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Weighted blankets have soared in popularity for their stress-reducing properties. But you know what’s stressful? Looking at a massive blanket that’s objectively ugly. It’s a glaring visual reminder that you’re so stressed that only the average cozy blanket won’t cut it, and it’s also, uh, heavy, so bringing it in and out of a closet or cabinet every time you need it is annoying. The weighted blanket made by Bearaby is here to change that.
Bearaby sells three styles of aesthetically pleasing, chunky knit weighted blankets: the Tree Napper ($249), a naturally cooling blanket made out of plant-based Tencel; the Cotton Napper ($249) a breathable organic cotton blanket; and the Nappling ($149), a small organic cotton blanket for kids.
Shop now: The Cotton Napper ($249)
The Nappling only comes in one weight (8 pounds), but the Tree Napper and Cotton Napper are available at 15, 20, and 25 pounds. You can take Bearaby’s quick quiz to figure out which weight is is right for you based on how long it takes you to fall asleep, your weight, and your wellness goals. While the Bearaby weighted blankets come in soft neutrals like gray and white they also come in bold colors like evening rose, pomegranate, and butternut bliss.
“I absolutely love my knitted Bearaby blanket and all the bold colors it comes in,” says Well+Good social media manager Hannah Weintraub. “It makes for a great couch throw when I’m not using it. It’s definitely on the heavier side—even for a weighted blanket—but it’s still breathable.”
Weighted blankets are so effective, explains psychotherapist Ginnie Love Thompson, PhD, because they can help us feel more secure. “When someone’s upset and you hug them, the hug not only offers emotional security, but research has also proven firm contact of the physical sensory produces an effect that calms the parasympathetic nervous system,” she says.
This feeling can reduce the body’s secretion of cortisol (the stress hormone), which also lessens the amount of serotonin and dopamine, known as the feel-good neurotransmitters. A small 2006 study found that 63 percent of adults who used a weighted blanket reported a reduction in anxiety after doing so, and 78 percent then preferred using weighted blankets instead of other self-soothing techniques. And while serotonin calms you down, it can also ramp up the production of melatonin, helping you get a better night’s sleep.
An added bonus of the Bearaby weighted blankets is that they’re so pretty you might feel a mood boost just looking at it. It’s made of a thick woven knit, which adds interesting texture to your space. Interior designer Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, shared during our May virtual Well+Good Talk that texture is so important to making your home feel comforting and supportive of your well-being.
“Maybe that’s covering your work chair with a sheepskin or a soft blanket,” she said. “Maybe [during the pandemic] is the time to get a new robe.” Surrounding yourself with soft things is key to making you feel cozy. (Luckily, she said petting your pets also helps). If the idea of a monstrously large and unsightly item in your home has stood between you and your dreams of drifting off under the comfort of a weighted blanket, fear not—you have options now.
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