I have a long devan quilt which I put on the back of chairs. It has received lots of compliments. What it really was were orphan blocks I never expected to get made into a quilt.
It has lots of hand quilting and it does draw a lot of attention.
So much can be done with about any size quilt, and a good investment of time and pennies, really.
Mariah

I don't use quilts for bedspreads. I already have pretty spreads for my beds and they fit the decor. We use quilts for snuggling and extra warmth. I have made a few bed size quilts that would fit on a double bed but they are so heavy and I don't use them much. I like the smaller ones to snuggle with on the couch and if I need extra warmth on the bed then I put a smaller quilt on top the bed. I also use quilts for table cloths. I have an odd size round table that is our everyday eat at table so I have a variety of quilts that I switch out there and then just throw in the washer like you would a table cloth.

I make many quilts for Babies in Need, Make a Wish, Quilts of Valor, of course, family, and myself.

They make great "lap quilts".....just nice to grab and cover up the lap and legs on a cold day or evening.....also a nice size to donate....I generally make 40x54" size for donating.....can be either used for a small child or a larger child's lap quilt.....easy for me to handle and uses only one WOF for backing......

I put them everywhere... This is the loft/plant shelf near the ceiling where I have my bear collection. I have one on the front door even.

People have mentioned so many good ideas!
Recently I posted a doorhanging for my Mom's apartment in a senior complex. Seasonal or themed doorhangings are also good for school, churches, and other facilities. They add interest to a décor.
I have also made handbags out of quilts about 25-30" square. The technique is a method of folding, and you start with a finished square quilt.

I don't usually make smaller quilts unless they are pre-planned gifts. Anything smaller than a full/queen is believed by a 7 lb. papillon to be hers. She tries to drag them to her special corner in the sewing room. !!!!Try being the key word here. LOL

Around 30 x 40" would make a nice quilt to cover someone's lap, knees and legs that uses a wheelchair.
I made two for a young man whom is wheelchair bound. His parents really appreciated them.

36" x 45" for Lap Robes for Nursing homes. Donation Quilts for Women and children Shelters or Foster Homes, Baby size Quilts donate to Hospitals for new borns.. or for church Charities shops...

I am involved with Quilts for kids and that's the size we use. Great size for a baby or toddler quilt.

For a couch throw, I make them at least 72 inches...long enough for a 6 foot tall person...50 or 60 inches length just don't do the job.

I agree with Karo....I am 5'6" tall but I when I want to cover up, I want it to go over my shoulders and still be long enough to tuck under my feet so 72" to 80" works best for me. I sometimes even put a "foot holder" on the back side of the bottom.

Mine are always gifts to a rest home for Christmas. There are so many that don't receive a gift and this kind/size
of a quilt is perfect for just sitting. :) Last year we donated about 35. All of them were squares from quilts that
we thought we might like and decided that we didn't for some reason or other. Sample squares make good
throw pillows too.

I make quilts because I enjoy making quilts. I keep a stack of smaller quilts and lap quilts in a cabinet and as I have guests, if they fall in love with one, they take it home with them as a gift. I give most of mine away. The really smaller ones I use to decorate my sewing room and other areas of my home on the wall. I love the patterns and colors of quilts and the therapy it gives me to sew and if someone else might enjoy them, then all the better.

My grandmother made them and called them "car quilts". We keep one in the car for emergencies, to cover picnic tables while traveling, lots of things. I also collect embroidered patches of places we visit and sew them on the back as sort of a journal of my travels.

I made a couple of them sized as "runners" to put on the seat and back of the sofa because my little dogs make footprints on the fabric. They are washable and small enough that if they wear, I can replace them easily

A quilting friend of mine has a wicker love seat in her foyer and next to the stairs. She rearranges the setting with small seasonal/holiday quilts and other cute items like stuffed animals. I also look forward to see what she has done when I go to her house. I have used smaller quilts as table toppers, wall hangings. I love to decorate with quilts.

Hey! I like that idea! A car quilt that collects patches from my travels....

Me, I occasionally make small quilts like 70x70... I also have made a couple smaller and rotate them with others that I have acquired and hang them on the wall in my bedroom. I rotate about 4 a year there. The others don't go to waste as even here in California, the nights get cool and couch / lap quilts are welcome. tim in warm warm warm san jose.

Just sent 96 to daycares