A good throw blanket is the one piece in the living room you will actually touch every day, which is why fiber matters more than pattern. Cashmere is the softest option and the lightest for its warmth.

Checks and stripes are the easiest patterns to live with on a sofa, because they read as texture from across the room. Tekla's checked wool, from the Copenhagen label, is dark and fringed, and Missoni Home brings its signature stripe to a fringed wool blend. Lulu and Georgia's Ezrah is a soft striped wool, and Hawkins New York's Simple Striped throw sets a bold stripe in soft wool. Wool is naturally warm and resists odors, which makes it a smart choice for a sofa that sees a lot of use. Drape one over the arm of the sofa and let the fringe hang.

Bolder patterns turn a throw into something closer to art for the sofa. Liberty London's Patricia is 100% wool printed with an archive floral and made in Italy, and Etro's Harlequin is a wool jacquard that mixes a diamond grid with the house paisley. Let one patterned throw carry a neutral sofa, and keep the cushions quieter around it.

A lighter throw earns its place on spring and summer evenings, when wool feels like too much. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Hermès Blanket Dupe and Fringe Scarf.