That's just an extra throw blanket.

Unless you're talking about something like this:

Traditional Bedroom · More Info

Which looks like a table runner at the foot of the bed. Weird and useless, IMO.

But it's a strip of fabric, usually about 22 inches wide so how can it be a blanket?

Mustangs, in your photo, it is a blanket, folded up.

Many hotels have started putting a piece of fabric on to mimic the look of a blanket, with less bulk, and likely less cost. A runner is probably a good description of it.

beryl469, #7 on your list there has reminded me they also use these in furniture stores. :D

I imagine in a hotel, that's where a lot of people set their suitcase for a moment, or sit down to put on their footwear, etc, so it's probably a lot easier to wash that than a bedspread, and cheaper to replace than the blankets and coverlets they use now.

Thanks, bedrunner...works for me. I need to have one made out of the bedspread that I replaced because I am keeping the matching bed skirt and shams.

I thought the hotels used them to help protect the bedspreads. DH
always sits on the end of the bed so I told him they are trying to
protect their spreads against his destruction.

Of course Pinetrest would have it! I showed my handy man Pinetrest's instructions on changing bi-fold doors (hate them) into French doors; it made it easy for him to make the switch.

It's called a Scaldino

I always thought a scaldino was a bed warmer. The kind you put coals in to preheat the bed before going to sleep. Shows you what I know!

I always thought a scaldino was a bed warmer.

It is in the original Italian -- from the verb scaldare - to warm/heat.

Antico Originale Scaldino

Imho, unless it is a blanket or throw folded to be used for extra warmth if needed, it is useless and silly.

I agree about the lack of functionality. I am using it because the solid color of the bedspread is too much as the carpet is the same color so I need an offset.

Bedspread

I can't see your linked image, so no idea what it looks like, but why not just fold it at the foot of the bed? At least then it still could be of some use, rather than just aesthetic.

Darn, I can click on the link and see the spread. Sorry.

I appreciated the suggestion. It's too thick; it's a comforter rather than a bedspread plus we don't have much use for extra covers/blankets here.

It's supposed to be used as a foot warmer, hence the name Scaldino. So, there is a use for it. :)

We have one ... it's where the cat sleeps. Keeps the bedspread much cleaner.

There you have it! They do have a use, keeping the feet warm and as a cat bed. Go ahead and cut away. You should be able to make three our four of them :)

My cats (3) sleep on top of me...maybe this will encourage them to sleep on the runner :).
Actually the runner is for the guest room and they aren't allowed in.

Thanks all, this has been a helpful discussion.

I can tell you! It's called a "bed scarf."

I know this because I buy duvet covers from a small hotel supply place, and that is what they call them. They have a dual purpose----to provide a coordinating fabric and color on the all white bed duvets, and also to protect the same from people's shoes.

Kswl, Now that you say it...I remember!!

Cathy, it's a bed scarf or runner. I have them for our new house. I bought 50 x60 inch throws, folded them and we use them when we lay down with our shoes on. Protects the bed covering. We, too, saw them first in hotels. Got ours at Tuesday morning and ikea. Easy to wash. Takes a bit of shopping, finding.

I recently stayed in a wonderful old hotel that had recently been refurbished (Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque, ca. 1939 and Conrad Hilton's first hotel property outside Texas). It had a bed scarf that was weighted down by being looped like a tab-top curtain through an iron rod on each end. It was a nice look, but what to do with that thing at night? I was afraid if I'd left it on the bed that I'd kick it off in the night and it would make a noise and wake me. I took it off and folded it over the desk chair.

Of course now I'm contemplating doing something similar in my own house. I need to add color to the bed in the MBR I'm not finding quite the colored/patterned light quilt/blanket I want (neutral duvet will go over the top, folded down toward the bottom), so I may go without the blanket, keep the duvet pulled up, and use a scarf or throw of some kind. DH is out of town until Monday night and I'm hoping to have it sorted out by the time he gets back. Yeah, right!

They had them in the hotels where we stayed in Costa Rica, and they were on the floor every morning. I thought that perhaps they would keep my feet warm, but they would have had to have stayed on the beds for that to happen.

Lars

On cruise ships they lay them out on the bed during the day and fold them away at night when they make the bed up for sleeping. Only time I ever get twice a day room attendant service.

Of course, ask an Italian and they'll tell you it's a bed warmer.

I accidentally tore a bedspread at a bed and breakfast in England one time when my suitcase wheel cover caught on it. I did not realize it had a rough edge. I offered to pay for replacement and it cost me 50 pounds which I guess was about 80 bucks at the time. Pretty steep! I wish the bed had one of those, that would have been much less expensive to replace! An ounce of prevention.

I recently stayed at a B&B in Fredricksburg, Tx and what they used was a. twin size bedspread on a queensize bed. Didn't look as skimpy as the bedscarf. Why even bother?

The studio apartment I rent in Paris has one on the bed. There's no sofa, so this serves to protect the bed covering from feet when lounging.

I always thought it was protection against the morons who put their dirty luggage on the bedspread or their feet with dirty shoes.

Why even bother?

You could ask the same thing about multiple decorative pillows on a bed.

I see them now pretty much in any hotel we stay at these days. I've always considered them to be a bed runner, there to protect the linens from the wear and tear (and dirt) of suitcases being packed and unpacked, from guests sitting on the end of the bed or who don't take off their shoes when relaxing on the bed. I think they serve a very useful purpose in hotels. I wouldn't use them in my home, though.

It's for your luggage, feet, etc.

Hotels surveyed quests and learned that people are grossed out by any bed spread. I know whenever we encounter them, we toss them on the floor under the desk. You just don't know what it has on it, but you do know that it doesn't seem to be as clean as everything else and you simply would rather not touch it.

The bed runner is the response to these hygiene concners. It is mean to suggest a bed spread and add to the decor but since you don't come in contact with it while you sleep, it is not an issue. When we stayed in a Marriott a few weeks ago, all the bedding was white, even the bed runner. It was so clean and inviting!

You are all wrong. I work as a housekeeper in the hotel industry, and the fabric runner at the end of the bed is purely to finish the bed off. It should be place with a bit on the mattress and the rest hanging down to cover the tuck of the sheets or anything else that might be sticking out. Simple as. We tuck our big heavy duvets under the mattress here in Ireland and the bed runner tidies everything up.

dadriks, where you work, it may not be discussed for shoes or luggage, but many in the industry will tell you, yes it is put there for color and for feet and luggage.

No need to say everyone is wrong.

I worked in hotels in Africa and unlike here people wear shoes indoors, this was to protect the bedcover, often on entering the room the first thing that was done was to test the bed or have a quick nap.

Decorative Bed Runner

If you think about it, they really started being popular in hotels when almost all nice hotels went to using white bedspreads. That was after 20/20 or some show used fluorescent lights to show how disgusting hotel bedspreads were with bodily fluids. They all went to white so they could be cleaned and bleached frequently. People were too grossed out and it hurt the hotel industry. Now that they are using all white, it is so easy just to sit on the bed after swimming etc or lay your luggage down or your purse first and get it dirty. Those are def not feet warmers and not meant to be blankets. They are to help keep the bed from getting so dirty so fast. They still clean the spreads much more often because now you can see anything left on there. But with these bed scarves it helps to lessen a little bit the frequency. I have an Airbnb with all white spreads and I notice they get the dirtiest right in that area. They sit there first. It's very obvious. So I am looking for some for my beds.

I call mine a throw.....pull it over me for a nap on the bed. I also have a "throw" on my easy chair....same reason, a nap or just a chilly room. My husband calls it my "security blanket" like a small child may have. lol