Tips for Decorating with Throw PIllows

If someone said I had the personality of a throw pillow, I’d be quite flattered. With little effort, throw pillows can pull a room together by unifying a theme. They can totally change the ambiance of a room, from season to season or on a whim.  They can breathe new life into a room with a pop of color here and there, or make a bold statement with varying sizes, textures and patterns.

Calling them “throw” pillows really is a misnomer; you don’t just grab an armful of pillows and toss them willy-nilly. There’s a strategy to decorating with pillows so they compliment the space and add interest.  Throw pillows can be decorative and they can accent colors, patterns, and items in your room.

Top Ten Tips for Decorating with Throw Pillows

Interior decorators agree that a few well-chosen throw pillows can really enhance a room while creating harmony.  With so many shapes, sizes, textures, and combinations available, we thought we’d share some simple tips of the trade to help you get the look you want.

1. Remember to address the whole room, rather than just the furniture where the pillows will go.
2. Look at throw pillows as accessories. They complement or dress up a room.
3. A room should have one cohesive color palette, so pull in some of those colors with throw pillows in the same shade or in a couple of complimentary shades.
4. Rather than repeating a pattern in the room, compliment it using different patterns and solids in the same color palette. Select three patterns using one color.
5. If your room is busy with patterns, add a bit of calm with a couple of solid pillows in a bold color pulled from the patterns.
6. Use an odd number of pillows so it doesn’t seem contrived and too orderly. Try one simple print, one busy print and one solid, or one small print, one big print and one solid. Create your own pillowscape with different combinations.
7. Use a variety of different fabrics with at least one common color.
8. Liven up the room by layering different textures. Try faux fur with velvet or silk. Mix it up a bit with tassels or fringes.
9. Make it interesting by using different pillow shapes and sizes, from round to oblong. Add some fun with an unexpected color, shape or size.
10. And last, but not least, think of your throw pillows as a family; while they don’t have to match, they need to relate in some way so the room feels unified.

If your room needs a refresh, it may be as simple as swapping out some throw pillows. A few strategically placed pillows can literally transform the space. Outdoors too, pillows can add a splash of color to your patio chairs and lounges and complement your gardens. And the beauty of decorating with throw pillows is, you can always store them away while you create another look, and then recycle.  What’s old is new again!