Decorating with throw and pillow may seem like a small part of the design process, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re the best way to elevate a house to a home. Even though they are soft and comfortable, they’re not all fluff. When it comes to living room seating, hallway benches, and pretty much anything in the bedroom, adding a throw pillow will pack a ton of punch and bring out the subtle design features in a space. In order to harness the full potential of these decorative do-gooders, we’ve rounded up a few tips that will make the styling process a lot easier.
1. Throw and pillow cover: Pick an Anchor Color
If there’s a piece of furniture in your room that brings in a pop of color, make sure the rest of the room highlights it without outshining it. In the example above, the soft rose gold accents and striped linen pillows pick up on the tufted raspberry ottoman. This makes the overall look much more cohesive. But to keep things exciting, there’s also a cool new color introduced to the pallet vis-à -vis the printed square throw pillows. Their steel blue details contrast with the anchor color and accentuate the light gray paint in the kitchen.
A solid pillow in a gorgeous shade of steel gray-meets-silver is a great candidate to add to the supporting lineup on the sofa. It’s understated, but it also has a personality of its own.
2. Mix and Match Prints
By mixing and matching styles and prints, you’ll elevate the intrigue to keep the eye engaged. This vignette is the perfect example for decorating with throw pillows of different styles. You have your graphic chevron print, a few neutrals for balance, and then, for the standout, a floral-print pillow that ties in most of the colors in the room. Again, when choosing your throw pillows, it’s best to think of them without the context of the entire space. So you can see how some of these pillows flatter the crisp white walls while others are flattering the blue cushion and carpet. Together, they also bring out the natural textures of the hardwood floor and stone wall. As you can see, these pillows are also artfully curated in their own right, so the artwork above is a more muted tone.
Throw pillows can be art, too! Incredibly stylish and versatile, a pillow like this one will be great to throw into any décor mix, thanks to the neutral colors.
3. Throw and pillow cover: Play With Proportion and Shape
Talk about eye-catching! When you deconstruct the room and break down the design elements of each item, it’s hard to imagine how they all work together so well. The answer lies within the decorative throw pillow, of course, as its mustard print details reconcile everything. Notice how each piece is unique in shape, style, and size. Thanks to the tiny seat with an angular base, organic stool, disc-like lamp, and triangular table, this bedroom gives quirky proportion play a whole new meaning.
If you want to play with shape and proportion, opt for a round cushion that can break up traditionally-shaped pillows on a sofa or chair. You can also use it as a floor cushion!
4. Cover All the Bases (Surfaces)
This living room achieves a thoroughly grown-up look without sacrificing all of its childlike excitement. How? No two pillows are alike, which keeps the aesthetic warm and playful. If you imagine this room without the throw pillows, it may feel more formal and harsh, which can be just as beautiful—it really just depends on what kind of environment you’d like to create. We love how every seating option in the room has a throw pillow on it. Not only will the lumbar pillows on the chairs ensure that guests get all the back support and comfort they deserve, but it also maintains the edgy style.
This is a great throw pillow to decorate with since it offers both whimsy and elegance.
