Soft, warm and wonderfully inviting, faux fur blankets have become a favourite in Australian homes — equally at home draped across a sofa, layered over a bed or wrapped around you on a cold night.
But if you’ve ever compared two faux fur blankets side by side, you’ll know they aren’t all the same.
The fibres, density, lining, construction, weight and care requirements can all affect how a blanket looks, feels and performs over time.
So what should you look for?
Here’s our guide to understanding faux fur blankets and choosing one you’ll genuinely want to live with.
What is Faux Fur?
Faux fur is a textile designed to recreate the appearance and softness of animal fur without using animal fur.
It is generally made using synthetic fibres that can be produced in different lengths, densities and textures. This is why one faux fur can feel quite different from another.
A good faux fur isn’t simply about looking fluffy. The quality and density of the fibres, the way the fabric moves and the construction of the finished product all contribute to how luxurious it feels.
If you’d like to understand more about how faux fur is made and how it differs from real fur, read our What is Faux Fur? guide.
What Makes a Good Faux Fur Blanket?
When you’re comparing faux fur blankets, don’t judge them on appearance alone.
There are several things worth considering.
The feel of the faux fur
This is the obvious one.
A good faux fur should feel beautifully soft against the skin. Run your and both with and against the direction of the pile. Consider how the fibres move and whether the blanket feels plush rather than coarse or stiff.
Density
Look beyond the very tips of the fur.
A dense faux fur creates that wonderfully full, substantial feeling associated with a quality blanket. Sparse faux fur may look fluffy from a distance but can feel quite different once you handle it.
The lining
Turn the blanket over.
The reverse side has an enormous influence on how the finished blanket feels.
Minimink’s standard faux fur blankets are backed with soft cotton velour. It gives you to different tactile experiences — plush faux fur on one side and smooth, soft cotton velour on the other.
Other blankets may use different backings, while double-sided designs use faux fur on both sides.
Neither is automatically the right choice for everyone. It depends on the feel, weight and intended use you’re looking for.
Construction and finishing
Look at the seams, edges and overall finish.
A blanket that’s going to be used regularly needs to do more than look beautiful when it’s new. It needs to cope with being curled up under, moved between rooms, washed and generally incorporated into everyday life.
Are Faux Fur Blankets Warm?
Yes, faux fur blankets can be wonderfully warm.
The fibres create pockets of air that help provide insulation, while the overall construction, density, weight and lining of the blanket influence how war and substantial it feels.
But more isn’t always better.
Someone looking for a blanket to curl up under on the sofa may want something quite different from someone looking for a heavy double-sided blanket for the coldest nights of winter.
That’s why it’s worth considering how and where you’ll actually use your blanket rather than simply choosing the thickest one you can find.
What Size Faux Fur Blanket Should You Choose?
This depends largely on who will use it and where.
A smaller blanket can be perfect for a child, the car or an adult lap blanket. A larger throw gives you much more room to curl up on the sofa and can also be styled across a bed.
Then there are oversized and double-sided blankets for people who want considerably more coverage and weight.
Before buying, check the actual dimensions rather than relying solely on descriptions such as small, large or throw. These terms can vary considerably between brands.
For the exact Minimink sizes and what we’d recommend each one for, see our Which Minimink Blanket Should I Choose? guide.
Can You Machine Wash Faux Fur?
Often, yes — but never assume.
Care requirements vary according to the faux fur, backing and construction, so always check the manufacturer’s instructions for the individual blanket.
Minimink’s standard cotton-velour-lined faux fur blankets are designed to be machine washable, making them practical for everyday family life.
Larger and double-sided blankets may have different requirements because of their construction, size and weight.
Whatever the brand, excessive heat is generally something to be cautious about with synthetic faux fur fibres, so follow the care label rather than treating faux fur like an ordinary load of washing.
For detailed Minimink care information, see How to wash a Faux Fur Blanket (Without Ruining Its Softness).
Are Faux Fur Blankets Suitable for Children?
They certainly can be — provided the particular product is appropriate for the child’s age and intended use.
For older babies and children, a soft blanket can become much more than something that provides warmth. It can travel around the house, accompany family trips and become part of familiar routines.
We’ve recently been reminded just how long those attachments can last after hearing from Minimink customers whose blankets have remained part of their families for decades.
As always, follow appropriate safe-sleep guidance for babies and young children rather than placing loose blankets in an infant’s sleep environment.
What About Pets?
We could pretend Minimink blankets are exclusively for humans.
Our customer’s photographs suggest otherwise.
Dogs and cats appear to have a remarkable ability to locate the softest blanket in the house — and once they’ve found it, negotiations over ownership can become difficult.
If your faux fur blanket will be shared with a pet, washability becomes particularly useful. Think about where it will be used, the appropriate size and whether your washing machine can comfortably accommodate it.
Do Faux Fur Blankets Last?
There isn’t a universal number of years that a faux fur blanket should last. How frequently it’s used, how it’s cared for, its construction and the quality of the materials will all affect its lifespan.
What we can tell you is what our customers tell us.
Minimink has been part of Australian homes since 2003, and we’ve recently heard from customers with Minimink blankets that are still loved 19, 22 and even 23 years later.
That doesn’t mean every blanket will last for a particular number of years, but it does demonstrate something we care deeply about: making products intended to be lived with rather than treated as disposable.
How Do You Style a Faux Fur Blanket?
One of the reasons faux fur has remained so popular is that it adds texture as well as warmth.
You don’t need elaborate styling.
Drape a throw casually over the arm or back of a sofa, fold one across the end of a bed or keep it within reach in a favourite reading chair.
Neutral shades can blend quietly into a room, while deeper or brighter colours can become a feature in their own right.
And don’t feel it needs to remain perfectly arranged.
A beautiful blanket that’s permanently folded into a precise rectangle may photograph well. We rather like seeing ours being used.
Is Faux Fur a Good Gift?
A faux fur blanket can be a personal gift without knowing someone’s exact tastes.
It can mark a new baby, birthday, housewarming, someone leaving home or simply be a way of sending comfort to someone you love.
One long-time Minimink customer recently described the blankets she gives to family and friends beautifully:
“When we can’t hug in person these provide the warmest hug.”
We don’t think we could put it better.
Choosing a Faux Fur Blanket for an Australian Home
Australia presents an interesting challenge because our climates — and our homes — vary enormously.
For many households, a faux fur blanket isn’t something that’s used only in the depths of winter. It’s kept on the sofa for cool evenings, used in bedrooms, taken on trips or reached for whenever someone wants a little extra warmth.
Consider your local climate, how warm your home tends to be and whether you prefer a lighter blanket or something heavier and more enveloping.
The right blanket isn’t necessarily the warmest or largest.
It’s the one you’ll actually use.
Finding Your Minimink
For more than two decades, Minimink has been making faux fur blankets for Australian homes.
Our range now extends from our original baby blanket through children’s blankets and generous adult throws to wonderfully indulgent double-sided designs.
Whichever you choose, our philosophy remains simple:
Beautifully soft. Practical enough for real life. Made to be lived in.
If you’re not sure where to start, Which Minimink Blanket Should I Choose? will help you find the right size.
Or explore the collection for yourself.
