One of the simplest ways to instantly upgrade any space in your home is with some throw pillows!
With the right pop of colour or pattern, you can transform your living room, family room or bedroom into an interior decorator’s paradise. When it comes to living room seating, hallway benches, and basically anything in the bedroom, adding a throw pillow can bring out simple design features in your space. In order to harness the full potential of these decorative pieces, we've put together a few tips that will make the styling process a lot easier.
Before we dive in, you may be wondering “What’s the difference between a regular pillow and a throw pillow?”
Like most people, you’ve probably assumed that the words are merely synonymous with one another. But that’s not the case! While both pillows and throws can be used to provide soft cushioning and support, there’s much more to each type of pillow than you may have thought.
Unlike a regular pillow that you use for sleeping, a throw pillow is considered more decorative in nature. Sure, it can also provide substantial comfort on the couch or in bed when you’d like to prop yourself up, but it isn’t often recommended for sleeping. Throw pillows also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and textures for various uses and decorative purposes, whereas regular pillows are solely intended for the bed.
Now that you understand the difference, check out these simple rules for choosing the right throw pillow!
Follow these simple rules when choosing the right throw pillows for your space:
1. Choose a colour palette and stick with it.
If there's a piece of furniture in your room that brings in a pop of colour, make sure the rest of the room highlights it without clashing or outshining it. You’re going to get the most impact out of your throw pillows if they either contain the same shade/colour as that feature piece or a complimentary colour – for example, orange and teal are complimentary colours. When it comes to design, they look good together and contrast perfectly.
2. Mix and match prints and textures.
By mixing and matching styles and prints, you'll add an element of intrigue to your space or piece of furniture. Try to follow this rule: one simple print, one busy print, and one solid. This is a basic formula that you can use to help you narrow down your options if you’re interested in mixing things up.
Check out this busy print.
Blue Mist Lumbar Pillow
Check out this solid print.
Ultra Mink Faux Fur 18 x 18" Sheared Filled Cushion
Check out this simple print.
Polka Dots Throw Pillow
3. Play with shapes and sizes.
When selecting throw pillows, size is a big component. If you select a pillow that’s too large, it could overwhelm your sofa or chair. If you want to play with shape and proportion, try opting for a round cushion that can break up your traditional square or rectangular pillows.
4. As you move towards the inside of the sofa, the pillows should get smaller.
When you’re thinking about how optimize the visual appeal of your sofa or bed, your largest pillows should be in the far corners, and your smaller pillow should be on the inside. This keeps the larger pillows from outshining or hiding the smaller ones. But this is also an ideal set-up when it comes to comfort! A small pillow right in the center won’t make you feel like you’re perched on the edge of the couch and might instead act as the perfect back support!
5. Don’t go overboard!
We’ve probably all sat down on that couch that is so packed with throw pillows that you feel like you might topple off. If you’re not already familiar with this popular decorator’s rule, now’s a good time to familiarize yourself with it: always decorate with items in odd numbers like three. This rule of threes comes from the notion that things arranged in odd numbers are more appealing and memorable. But you don’t have to stick with 3 – 5, 7 or 9 can work nicely as well, especially when it comes to pillow styling!