Hi Everyone,
Oh, spring is here, for today that is. After such a wretched, cold, wet weekend, it was doubly sweet. I went for a long walk to Whole Foods which pooped me up but then energized me. It’s always good to remember that there’s usually a reward for the pain.
Oh, and I did take some pics of the monstrosity that is the bell tower’s super ugly scaffolding you can barely make out in the image on Sunday’s post. I added them in, if you’re interested. Thanks to all who left comments!
For today, this is part 2 of the throw pillow post with more information, plus another beautiful widget filled with all of the blues and teals I love.
Also, I added more pillows to both the green and the pink pillow widgets. Those are in part 1, but near the end if you want to skip ahead, please click the link below. If you’re here for the first time or wish to review, please start from the top.
Part 2 Begins Here
Hi Everyone,
Oh my. You always know when I say Oh my it means I got caught in a vortex of some sort. The last three days, it’s been throw pillows. You see, it’s been nearly four years since I last updated my pillow post.
The last time I did it, I made about a dozen mini widgets, which I thought would be easier. They weren’t. Today, there will be three big widgets divided by color.
Before we get into the throw pillows, please join me in celebrating my 13th blogiversary. Yes, this blog began on April 7, 2012.
However, without all of you, there would be no blog. I am deeply grateful.
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In design school in the late ’80s, I would quip smugly that interior design is so much more than just figuring out the throw pillows.
Years later, I realized that I was wrong.
Actually, throw pillows are everything.
Alright, that’s an exaggeration, but they add a vital component.
Don’t believe me? Check out the following rooms, put your finger over the pillows, and imagine that room without them.
Above and below by me in 2012 and 2013.
My old living room in Bronxville, NY.
Throw pillows are one of the easiest ways to add a lot of pizazz to your interiors.
That is… if you do them right.
Do them wrong, and your room will suffer.
What is the biggest mistake that people make with their throw pillows?
There are three mistakes, and all of them are important.
1 – Size. Most people have pillows that are too small. For most sofas, you will want your square pillows to be no smaller than 20″ square. More about that in a sec.
2 – Fill. Never use a solid piece of foam. I prefer 50/50 down and feathers. However, for vegans and those with allergies, I would get the finest down alternative you can find.
3. The fabric that covers the inserts.
Ah… This is one of my favorite tricks to make your room look rich on a budget.
If money is super tight, and there’s a choice of fabrics, I would go with something plain, easy to maintain, and inexpensive, like a sunbrella-type fabric that looks like sailcloth or cotton duck.
Then, the splurge is with the pillow fabrics. Use the beautiful designer fabrics, for the most part. That is what you will notice, not the 18 yards it took to upholster the sofa.
Yes, I know you got some fantastic pillows at HomeGoods for 29.99. ;] If your budget is that tight, then I respect that. There was a time I couldn’t afford $29.99. However, if you have a bit more, the designer fabrics will take your room up a hefty notch.
Here’s what to do and look out for.
- Inserts for your throw pillows
If you’re doing down/feather and can’t swing the 50/50 down insert, 30/70 is fine, and even a good quality 10/90 is preferable to some crappy foam insert.
- You want your pillow filling to be nice and full.
In fact, better to be full than too skimpy. Stuffing the insert into the cover should be a bit of a struggle. That means the insert must be smaller than the cover.
Here’s the rule:
If your pillow is 18″ or larger, the insert should be two inches larger on each side or 20 x 20.
However, if it’s a lumbar pillow and one side is smaller, or a square with sides less than 18″, the increase is only one inch.
So, if your finished size is 14 x 24, the insert should be 15 x 26.
I have even gotten a 24×24 insert into a 20″ pillow and it’s absolutely fine– very luxurious. So better to be too big than too small. Too small, and your pillows will look like a deflated balloon. No flabby pillows, please!
Where to get pillow inserts for throw pillows?
There are dozens of terrific sources on Etsy.
How large should the throw pillows be?
For most sofas, if doing four pillows, I do two @20″ and two @22.” Lumbar pillows are usually 12″ – 14″ tall by 24″-26″ wide.
OH! and BTW, very important. If you don’t know this, pillows should be measured unfilled– from seam to seam.
The pillows will “shrink,” of course, when filled because they are no longer flat.
My old living room in Bronxville, NY
They weren’t made for these chairs. I’ve had these pillows for 29 years and still love them! They are a little small but acceptable, I think.
What else do you need to be concerned about with your throw pillows?
Make sure they put in zippers! Of course, you’ll want to be able to remove the pillow cover for cleaning purposes.
- Pillow corners. I like mine pretty sharp. I am not fond of pleated corners. Sharp corners = upscale, expensive. Pleated corners are not my preference. But, it’s important to specify if it’s important to you.
- Something I learned recently from a terrific comment. A great way to keep your throw pillows dust-free is to put them in the dryer on air dry. The filter will capture the dust.
The best places to get cool designer throw pillows
Well, it used to be that the only way was to have them made. But that was then, and now, you can get amazing pillows in zillions of places.
One place to get pillows with expensive designer fabric for not-a-lot-of-money is Etsy. Many of these are in the Etsy guide which gets updated every November.
But here’s what you need to know about Etsy pillows.
Guys, I have to stop writing for now.. I’ve spent too much time collecting the most gorgeous pillows into my curated widgets. So, for today, I will share two widgets; the last one will be in the next post. I will also include more information regarding sources and recent changes, as two of my favorite vendors have moved on to other ventures.
I divided up the throw pillows into the following:
- Pinks, corals, a bit of red, green, chartreuse, and other colors. However, the dominant color is pink.
- The next widget contains many shades of green, chartreuse, and a bit of yellow, maybe a touch of blue. However, the dominant color is green.
- The final widget is full of gorgeous shades of blue from light to dark, including teal, turquoise, pale gray blue, and celadon. Tonight, I will begin with the pink and green widgets. The rest will either be early Friday morning or early Sunday morning.
And now for the green widget.
That’s all for now. I hope you enjoyed all of the beautiful throw pillows! To be continued…
xo,
*********************************************************
Part 2 Begins Here
Monday April 14, 2025
Hi Everyone,
As promised, although a bit later than I said, is part 2 of the pillow post.
Who knew that throw pillows could be so involved?
I adore Etsy pillows because they are a terrific way to get some high-end pillow covers for less than it might cost you to get them made elsewhere. That is, unless you sew yourself. That is probably the least expensive way to get beautiful throw pillows.
However, there are some things to understand about Etsy throw pillows before ordering.
- There’s usually no welting. I do like this look and have pillows without welting as it gives them a little more modern look. But if you like welting, you’ll need to find out if they’ll do that. If they do, they might also offer other types of trim, such as rope or fringe. These days, I am seeing a lot of beautiful pillows with a small flange with a butterfly corner. There are some examples of this in the widgets.
- The expensive fabric is usually only on one side, and on the back is something plain and far less expensive. However, they will do the expensive fabric on both sides for an upcharge.
***
- The pattern may or may not be centered on the pillow. You’ll need to specify if it’s important to you and/or if it’s a pattern that would look bizarre with an off-center pattern.
- Is there a particular part of the pattern you’d like to see or not see? Again, you’ll need to expect an upcharge for that as it might require them to have a great deal of waste to get that portion centered.
- The pillows might not match each other if ordering in pairs. Sometimes, I’ll have them put one part of the pattern on one side and another part on the back. In some situations, I actually prefer that because if there’s a huge repeat.
- Most of the pillows are covers only and do not come with inserts. However, many of the vendors are now carrying pillow inserts of various kinds. Or, as stated earlier, you can find other vendors that sell the inserts alone.
Sadly, we lost two of my favorite sources for throw pillows.
Hollie Rich of Stuck on Hue is still in the interior design business but has shifted her business to that of a design concierge. In other words, you can purchase products through her that you might not be able to get on your own. It’s a small, personal business and something worth looking into if you don’t wish to hire an interior designer.
I’m including some images from her living room from a few years ago because I adore how she styled it. And it conveys so beautifully how, by changing the throw pillows and some other details, the entire room takes on a different look.
The room above is Hollie’s incredibly gorgeous living room taken by stylist, designer, and photographer Stacie Flinner.
But, get this. She takes the same sofa and room setting and changes the pillows.
And yes, that sofa is the Brooke 3-seat sofa from One Kings Lane.
The other company that’s in the process of closing its doors is Arianna Bell. The shop is still open but will be closing sometime this summer.
Above are some pretty pillows from Arianna Belle.
To finish, below is the final widget for throw pillows. It is in all shades of blue, green, and teal.
Oh, I could’ve kept going!
Please pin to Pinterest for Reference.
If you like this type of post and need more help with rules, tips, proportions in your living, dining rooms, bedrooms, entries, windows, etc. And if you don’t already have it, please consider getting 333 Difficult to Find Rules and Tips You Need to Know
xo,
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30 Responses
I have a lot of pillow inserts and even more pillow covers because I’m an absolute fool for throw pillows! The dopamine hit, yes! Thanks Mary Evers for naming it! We have a close relative who is vegan and called me out for having feather inserts! Well, felt sooo rude at the time! Since, I’ve decided that part of my decorating is for guests to feel at ease & comfortable. I still use the feather inserts but now lean into synthetic down. My very favorite is by Oubonun (Amazon.) The cover is very well made and is zippered so you can adjust the filling.
Never mind, I saw it on second look.
You mentioned that butterfly corners would be in the widget, but I’m missing it. Can you give a hint as to what that looks like?
I totally understand what you’re teaching about pillows and have had positive and negative situations in the past because of choosing the wrong insert size. But wow can they ever pop a room. I always fall for the most expensive fabrics and those can lead to astronomical prices at custom shops. My favorite all time fabric in any colorway is the Le Tigre silk velvet. I’ve taken to searching eBay for scraps and recently found two yards in a blue background with black stripes at an affordable price relatively speaking. I took it to my local Fabric Co. and was able to get two twenty inch premium down stuffed pillows made with a corded edge and a black heavy velvet backing. I’m so in love and happy every time I look at them in the room!!
JMO but if a pillow interferes with the function of the furniture piece, it should not be there
I am lucky enough to have inherited a number of needlework projects from relatives – needlepoint, crewelwork – and have had them professionally made into pillows. Luckily, the colors work with my palette, and I love remembering all the women who stitched these. They are scattered all over our house and my kids joke when I rotate them that they may have to stage a ‘pillow intervention’ because of my attachment to them!
Hi Laurel,
I think throw pillows are my biggest obsession. I love shopping for them. Or making them myself.
Etsy has the best selections. I’ve purchased quite a few from Etsy. Sometimes it’s cheaper than buying the fabric & making them myself.
Anytime you post widgets of pillows from Etsy you send me down a rabbit hole.
Changing up my pillows always gives my room a fresh look & a big dopamine hit.
Hi Laurel, so I love pillows because I love material and all the beautiful patterns and colors. And you are spot on regarding their importance in a room. They are that special touch, like a great bracelet or pair of earrings which enhance the over all look. Unfortunately my problem is the same as Nancy’s – the beautiful pillows wind up on the floor when guests come to visit. Or, folks are hesitant to sit because of how the pillows have been arranged. So I wind up piling these beauties on the window seat in my family room when we entertain. Yet, the pillows and their arrangement make me happy and that is what is important to me. 😊
I love how the pillows in your Bronxville gold chairs adds a much needed pop color to the room. Without them, the room would be rather boring. They look like they are a brocade and are absolutely beautiful and timeless. The favorite pillows in my collection are ones with hand embroidered tops. They have a special meaning to me because I either did the counted cross-stitch or embroidery myself or they were given to me as gifts and were made by a friend or relative. I’m curious what you think about that sort of pillow. I usually group them with commercial ones in coordinating colors and change them with the seasons. I think they add a unique interest to my rooms. I agree about the importance of over-stuffing pillows and buying inserts that are larger than the cover. That makes all the difference in the beauty of the pillow. Pillows are an important decorating tool that elevates your room to the next level. I think more than anything else in the room, they set the tone, be it casual, relaxed or elegant.
Hi Laurel,
Your Boston apartment rehab is fabulous and the picture of your new sofa with pillows, rug and coffee table is to die for……
Very best,
Ellie
Hi Laurel,
Have you had a chance to check out the Dekowe pillow inserts yet? I’m interested in the 50/50 down/feather insert, which is on the pricey side, so I thought I’d see if you have any new info. to pass on. Thanks!
In my designer youth, I scoffed at the price of throw pillows, until I decided to make them for myself. That’s when I realized that I couldn’t make an inexpensive quality pillow either! Dang. The things you learn in DYI land. Thank you for the extra tips!
I love the way all these pillows look on the sofas. Except for one problem. They leave almost no space on the sofa to sit on! Whenever I have had pillows arranged like this, either the guests are afraid to mess them up, and choose some uncomfortable little chair to sit on instead, or they toss them onto the floor or prop them up on top of the back of the sofa (if it is against the wall), so additional guests arriving just see a mess, not the perfectly arranged and positioned look that is good only for photo shoots! One other reader commented that this is why she has down-filled pillows, so they “squish” down, but I have all down-filled pillows as well, and it does not solve this problem. My latest solution to this has been – first of all, I stick to tight-back sofa styles to place multiple pillows on. I only have one pair of larger pillows on either ends of the sofa. The pillows then act essentially as back cushions and they don’t actually impede seating space.. Set into the corners, these can usually stay without guests throwing them off to make room . The other decorative cushions I ‘layer” in front of the two big ones are small enough so that they can either be pushed in between the seated people on the sofa, or even if they’re thrown aside by the seaters, they don’t make a mess in the room. Even with this solution, however, I feel like half my life is spent rearranging and re-plumbing up the pillows every time anyone gets off the sofa. Fortunately, it’s just me and my husband most of the time, but since my husband is genetically incapable of straightening up throw pillows, this is still a time-consuming daily activity for me!
Elizabeth K, I don’t have a website, blog, or any presence on social media, by choice. This is the only blog I’ve ever commented on! Creative? yes, but only a bit — because I enjoy doing things myself to get just what I want; terrifying? perhaps the first time — I didn’t leave a big enough opening and there were feathers all over the place, but I’ve got it down (no pun intended) to a simple art now. Photos? I’m only on number 2 (of 4), so none yet. I’ll try to see if there’s a way to get some photos to you later.
Great post, Laurel! Getting the throw pillows right is a very detailed and time-consuming part of the decorating. Just wondering about your client’s too-large throw pillows–how was it resolved? Did the fabricator have to re-make the pillows?
H&M offers all-feather inserts for very reasonable prices. Their covers are nice, too.
Lacefield Designs has wonderful pillows and you can customize.
Great post! In Real Life, throw pillows are like flower arrangements on dining tables…look gorgeous, but if guests want to move them to another table or on to the floor to see who they’re talking to, it’s a fail! So, if guests want to move one’s lovingly styled and arranged pillows to the floor to be comfortable, not good. Down pillows, or down/feather, are often squishy enough to be visitor friendly. I’ve gotten bed pillows from the Company Store (can I say that?) for replacing inserts for big throw pillows on a couch, and worked well. Bed pillows, well, all bets are off, visitors aren’t usually there, so toss them away when not useful! If visitors are in your bedroom, they are hopefully not paying attention to your throw pillows.
Thank you so much for such valuable information. I have been a subscriber for and always look forward to your posts.
Laurel, I am SO VERY GLAD, you reposted your thoughts on throw pillows. For the past month, I have been struggling trying to find the right throw pillows for our sofa and a chair. Fabrics, sizing, formula for how many, etc. This post took me to a number of the Etsy’s you recommended and I FINALLY was able to assemble the correct number of pillows and fabric I love. I decided on Schumacher Citrus Garden Lime Trees in Lime, as well as Brunschwig Fils Les Touches Petal Pink and White. I think I have a winning combo, so thanks for your guidance and advice!
May I say that GL’s approach to pillow inserts is awe-inspiringly creative and also slightly terrifying ? Please post photos somewhere of the tapestry series !
Laurel, I had pretty pillows and then I followed your advice and I stuffed them properly. Suddenly, I had GORGEOUS & COMFY pillows. Thank you for teaching us the details of design. BTW, how is your IG account? Did you get it back?
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much, Kate! I’m so glad that what I’ve said is helpful.
It took me YEARS to learn all of this. And, let me add, they do NOT teach any of this in interior design school. I learned it on the job. This is why I very much recommend that most young designers work under someone for at least two years. Or, get my 333 Rules & Tips You Need to Know. It’s crammed with stuff they don’t teach in interior design school. lol
I don’t have the account back yet, but the hackers don’t have it either. It’s under lockdown. I did receive a reset link. In Turkish – lol. That wasn’t the problem. The link was broken. So, I asked my super nice connection for another link. That was on Thursday and still no link. I’ll follow through on Monday.
And if your budget is tight Home Goods has nice feather pillows for not a lot of money. They are not as nice as these of course …but good enough if your family likes to lay on your sofa pillows like mine do.
Hi Laurel,
Thank you for sharing these sources for pillows. I usually make my own but I’m limited to the fabrics available at my local fabric store.
I didn’t receive your latest post in my email this morning.
I thought I would mention it.
Thank you, Mary. Sorry about that. You should have the email very soon.
Hey Laurel! Why didn’t this come to my email today? I get it every Wednesday and Sunday and am worried that after what you said happened to your IG account that something else has happened. Should I resubscribe? Thank you!
Oh geez, no, it’s my fault. You should have it in your inbox very soon.
Interesting and good advice as always, Laurel. I’d add that one must remember to look at the pillows or fabric from a distance, and not close up — it’s the total effect that counts. (By the way, how are your Instagram woes working out?)
I spend quite a bit of time (too much) looking at pillow combinations to see how designers create mixes that work, shapes, patterns. But I then set in and make them myself, including the inserts. So here’s a word for the champagne tastes on a beer income!
I buy Ikea feather inserts, and feather-proof material, and cut open the Ikea product to re-use the feathers in my custom-sized insert. It doesn’t make much mess provided you leave a big enough opening to get your hand in easily. The opening can be machine-sewed together at the end, and the insert is more fully stuffed than the Ikea original.
Fabric comes from a variety of sources, and I can put the pattern exactly where I want it. I’m currently making a series using a bargain piece of verdure tapestry-style Gobelin fabric with velvet side panels and backing, after admiring such items on blogs (e.g. Velvet & Linen; for the love of a house). Real antique tapestry scraps go for hideous prices, but I’m getting the look for less. Which reminds me, Laurel, what do you think of Rebecca Vizard’s pillows? or don’t you approve of the over-the-top style?
Thank you so much, GL. That’s an immensely clever way to get a better fill for the pillow inserts!
I’m not familiar with Rebecca Vizard. Hang on and I’ll take a look.
Oh my, gorgeous! Some are a little on the formal side for my tastes, but these are definitely works of art!