What is the Best Material for Blankets?

Looking for a new blanket? Find out the pros and cons of the most common blanket materials for optimal comfort.

 Everyone loves snuggling up under a blanket. They are warm, cozy, and soft, providing an extra layer of protection from the cold in winter months. Not all blankets are the same, though. Likely, you'll notice you have a preference for certain blankets over others, and that will mainly be due to the material.

Why Does the Material of a Blanket Matter?

A blanket's purpose is to be soft, warm, and comfortable, and you need the right material for that. The best material will feel great against the skin and keep you nice and warm when it's cold outside. The best blankets will also offer some form of breathability.

So, which material is best for that? Here, we'll go into the most common materials used in blankets to see which one wins.

Wool

Wool blankets are ideal for those whose primary goal is to stay nice and warm. Wool primarily comes from sheep, providing a fantastic, natural insulating material that lasts a long time. Wool also has some moisture wicking properties, so it will keep you toasty without leaving you too sweaty!

Now, on to some of the downsides. First, wool is rather expensive compared to other materials on this list. It can also feel quite itchy, and some people allergic to wool won't be able to use it at all. Wool creates a very heavy, bulky sort of blanket; one that you won't want to carry around with you. Despite these cons, wool still makes an excellent material for the type of blanket you want to snuggle under when it's freezing cold outside.

Cotton

Cotton is a very common type of material used to make blankets. They are very reliable – cotton creates a long-lasting, comfortable blanket that can keep you warm in the winter while not overheating you in the summer. It's affordable, soft, easily washable, and even hypoallergenic. If you want a safe and cozy option for your next blanket, you can't go wrong with cotton. Plus, cotton blankets come in various colors, sizes, and textures, so you'll have plenty of options here. There are a couple of minor downsides, such as cotton's tendency to start pilling over time and the fact they might not be as soft as some of the other materials on this list, but overall, they are a good and reliable option.

Cashmere

Cashmere is one of the more luxurious choices for blanket material. It has a lot of benefits – it provides plenty of softness and breathability, with its lightweight nature, meaning you can enjoy being under this blanket, whether it's the middle of winter or summer. It's also hypoallergenic, with the material itself offering endless durability. With all of these benefits, there is the downside that cashmere is quite expensive, so you'll be forking out quite a bit more cash for a cashmere blanket compared to a cotton one. You should also keep in mind that looking after a cashmere blanket so that it remains soft can take a little more work – you can't just stick it in a washing machine and dryer and hope for the best!

Silk

Silk is another expensive material that offers plenty of breathability. It's very soft and works well as a blanket in the warmer months, helping to regulate your body temperature. However, it's pretty expensive and requires more work to care for. Plus, silk is very delicate, so you'll need to be careful not to rip or tear it.

Fleece

Fleece is a common material for blankets. The benefits of fleece are that it's soft, cozy, affordable, and easy to take care of (you can wash it in the washing machine with your other items). One of the downsides is that it isn't as breathable as some of the different materials on this list. Plus, fleece blankets use synthetic materials that some people may not enjoy.

So – What is the Best Material for Blankets?

Considering the above, it's hard to choose just a single one that works for everyone. After all, some blanket materials are better for the winter months, whereas others are more of a great all-rounder. Here, we'll choose which blankets are best for different purposes:

Best for Cold Nights: Wool Blankets

Best for Affordability: Fleece Blankets

Best for Summer Months: Cashmere Blankets

Best for an All-Rounder: Cotton Blankets

Other Things to Consider When Purchasing Blankets

It's not all about material! When it comes to buying a blanket, there are a couple of other things to consider, such as:

Design

A blanket isn't just for keeping you warm. Often, people purchase blankets to decorate a room. Here, design matters a lot. There are plenty of different blanket designs out there – you can get ones that are specific to a special occasion (such as Christmas), single-color blankets, and other types of patterns. You can even purchase a t- shirt blanket, a type of unique blanket made out of t-shirts. If you have a bunch of old tees, creating one of these is an excellent idea.

Size

How big do you want your blanket to be? If you want it to cover an entire sofa, you may need quite a large one. However, you may be able to choose a smaller blanket if it's just for keeping your legs warm while hanging out in the evening.

Purpose

Who will be using the blanket? Will it be for summer or winter? The purpose is crucial here, as it will help you choose the best size, design, and material. For example, if you're looking for a baby blanket, you'll want to pick a smaller size in a hypoallergenic material.

In Summary

It is clear that a blanket's material matters. The good news is there are several blanket materials to choose from, including natural materials like wool and more synthetic materials like fleece. When picking your next blanket, keep in mind things like whether the material is hypoallergenic, how warm it is, whether it's breathable, and how difficult it will be to look after.