Throws run a close second to slipcovers in the "home-goods-gone-bad" category.

Done right, they're lovable lifesavers; done wrong, they're egregious eyesores.

Still, we're giving throws a lingering glance this winter as families spend more time at home on the couch, with thermostats set lower. Here are our picks:

Washable luxury - Although it's 100 percent virgin wool from sheep in the mountains of Eastern Europe, the natural hued plaid Village Blanket at Jayson Home and Garden is machine washable. Here's why: After weaving, the blankets are processed in mountain river-powered washing machines to preshrink them. The wool is gathered from sheep breeds of the Rhodope and Pirin mountains, said to produce soft fibers with more texture than common merino wool ($195) at jaysonhomeandgarden.com

Great scots - Adam Glassman, creative director of O, the Oprah Magazine, pointed out these authentic, Scottish blankets as one of his favorites. Choose your clan colors, or colors to match your room. Wool tartan blankets ($73) at thescottishweaver.com

Warm fuzzies - Faux fur is especially hot, which is one reason Adrienne Landau's faux fur throws caught our eye. This reversible faux mink animal throw might be just right for someone with a sense of glamour and humor ($99.95) in chinchilla/black, zebra/white or leopard/brown, at hsn.com

Frills to thrill - Cozy enough to pass for cashmere at first touch, Martha Stewart's ruffled throws for Macy's are acrylic for affordability and machine washability ($39.99, on sale) in several colors at macys.com/marthastewart as well as Macy's stores.

Red hots - Even from a distance, red warms up a room. Branca integrates it into her Alessandra Branca Collection 100 percent organic cotton woven blanket in a signature stripe of black, chocolate and red, with black velvet trim. It's machine washable ($225) at branca.com.