As the days cool off, out come the throws and afghans. Throws are a great addition of color and texture to a room, as well as being very functional. We all love to wrap up in them and read a book or watch TV. The throw got its name from being thrown over a chair or sofa in a haphazard way. A great look and feel in a room, but…

…Try taming the throw by folding it neatly in thirds or forths lengthwise, and lay it over the back and seat cushions. Tuck it into the crevices of the cushions. Add a pillow or leave as is. This can really change the look of the chair. It can give a bold graphic contemporary statement (top photo) or add warmth and texture to a traditional setting (above photo). This idea works best with solid colors or textures and a lightweight throw or small blanket. The interest here, lies in the two contrasting colors and stripe effect. Don’t overdo this look. One chair per room or a matching pair of chairs and throws would work as well. You could also arrange the throw on a sofa, in the middle or off to one side.

I bought this chair at a parking lot rummage sale for $30. It needs to be recovered, but until then, I cleaned the upholstery, removed the skirt, and stained the legs dark. It helped, but with the addition of a throw and some pillows, it dressed it up a bit for now.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired of looking at my things the same way. I find, just a few small changes can make a room feel a little fresher and new again. Give this a try and see if you like the results.