Today I thought to myself, “Self, you’ve got to stop thinking about all the crazy stuff going on in the world right now. What’s the biggest distraction you can think of?” PILLOWS, Gentle Readers. I came up with pillows.
There’s an article coming out in The Washington Post this week in which I identify my 8 favorite things at one of the area’s biggest retailers. (I’ll let you know via Instagram when it hits the paper — probably on Thursday.) It got me thinking, and I found myself wondering what other retailers are up to these days in the “accessories space.” (I.e., pillows.)
I’m not going to lie: custom pillows are the best. They’re amazing quality, they tie a room together, and they can be so detailed, with contrast welting, beautiful trim, etc. You control the size, and you control the fill. BUT custom pillows take a while, and they’re not inexpensive. But for (nearly) instant gratification, if I were to distract myself with some off-the-shelf pillows right now, here’s what I’d consider:
Note the word “cover” there; the pillow insert is sold separately.
The Blossom also comes in a blue, but isn’t the yellow cheery? Here’s some more yellow.
The Elsie would be sweet in a kid’s bedroom. That knit! Cozy!
I love mixing plaid with floral pillows. So casual, so relaxed and fun. These tartan pillows would really change up a room in the winter months, also.
These peacock pillows are a by-product of Schumacher’s collaboration with Williams-Sonoma Home, about which I had mixed feelings. I feel very protective of Schumacher’s patterns, and I don’t remember signing off on this deal. These pillows are great, though, and with the contrast flange and embroidery on the printed design, they look pretty special. They don’t have the pattern on both sides, though… Which leads me to confess that one of the things I do NOT love about off-the-shelf pillows is that the patterned fabric is usually only on one side. I can’t help it: it can look cheap.
My pillow fabricator has convinced me that different fabrics on a pillow can be quite charming, but BOTH sides have to be interesting. Not this “oatmeal-y linen on one side, razzle-dazzle velvet on the other” business. That’s why I found these pillows so intriguing:
This sweet little lumbar pillow is lavender on one side and peach on the other! With an orange welt! Pretty snazzy for off-the-shelf. And versatile, and modern, if that’s what you need.
Finally, because I believe that every room should have an animal in it, here are two charming tigers from which to choose:
Gentle Readers, I hope you find these recommendations fun, comforting, and, above all, distracting. The world will be a different place when I next write…possibly from underneath a mountain of pillows.
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, and we travel for fun projects. Annie’s design work and insights have appeared in numerous local and national publications, including HGTV Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Washingtonian Magazine.