary room features neutral, this will be easy to pull off. Try cool colors for spring and summer, and warmer colors for fall and winter.


I had an aunt who kept plastic on her sofa so her poodle could nap there without getting it dirty — or at least that is what she told everyone. For better looks and more comfort, try a blanket on a cozy chair or sofa for your pooch; he or she will love you for it.


Use a blanket to warm up a look. I love this space. The modern lines of the Barcelona chair are softened with a blanket in this bright and cheery nursery.


A blanket can add color and texture to a chair where there is little room for a pillow. I love pillows, but sometimes they just get in the way. With a blanket as a cushion, your guests won’t have to fuss with a pillow before sitting down.

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