Add a touch of luxury to your lounge with this plush heated throw - Beurer Nordic Electric Blanket review

I've been snuggling up under the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket  for weeks now and I've never been toastier. Here's everything you need to know about the perfect sofa throw on the market.

It doesn’t get cosier than snuggling up with a velvety soft heated throw. I should know. I’ve been spending the last few months testing out all of the best electric blankets on the market and, I have to say, Beurer’s is one of the best.

The Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket is designed for people who want to effortlessly and affordable create a cosier home. This is one of the best options, if you're thinking about how much it costs to run an electric blanket. Mine needed just pennies to keep me toasty and warm. 

Beurer offers three classy colourways of this faux fur blanket. I’m snuggly covered in it, even without it on, but how does it fare against the competition?

Specifications

Unboxing the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket

Getting the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket unpacked and warmed up is easy. The compact cardboard box is completely recyclable, so you're not left with anything lingering in your bins. 

All you have to do is slide this out and spread it over your sofa, bed, or workstation. It comes with the plug pre-attached — although this can be removed for cleaning — and the lead is long enough for you to move around underneath the blanket without pulling it out of the socket. If you know you’re fidgety and you’ll want to wrap this around you in lots of different ways, it might be worth investing in an extension cord, although I don’t think this is necessary for most people. 

Who would the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket suit?

If you’re trying to delay turning the heating on, but you get cold in the evenings, or when you work from home, this is perfect. It’s big enough for two to snuggle under or for one person to really get wrapped up in. 

Beurer normally sell this around £100, but if you’re smart about when and where you shop, you might be able to bag it a little cheaper. Right now, for example, it’s half price at Amazon. Even with a discount like that, this is more expensive than Dunelm’s offering, but it’s pretty comparable to Lakeland’s. Essentially, this kind of price bracket normally means you’ll get good quality, but no frills, flourishes, or fancy brand names. 

Unlike many other throws, the Beurer is available in a range of colours, from a nordic grey to ocean blue, taupe, and white. The colour options are all classy and versatile, perfect for a range of homes. You’re supposed to have the velvet side against your skin, letting the faux fur sit on top. However, I tried flipping this around when I was particularly cold and it was even warmer, maybe even a little too warm if that’s possible. 

What is the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket like to use?

As I mentioned earlier, this is a plug in and go model. Beurer recommends keeping this flat, not folded, which is a rule that you really should follow for all electric blankets. After that, you can select a few different options on the remote control. You’ll get to choose between six different heat settings, which is one of the most versatile offerings that I’ve seen on any electric blanket. You also get a three hour timer, so the blanket will switch off after that time, just in case you fall asleep forgetting that you’ve left this on.

I set the blanket to full whack, because I wanted to know how useful the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket would be on a snowy day when my hands are numb. Just wrapping it around me, the blanket felt instantly warm, as any thick blanket would. I could feel warmth spreading through the blanket and, over the next half an hour, it slowly but surely got warmer. Three-quarters of an hour later, I was baking hot. That's a little slower than other electric blankets. Slumberdown's Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket had be baking hot in well under ten minutes, but it was still nice to enjoy the gradual heat.

The next day, I wanted to see how low and slow the heat setting 1 would be. I settled onto the sofa with the Beurer tucked over me and my partner. We kept the heat setting on one and it diffused a subtle, but distinct warmth. It’s enough to take the edge of a bit of a nip in the air, but it isn't going to have you toasty and warm.

Over the next few nights, I worked through all of the other settings offered by the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket. I settled at four for my perfect setting, although my partner preferred two. 

I kept going back to four because it gives a good boost of heat, without becoming too cloying or intense. The blanket is made from polyester, which is great for insulation, but it means that this isn’t that breathable at higher temperatures. Four kept me snuggly (almost sleepily) warm and still sweat-free too. My partner is naturally warmer than me, so I wasn't surprised that he preferred two. If you're a warm person, but you want to take the edge off any chill in your home, that'll probably be a safe bet for you.

How do you clean the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket?

Cleverly, Beurer has designed the HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket to be safe in washing machines. I think it's important for throws like this to be washed, because you're likely to be wrapped up in them for a lot of time, so they might get spills, stains, and natural marks over the winter.

You'll need to take a good look at the cleaning and care instructions, as these aren't safe to be washed any higher than at 30 °C and you have to unclip the remote and plug before piling them into the washing machine. I'd also recommend using Ecover Laundry Detergent or the brand's laundry capsules), since they're much more gentle on your throw, meaning it'll last longer too. 

When it comes to letting the blanket dry, I'd recommend air drying the blanket. You can't tumble dry it, but, if you live in a humid house, you could try draping this over a heated airer to speed up the process. It is polyester, so it won't hold on to much moisture, don't worry.

How does the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket compare?

Up until this, my favourite heated blanket was the Slumberdown Comfy Hugs Fleece Warming Throw. The two are comparable in terms of how soft and snuggly they are, but there are some slight differences. The Slumberdown is more of a velvety fleece all over, whereas the Beurer has that fleece layer, but also a faux fur top too, so you get the offer of some versatility. 

The Slumberdown gets hotter much quicker than the Beurer. I was toasty inside the Slumberdown within fifteen minutes. Plus, you have 10 different heat settings, rather than just six. Slumberdown is good with these details too; there are distinct differences between each heat setting. You also get more options for how long you want the blanket on for. You can have the shut off after one hour or after six, which is a nice touch. If you hadn’t guessed, I slightly preferred the Slumberdown. I think this was largely helped by the fact that it’s 1/3 of the price, without any obvious compromises. However, if you love faux fur, this will be a brilliant way to stay warm without having to turn the heating up.

Should you buy the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket?

After testing the Beurer HD 150 XXL Nordic Electric Blanket, I could think of plenty of friends and family who would benefit from this. I’ve actually bought one for my mum, who works from home and always gets really cold in the middle of the day. This stylish throw will be perfect for topping up her temperature, without the need of a radiator or space heater. It's the perfect, simple way to make yourhome cosier as the weather gets colder.

How we test

Electric blankets are one of my favourite products to test. I’m a cold person who suffers with Reynaud’s (a blood circulation issue) which means that I’m always looking for ways to stay warm at home that won’t turn the whole house into a furnace. Electric blankets and throws have proven to be one of the most successful solutions. 

I’ve set up a rigorous testing process for all the electric blankets that I, or any of our other experts, follow. I’m always doing research into the latest releases on the electric blanket market. As soon as I see one that I think is useful, innovative, or super cosy, I’ll call it in to test. Once it’s in my home, I use it for weeks, if not months, assessing it across a range of different factors.

The first notes that I make on any electric blanket are on the packaging. I like sustainable, recyclable boxes that keep the electric blanket compact in transit. Then, in an ideal world, the blanket is ready to use from the box. If you need to plug or programme anything into it, I’ll let you know.

Then, I test all the different temperature settings. I normally do this at five or two and a half minute intervals. If it’s a wearable throw or poncho, I’ll wear it the whole time. If it’s mattress cover or mattress warmer, I’ll stay in bed the whole time — it’s a hard life.

I’ll let you know where it gets hot, whether there are any cold patches, whether it has a cool space for the pillows, as well as how energy efficient it is. Some have dual controls and different zones, so I always check that these are distinct, both myself and with a partner. 

After I’m happy that I understand all the ins and outs of the electric blanket, I’ll wash it. Some need to be hand washed, some can go in the washing machine, and a few can be tumble dried too. It’s really useful to know about this before you make a purchase, because a long and hands-on washing process might put you off.

All throughout the testing process, I’ll be thinking about all the other electric blankets, throws, and ponchos that I’ve tested. Naturally, I’ll be comparing their performance, value for money, texture, efficiency, and versatility. I’ll let you know about comparable models, essentially doing the ‘shopping around’ for you. Then, I’ll come to a conclusion on who this would suit and whether I think you’ll buy it. None of our reviews are sponsored, so if I say something is good, it’s my authentic opinion.