I didn’t realise this one thing about electric blankets until I started testing them for a living – it convinced me to buy my own

by Furnishly | Oct 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

As the weather has turned colder this month, there’s one thing that’s been helping me to keep the chill at bay during the evenings.

That’s having an electric blanket secured to my bed and ready to turn on if and when overnight temperatures drop. Plus, a heated throw folded up on the sofa, ready to curl up under, so I don’t have to turn the central heating on yet.

However, before I began testing out the best electric blankets for Ideal Home, I hadn’t owned one since I was a kid, and it turns out, there’s one thing I hadn’t realised about electric blankets.

Namely, that you can wash an electric blanket. Which, to my mind at least, makes them a far better investment than I thought.

I’d always considered a heated blanket to be a bit of an expensive luxury. After all, if you’re anything like me, the sofa is for snacking, and snacking naturally means the odd crumb and occasional sticky fingers.

I didn’t much like the sound of a blanket that I couldn’t put through the washing machine to get properly clean every once in a while.

Similarly, I know an electric blanket goes under your bottom sheet, so it’s protected from close contact with your body. But still, since becoming Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve learnt a *lot* about how easily sweat, grime, and dead skin cells can penetrate through the covers to stain bedding below.

I didn’t particularly like the idea of adding a layer to my bed that I couldn’t wash. Read our guides on how to get rid of yellow stains on a pillow or how to clean a mattress if you want to get grossed out over bodily fluids in your sleeping environment!

But, as it turns out, I didn’t need to worry, because every electric blanket and heated blanket I’ve tested over the past four years has been washable, and machine washable at that. There’s no need to bend over a bathtub to rinse out an electric blanket by hand.

But how is that possible? After all, we all know water and electricity definitely don’t mix safely.

‘Most of our throws and blankets are designed to be machine-washable,’ explains Maria Bullen of heated wellness brand, Dreamland. ‘Simply unplug and detach the control unit before placing your throw in the machine.’

Yep, it isn’t a blanket rule (no pun intended), but if your electric blanket has a detachable power cord – which every electric blanket I’ve tested has – there’s every chance it can be machine-washed.

Just make sure you *always* check the care label to make sure this is 100% the case before you bring your blanket anywhere near water, and definitely don’t get liquids anywhere near your blanket whilst it’s plugged into an electrical socket.

‘Never assume that an electric blanket is safe to machine wash if there isn’t a care label or manual included,’ confirms Rebecca Swain, mattress expert at Winstons Beds. ‘You’ll also want to check for any exposed or damaged wiring before washing,’ says Rebecca.

‘Before first use each season, check the fabric, wires, and controller for any wear or damage,’ agrees Maria.

But, as long as your electric blanket is in good nick (and if it isn’t, you shouldn’t be using it anyway) and its care label gives you the green light, you can then proceed to putting it in the washing machine and giving it a thorough clean.

‘Wash on a gentle cycle at 30-40°C, then either air dry or use a low tumble setting to keep the fabric soft and the heating elements protected,’ explains Maria. Our guide to how to clean an electric blanket has the full breakdown.

Just make sure to ‘keep drinks and liquids away when the electric blanket is in use,’ warns Maria, ‘they don’t mix with electric textiles’.

So you can eat your favourite snack whilst toasting on the sofa under your heated blanket or when hurkle-durkling in bed on a lazy morning, but avoid sipping a hot chocolate whilst using an electric blanket.

Personally, that’s a compromise I’m very happy to make. After all, the marshmallows are the best bit of an autumn hot chocolate anyway!

Machine-washable electric blankets

I’ve rounded up three of my top recommendations for machine-washable electric underblankets and heated throws above.

As the weather continues to get colder, they’re definitely my go-to for staying cosy on cold winter nights. And, now that I know they’re machine-washable, that means they’ll be able to keep me warm for many winters to come, too.

M&S’ £19.50 brushed cotton bedding has 100s of 5-star reviews and is selling out fast – ‘I struggle to get out of bed due to how cosy it is’

by Furnishly | Sep 25, 2025 | Design Inspiration

The weather has definitely turned, and with a cold front rolling in and temperatures plummeting, it’s little wonder that there’s one bedding set in particular that’s flying off the shelves in M&S.

Yep, the brands’ soft and snuggly Pure Brushed Cotton Bedding Set is selling like hot cakes, and with prices starting from just £19.50 for a duvet and pillowcase set, it’s easy to see why.

This bedding set has over 600 5-star reviews on the Marks and Spencer website, and M&S customers are unanimous in their appreciation of how warm and cosy it is to sleep under.

Why is this bedding set special? Because it’s made of brushed cotton. This is cotton that’s been (you guessed it…) brushed, to make the surface fibres fluffy. The effect of that fluffiness is that the fabric feels super soft and snuggly.

Most importantly, because the cotton fibres are no longer flat, they don’t have that cool chill to them on a cold night. Instead, you can climb into a bed that’s dressed in brushed cotton bedding and feel instantly warm and cosy.

As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, brushed cotton bedding is at the top of my wishlist for the cooler months, and from October until March, it’s the only fabric I like to have on my bed.

The bonus is that if you’re a hot sleeper, like me, then because this fabric is still made of cotton, it doesn’t cause overheating in the same way that a synthetic fleece material can. So you get all the warm and cosy benefits, with no unwelcome hot and sticky nights.

Judging by the bedding sets reviews, M&S customers are also highly impressed. ‘So cosy for this time of year and quality is exactly what I love from M&S… definitely recommend,’ shares one reviewer.

‘Bought as I was fed up with cold bedding. Great choice of colours and so warm and cosy,’ says another.

‘Excellent quality. So soft and cosy. Perfect for winter nights,’ shares a third. ‘This set is toasty! I usually have an electric blanket on in winter, but did not need it with this set.’

Owners are also impressed by how easy this bedding set is to care for, with many mentioning its lack of pilling and shedding (which can be a problem with some brushed cotton bedding) and how easy it is to wash.

‘Beautiful bedding and washes really well. I struggle to get out of bed due to how soft it is!,’ shares one happy owner. ‘Washes beautifully and lovely to snuggle down to sleep on a cold night!,’ says another.

If you’re looking for ways to beat the chill and make your bedroom into a cosy autumnal retreat, I think snapping up the M&S Pure Brushed Cotton Bedding Set whilst it’s still in stock is definitely the way to do it. Your future self will thank you on the freezing nights ahead.

I’ve been using this heated throw every evening to avoid putting my central heating on, and it’s currently on sale

by Furnishly | Sep 23, 2025 | Design Inspiration

I’m not sure about you, but in my house, there’s an unwritten rule that says the central heating shouldn’t be turned on until October.

However, this September, the evenings have been cold, and this week they’re set to get colder still.

Luckily, I’ve found a solution that’s been keeping me cosy on the sofa and in bed every evening, and it’s in the form of the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw. The even better news is that this bestselling throw is currently on sale at both John Lewis and Amazon.

I always find September can be a tricky month, warmth-wise. Temperatures tend to fluctuate, and one minute you’re googling the best electric blankets and wondering whether to switch to your winter duvet, and the next the sun is back and you’re digging out the shorts you packed away at the end of summer.

In my opinion, a heated throw is the perfect solution to these shoulder months. Add one to the sofa and it’s an easy way to get warm and cosy if you start to feel a bit chilly in the evening without the need to turn on the heating and heat the whole house unnecessarily.

If you work from home, a heated throw is also the perfect solution for wrapping around you in the home office.

In my time as Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve tested a whole host of heated throws, and this Dreamland model is one of the best of the bunch.

Its velvety fabric is super soft and snuggly, it has multiple heat settings for getting the temperature just right, and it heats up incredibly fast. It also comes with an auto-shut off timer, so if the warmth makes you sleepy, there’s no risk of falling asleep and leaving it on all night.

Because of that, I’ve found it’s rarely on sale during the autumn months, so it’s well worth snapping up whilst there are discounts on some of its colourways. Plus, I’m not alone in being won over by its cosiness.

‘One of the best things I’ve bought,’ says one reviewer of the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw on the John Lewis website. ‘Perfect solution for when I’m cold and don’t want to put the heating on. Heats up very quickly.’

‘I bought this initially with hesitation as I was unsure how effective it would be to keep me warm. I have been utterly surprised at the quality and how quickly it warms up,’ shares another reviewer. ‘The timer is a bonus, and the material is lovely and soft. I have now purchased another two for other members of the family.’

‘This is a really sought-after product and I now know why,’ shares a third happy owner. ‘Perfect for when I am working from home at my desk and I do not want to put the heating on for the whole house. I have also got these as gifts for my friends and family.’

Which reminds me, Christmas isn’t far off. If you’re looking to get started on present buying, then I agree this heated throw makes the ideal gift. Whether you buy the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw at John Lewis, or opt for one of the colourways of the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw on sale at Amazon right now, what better time to get shopping than when you can save some money!

I’m a bedding expert, and I know uni mattresses are always terrible – this is the sleep hack I wish all students knew

by Furnishly | Sep 13, 2025 | Design Inspiration

Freshers week is all about a fresh start – new life, new city and, very often, a new-found appreciation of how much you miss your bed at home.

Let’s be honest, rarely has someone opened the door to their new uni bedroom and said “wow, that mattress looks incredibly comfortable”.

Mattresses in student halls are generally chosen for function and affordability, and even if you’re in a private rental, I’d be willing to bet your landlord has not secured you a high-end mattress to doze away on.

As a bedding expert, I’m here to tell you that this is why you need some of the best mattress toppers on your radar. They’re the secret student hack you need to get to know.

I remember when I had my first night in my bed during my second year at uni. I’d already weathered a smaller-than-single mattress on a wooden plank in first-year halls (this isn’t to scare anyone – I went to uni a few millennia ago and hear uni halls have drastically improved since). But this mattress in my second-year rental was a hard no.

I couldn’t just feel the mattress springs; I could see them. I definitely wish that when I went to uni, mattress toppers had been ‘a thing’ like they are now.

Why mattress toppers are a secret student hack

What is a mattress topper, you may be wondering? It’s a thick, cushioned layer that you put on top of your mattress, and had I had one all those years ago, it would have helped to mask those uncomfortable springs.

A topper is usually made from foam or quilted padding, and sometimes even contains its own springs. As well as smoothing out some of the lumps and bumps in your sleep surface, they’re designed to add comfort to your sleep setup.

Firmer mattress toppers, like the IKEA NISSEHOLM mattress topper, will help to tweak a mattress surface that feels too soft, but most are designed to soften up a sleep surface. If you’re waking up with aches and pains, chances are your mattress is too hard – a mattress topper will add some welcome extra cushioning.

The best cooling mattress toppers can even help you regulate your temperature better, if you pick the right one (look for natural fibres, like the wool-filled Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper, if your budget allows). This means it could stop you from overheating if you’re prone to getting hot and sticky at night.

Mostly, a mattress topper is a budget-friendly way to upgrade the comfort of your existing mattress and save you the expense of buying a whole new one.

And as a bonus, a mattress topper will also stop you from wondering about the cleanliness of the mattress you’re sleeping on every night. (If you haven’t already invested in one of the best mattress protectors, then trust me, you should).

My recommendations

As a sleep-product reviewer, I’ve road-tested a lot of mattress toppers. Below, I’ve rounded up three mattress toppers that I think are perfect for students – comfortable *and* budget-friendly.

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential at uni. After all, good sleep is important for transferring new information into long-term memory.

And sure, there are lots of reasons you might not be sleeping at uni… and they may not all be related to a bad mattress! But don’t let one of those reasons be a rubbish mattress keeping you up all night.

I’m not saying a mattress topper will convert a third into a first, but… every little helps, right?