Throw Yourself Into the Design Possibilities

Toss a throw into the mix, advises New York designer Teri Seidman in her book “Decorating for Comfort” (Villard Books, $24) due out this month.

Like many decorators, she uses throws to add a note of color, to soften furniture lines and to bridge furniture of mixed styles.

A throw often works best with another accessory in the same color family. Some examples from Seidman’s client files illustrate:

* For an off-white sofa and black piano, she chose a custom throw of faux leopard plush that reverses to black velvet. The throw plus a gilt-framed mirror add a needed color element and modulate the light sofa and dark piano.

* A paisley throw and kilim cushions bridge a black leather couch and a leopard-print chair.

Leather, while popular for the home, can take on officelike qualities unless it is softened with accessories. A fuzzy mohair or soft chenille throw invariably will help.

A good size for a throw is a 48-inch square or a rectangle about 56 by 63 inches, Seidman says. To get the most from a throw, experiment with where and how it should be draped.

Start with a supple fabric. Favorites include chenille, mohair, velour, velvet, cashmere and faux fur, such as the leopard pile fabric.

Fabrics such as velvet or paisley generally look better in formal rooms, while woven cotton novelty throws--readily available, inexpensive and machine washable--are best in informal settings.

In the bedroom, fold the throw neatly at the foot of the bed.

Throws also may be used as scarves for pianos or tables.

“In old paintings, Oriental rugs are shown draped over a corner of a table,” Seidman says. “They soften the furniture and bring color to a glass or a wood table.”

Paisley and crazy quilt throws on a piano are traditional, especially in Victorian rooms. If the throw is magnificent, such as a length of antique fabric or a small patchwork quilt, hang it on the wall.

Throws don’t have to be expensive to look expensive.

“It would be a fairly simple sewing project to buy a length of fabric and line it with silk or a silk synthetic,” Seidman says. “Add fringe or a tassel in each corner to contribute to the suppleness and add a dancing quality.”

Choices are numerous in ready-made throws. They range from mail-order novelties such as a woven cotton reproduction of an old L.L. Bean catalogue cover to an elegant printed velvet from a high-end source such as Ralph Lauren.

Though a throw may look as if it was casually tossed, there’s an art to draping it just so. Experiment with folds and placement. Drape it over the arm of a sofa or chair and allow it to cascade to the floor. Put a decorative pillow or two on top. You may fold a throw in a triangle and put it on a hassock or ottoman.

“The effect you want to achieve is that the throw is just waiting to be picked up and used, so you don’t want it to look too neat,” Seidman says. “You want it to be user-friendly, so a wrinkle or two is OK.”