Because pillows on beds are their own conundrum! We’ll talk about those next time, Gentle Readers :)
You likely know that this is where I stand on pillows: they NEVER should be an afterthought. None of this “Oh, we’ll just find some at the end” nonsense. Pillows pull together the colors and patterns in a room (or cheekily contrast with them), indicate the level of formality of the space, and, if the room is rather boring (in other words, if I didn’t design it), they add interest and spice. I propose pillows to my clients at our very first design presentation. That’s how important they are.
SETTING THE TONE
Pillows set the tone of a room. Does the room ask you to sit up straight, or are you invited to cast your shoes aside and curl up?
Formal-slash-tidy spaces may have a limited number of pillows that sit up nice and tall and match.
Sometimes, they even match the window treatments.
In a formal(ish) space, you could consider limiting yourself to one pattern. I think this a restful, sophisticated look. (Have you noticed that it’s hard for me to say formal? Clients don’t love that word! It’s not really how we think of our homes these days, is it? Anyway.)
In contrast, casual rooms may have pillows in a variety of sizes, patterns, and colors, and they tend to be thrown about.
TRIM
As Deb from Napoleon Dynamite would say, “So many options.”
(Sorry, Ruthie and Georgie, but how can I not include the Napoleon Dynamite Halloween picture?)
ANYway, I’ll stick with the trims that you’ll see most often. A pillow with trim really “elevates the look,” as they say.
I’m sure you’ve seen contrast welt. It’s a modest yet thoughtful gesture that makes a pillow look polished. (You also can add contrast welts to furniture!)
Tape trim is really versatile. Use it on the face of the pillow, either as a border, an inset border, or, if you’re feeling edgy, a stripe or two.
We’re about to propose this amazing tape trim to a client. Fingers crossed:
Tassels, pom-poms, beads, fringe, and the like are the ultimate in trim, and you can’t BELIEVE how many fun options are on the market right now!
CUSTOM VS. OFF-THE-SHELF
What can I say: Custom pillows are worth the expense. You have the freedom to choose the exact size, fabric, trim, and insert.
But they CAN be expensive. And they might not be where your decorating priorities lie right now. (Wallpaper, however… now THAT’s a priority.)
Off-the-shelf pillows can be a good option, but you can look for ones that don’t look cheap. PLEASE do not buy pillows with fabric on the front and a plain white back. It looks like you ran out of the good stuff. And good ideas.
Look for removable covers, the same fabric on the front and back, a welt or trim along the seams, and a feather/down insert (unless allergies are an issue).
SIZES
22″-26″ square pillows (called Euros) are very large. Limit them to beds, which we’ll discuss next time.
20″ pillows are perfect for BIG sofas and sectionals.
18″ square works especially well on lounge chairs and loveseats, but you really can use them anywhere. Can’t go wrong.
Any pillow smaller than 18″ — say, 16″ square, or small lumbars — I would call specialty pillows. If you put a row of 16″ pillows on a sofa, they’ll look wimpy and dated. Use specialty pillows sparingly, but do use them! They can be adorable and hilarious.
Lumbar pillows (rectangular pillows that theoretically offer lumbar support) are perfect in the center of a sofa, with or without additional pillows. The trick here is that they come in every size imaginable, so I’m afraid there are no rules for that. Go smaller on chairs, larger on loveseats and sofas.
No more excuses, Gentle Readers! Give yourself and your house a lift and add some new pillows as soon as possible ;)
Annie Elliott Design works in the Washington, D.C. area and other fun places, such as Nantucket, Park City, Lake Tahoe, and New York. We’re now scheduling projects for winter 2026-27. Please contact us to discuss.
