This Internet-Famous Blanket Is My Favorite Fall Upgrade

I'm not above being susceptible to a fall cliché: relishing in decorative gourd season, indulging in the return of pumpkin spice everything, I embrace coziness in all forms. In the spirit of leaning hard into anything that promotes warmth and comfort, I usually rotate between upgrading my most-used seasonal staples. This year it was finally time to get a new throw blanket for our sofa. I've been wanting something that feels amazing, looks refined, and doesn't require a trip to the dry cleaners to keep it fresh. No blanket has captured my curiosity more than the Internet-famous Barefoot Dreams throw. A favorite among influencers and celebrities, even Joanna Gaines named Barefoot Dreams' CozyChic Throw as her top sleep must have, describing it as her "adult baby blanket". Since inquiring minds want to know, I decided to finally take the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Knit Throw ($147) for a test run to answer the question we're all thinking: is it really worth the money?

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Knit Throw

From

$147

$147 at Nordstrom

Barefoot Dreams

From

$147

$147 at Barefoot Dreams, Inc.

I expected it to be soft and warm since the brand is practically synonymous with all things cozy — the product name is "CozyChic" after all. That said, reading about how good it feels really doesn't do it justice. Like silk pajamas or a cashmere sweater, it's hard to justify the cost until you feel it against your skin. As soon as I took it out of the packaging, my 4- and 7-year-old boys dove for the couch to curl up with it and didn't want to get up. At 54 by 72 inches, it's also large enough for two people to comfortably share — no tug of war necessary.

As far as aesthetics are concerned, it looks even more elevated than I thought it would. I was worried that the fuzzy texture would look a little messy — like a I had a bathrobe draped on my sofa — but the ribbed option complements the subtle stripes on my throw pillows and actually looks pretty polished. I also appreciate that the throw comes in a range of beautiful neutral colors aside from just white and gray, like the sand option I chose. It's easy to find a color that blends with other decor elements, like your rug or throw pillows.

The fact that it's a low maintenance blanket when it comes to cleaning, is also a huge plus. I've had faux fur blankets that were dry clean only, and with small kids, I don't want the hassle of having to dry clean it every time there's a spill.

While it can be cleaned in the washing machine and even thrown in the dryer, it does need to be handled with care. I wash it on a gentle cycle, using detergent that's intended for washing silks, synthetics, and blends, like the Delicate Wash Detergent from The Laundress, and tumble dry on low heat. The brand's website advises against using bleach, dryer sheets or fabric softener. Using special detergent isn't something that's recommends as a necessary step, but since I have some on hand for washing my silk pillowcases, I use it as an extra precaution.

After skimming the reviews for Barefoot Dreams' CozyChic throw, the most common drawback seems to be shedding. I've washed it and still haven't noticed any shedding myself, but some customers have noticed a bit of shedding on their couch, bed and clothing after cuddling with the throw.

This throw is ideal for someone looking to invest in a quality throw blanket that not only looks good with your decor, but is incredibly warm and soft and large enough to share between two people. If buying a dry clean only-blanket is a deal breaker for you, you'll appreciate that this one can go into the washing machine and dryer with the right settings.

If you find value in splurging on something that you'll get a ton of use out of, you won't regret this purchase. It feels really luxurious, takes the chill off, and would make an excellent gift for anyone.

The Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Ribbed Throw is available on Barefoot Dreams ($147), Amazon ($147), Revolve ($147), and Neiman Marcus ($147).

Revolve

From

$147

$147 at REVOLVE

Neiman Marcus

From

$147

$147 at Neiman Marcus

Rating:

★★★★★