Everything You Need to Know to Decorate Your Home with Throw Pillows

Looking for a quick and cost-effective way to transform your living room or bedroom? Add new throw pillows to your sofa, bed or other furniture pieces! Changing up your decorative pillows can change the entire look of a room with very little strain on your wallet (or schedule 😉). Here is everything you need to know to decorate your home with throw pillows!

How to choose the perfect throw pillows?

When shopping for the perfect throw pillows, you’ll want to take into account the colors, textures, patterns, and fabrics in your home. You’ll also want to consider the shapes and sizes of the pillows, what filling you like, and finally, price. The perfect throw pillow should play up your style and tie your room together by using fabrics in complementing colors, and a mix of patterns, textures, and materials.

Pro tip: Think of your throw pillows as accent pieces that can bring character to your space. Aim to mix and match a variety of colors, textures, patterns, materials and sizes. We’ll show you how to do this without making it look like a jumbled mess.

What is the right color for your throw pillows?

The number one thing to think about when picking new throw pillows is color. The wrong color throw pillows can wash out a space or even worse, clash with your decor making the design feel disjointed. It’s important to blend the colors of your throw pillows with the room by repeating the colors that are in your furniture and decor in your pillow scheme. For example, if you’ve chosen bold-colored drapery, make sure to have a few throw pillows in that same color.

It can help to stick to three main colors that complement each other. Since throw pillows are usually one of the last things you or your interior designer will buy or have custom-made, this simple trick will easily balance colors around a room making it feel harmonious and complete.

Pro tip: You don’t necessarily have to match colors exactly. Opting for varying shades of an accent color can look just as lovely. To guarantee your space looks cohesive, stick with a pallet of a few colors that go well together and add in some neutrals for balance.

What patterns, textures and materials should your throw pillows be?

Patterns, textures and materials—oh my! There are so many options available that getting started can be extremely challenging. We’ll walk you through a few interior designer tips in each category to help you feel less overwhelmed.

Patterned Throw Pillows

There are a few ways to mix and match patterns:

Choose patterned pillows that are all within the same color scheme (example: all hues of blue). With this approach, you can choose as many different patterns as you like while still creating a cohesive look.
Pick up to three patterned pillows where each pattern incorporates at least one of the main colors in your space. To help get you going, pick a “lead” pattern that incorporates all of your main colors. Keep in mind that your “lead” pattern can have as many colors as you want in it as long as it contains all of your main colors. From there, you can add two more patterns that have at least one of your main colors in it.
Use patterns of different scale. Example: a large floral could be combined with a medium scale stripe, and a small polka dot or a solid.
Repeat patterns. Example: does your ottoman have a pattern? Try repeating it with a pillow!

Pro tip: Get custom pillows made if you need to!

Textured Throw Pillows

Good news—textured decorative pillows are not hard to come by! A quick Google search will show you a slew of options for any home’s style. Adding in textured throw pillows is a great way to incorporate a tactile element that stimulates your sense of touch in addition to sight. So, how do you mix textured pillows with your patterned pillows? The first rule (really the only rule) of thumb is to stay within your color scheme. Other than that, make sure you love what you get!

Fabrics for your throw pillows

Another way to spice up the look of your home with throw pillows is by mixing and matching materials. This is a way to add another level of interest. In fact, different materials have different textures, so by pulling in a variety of materials you can kill two birds with one stone. Try mixing a leather accent pillow in with other soft cotton pillows for a masculine element or add a velvet pillow in against some linen pillows for a classic lux look. Fabrics for your throw pillows come in many materials including:

Cotton
Microfiber
Suede
Chenille
Velvet
Leather
Polyester
Linen
Satin
Silk
Faux Fur
Wool

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to buy something bold!

What sizes and shapes of throw pillows should you buy?

If you’re aiming for a more modern interior design style, you’ll want to mix and match the sizes and shapes of your throw pillows. You can choose from:

Round
Rectangular
Square
Tube/Bolster

Try using a long rectangular “lumbar” pillow or bolster pillow in front of some square pillows as an accent on your bed. If you want a more traditional style home, symmetry is key. Take your sofa for example. Whatever pillows you use on the left side of the sofa, you’ll want to make sure to recreate the look on the right side with the exact same pillows. And remember pillows should go from large in the back to smaller in the front.

What inserts should you put in your throw pillows?

Now that you’ve decided what sizes and shapes of throw pillows that you want, it's time to decide what inserts you’d like to buy. This will depend on your personal preference or any allergies among you and your family members. Some common options include:

Feathers
Down
Alternative Down (Polyfill)
Polyester Fiber
Memory Foam
Shredded Memory Foam
Gel
Wool
Kapok Fiber

For a full pros and cons list of the 12 major throw-pillow-filler insert options, check out Types of Pillows Inserts/Fillings – How to Choose the Right One?

How much do throw pillows cost?

According to Home Decor Bliss, “Luxury throw pillows may cost upwards of $50 to $250 or more, especially if custom-made. Throw pillows are often expensive due to the fabric used, shape, and design. It is possible to find inexpensive throw pillows, but the quality of construction, level of design, and comfort may be sacrificed.”

We couldn’t agree more. While spending $250+ on a throw pillow may seem expensive, it is important to remember that quality pillows will last longer and can completely transform a room.

Pro tip: Add in a few custom pillows amongst other more affordable ready-made pillows to elevate your design without breaking the bank.

How to use throw pillows to tie a room together

Where can you shop for the perfect throw pillows?

You can easily find throw pillows in your favorite home-centered retail stores or online. However, if you’re having a hard time finding the perfect pattern or colors to tie your room together, or you still can’t quite figure out how to best mix and match, you can hire an interior designer to help you.

At Viève Interiors, no project is too big or too small. We’d love to help you with any and all phases of your design project, including helping you to find the perfect throw pillows for your living room sofa or the final touches for your master bedroom bed. Give us a call at 949-610-7800 or email us at info@vieveinteriors.com.