Bedrooms are the room most people are least happy with and least willing to spend on, largely because changing one properly seems to mean new bedding, new curtains and a paint job.
A cotton bedspread does a surprising amount of that work on its own, over whatever you already have.
Why layering works
An unlayered bed is a flat plane of one colour and it reads as unfinished however good the bedding is. That is why every hotel room and every interiors photograph shows a throw across the foot of the bed. It introduces a second texture, a second colour and a horizontal line that breaks up the expanse.
It also solves the practical British problem of a duvet being either too warm or not warm enough, since a throw can be pulled up or pushed down through the night and through the seasons.
Sizing
| Bed | Width | What to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 90cm | Single set, £21.99 |
| Double | 135cm | Double set, £29.99 or the blue and gold double, £41.99 |
| King | 150cm | Double as the minimum. It will sit closer to the edges |
The commonest error is buying too small, which gives you a throw sitting like a mat in the middle of the bed rather than falling over the sides.
If you want it to cover the bed and hang at the sides, size up rather than exactly. If you intend it folded across the foot, exact sizing matters much less.
Why cotton suits British bedrooms
British bedrooms are cooler and damper than most people admit, and they swing considerably between a heated evening and an unheated night.
Cotton is breathable, which matters in a room where condensation is common. It washes easily, which matters more than any decorative consideration for something on a bed. And it softens with use rather than deteriorating, so a cotton throw generally looks better in year three than year one.
Synthetics hold heat and moisture and do not breathe in the same way, which is why a polyester throw can feel clammy where cotton does not.
Why they come with wall art
Ours arrive with a matching Buddha wall hanging canvas, and it is a more useful combination than it first appears.
A bedroom scheme works when a colour appears in at least two places rather than once. A throw and a piece of wall art sharing a palette make the room read as deliberate, where either alone reads as an addition.
The peaceful Buddha double at £29.99 is the quieter of the two doubles. The blue and gold double at £41.99 carries more colour and suits a room with something to match it to.
Washing without shrinking
Cotton shrinks with heat, and most shrinkage happens in the first wash and in the dryer rather than in the machine itself.
Wash cool at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. Avoid tumble drying, which is where most shrinkage and most damage occurs. Line dry where possible or dry flat, and iron on medium while slightly damp if you want it crisp.
Wash a coloured cotton piece separately the first time or two, since natural dyes can release a little colour initially.
Colour in a British bedroom
Worth a note, because British light is flatter and cooler than the light in most interiors photography.
Warm colours that look inviting in a catalogue can read muddy in a north facing British bedroom, while cooler blues and greys that look austere in a photograph often work beautifully. If your bedroom faces north or east, the cooler palettes are the safer bet.
Where else they work
Not only beds, and this versatility is part of why they are a sensible purchase. A cotton bedspread makes a good sofa throw, particularly over leather or a dark sofa where it softens the whole piece.
Draped over a chair, used as a picnic blanket, or hung as a wall textile in a room that needs softening acoustically. Unlike fitted bedding, a throw has somewhere else to go if it does not work where you first put it.
Hanging the wall piece
The canvas wants to be at a sensible height rather than pushed up toward the ceiling, which is the commonest hanging error in British bedrooms.
Above a bed, the bottom of the piece should sit roughly 20 to 25cm above the headboard. Our guide to choosing Buddha wall art for your wall and room covers sizing and height.
The full range is in wall hangings.
Questions people ask
What size bedspread do I need?
Single for a 90cm bed, double as a minimum for a 135cm double or a 150cm king. If you want it to cover the bed and hang at the sides, size up rather than buying exactly.
Why layer a throw over bedding?
An unlayered bed is a flat plane of one colour and reads as unfinished. A throw adds texture, a second colour and a horizontal line, and lets you adjust warmth through the night.
How should I wash a cotton bedspread?
Cool at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle, and avoid the tumble dryer, which is where most shrinkage happens. Line dry or dry flat.
Why does the set include wall art?
A bedroom scheme works when a colour appears in more than one place. A throw and a matching wall piece make the room read as deliberate.
Can I use it somewhere other than a bed?
Yes. They work as sofa throws, particularly over dark or leather furniture, over a chair, or hung as a wall textile.
