Every home can benefit from a few accent pillows. A couch, bed, or chair without a few cushions is like a little black dress without some great jewelry; nice, but lacking in personality. And like jewelry, there are tons of options out there. So before shopping for the perfect toss pillows, learn a little about what to look for.
Throw Pillow Shapes
Throw pillows come in several different shapes, and the right one will depend on where it’s going.
- Square pillows work anywhere and everywhere. Mix up the sizes, layer them on furniture; it’s hard to go wrong with a simple square accent pillow.
- Rectangular pillows work best on elongated pieces of furniture like sofas or beds.
- Round cushions work best on furniture with rounded, fluid lines.
- Box pillows can be square or circular, and are much deeper than regular throw pillows. They add depth and dimension to these traditional shapes.
- Bolsters are long tube-like pillows. They’re commonly used on beds, or on sofas as armrests.
Styles of Decorative Pillows
Accent pillows come in a few different styles. The simplest is the knife-edge style. Knife-edge means that there is no welting or border, just a straight seam. It is the most minimal style. Another simple style is the envelope-style pillow. These have pillowcases that close with small ties instead of a zipper or buttons. The look is simple but charming. The other common but simple style of accent cushion is the flange style. It has a flat panel border that goes all the way around the pillow.
At the other end of the spectrum is the ruffled pillow, which is exactly as it sounds; it has a feminine ruffled border that is in no way simple. Also on the more decorative side are pillows with tailored pleats. It’s still feminine, but a little more sophisticated than the ruffled look.
Trims and Embellishments for Accent Pillows
Sometimes a small detail packs a big punch, and this is certainly true when it comes to pillow embellishments and trims. There are several different styles:
- Rope trim is quite common and fairly simple. It adds a bit of texture to a plain pillow.
- Fringe is fun and a little over-the-top. It works best in highly decorated rooms.
- Ribbon trims and details add simple flair to plain pillows.
- Tassels are fairly elaborate, and only somewhat fussy rooms should make use of them. They have a sense of fun and add movement to the pieces they adorn.
- Pom-poms are the ultimate in playful fun. Leave them out of modern rooms, as they’re a tad frou-frou.
- Beads, feathers, sequins, and even tiny mirrors are also occasionally used as pillow accents. However, be wary of these if the pillows are going to be used much. No one wants to snuggle up to a pillow only to get bead imprints in their face, or a feather in the eye.
Pillows Sizes and Numbers
The size of accent pillows should be in proportion to the piece of furniture they’ll be accenting. Keep in mind the word “accent.” If the pillow is too big it will overwhelm the furniture, if it’s too small it will look puny and lost.
If you simply can’t resist extra large comfy pillows, try leaving them on the floor. They provide extra seating when chairs are at a minimum. They’re also great for people who like to curl up on the floor when watching a movie.
While comfy cushions add a soft and decorative touch to furniture, there is such a thing as having too many. People shouldn’t have to remove pillows before they sit down, or get into bed. They should be there as sources of comfort, not extra clutter that constantly has to be moved around. Again, they should enhance the furniture, not overwhelm it.
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