Ultimate Decorative Pillow Guide
2022 Apr 26th
Let’s Talk Throw Pillows & Accent Cushions!
In this guide, we will be explaining what decorative pillows are, otherwise known as throw cushions or accent pillows. Whether you are already a sucker for decorative cushions or you’re just used to sleeping with a simple fluffy pillow beneath your head, we are here to explain the WHY behind certain decorative pillow shapes.
But first, let’s quickly explain the WHAT - and why you should care in the first place!
What are decorative pillows?
Decorative pillows are often referred to as ‘throw’ or ‘accent’ pillows (or cushions). These extra pillows are typically used to dress a well-made bed, but they also make great accessories for chairs & sofas, too.
Why and how are decorative pillows used?
Unlike regular pillows, the purpose of decorative pillows goes beyond function and isn’t limited to just the bed. Going further, they don’t just make a bed (or sofa/armchair) look more stylish, they can actually transform the entire room they are in!
For a relatively easy and budget-friendly way to give your home decor the wow factor, we couldn’t recommend decorative pillows highly enough. Whether you’re switching up a bedroom look for the season or adding extra flair to living areas, cushions are the ultimate style accessory. Here’s more about each type and how we like to use them.
Types of decorative pillows
Euro
Euro pillows are large square-shaped pillows.
How They’re Used: Typically placed first, their extra height allows them to poke out and be seen behind any other pillows used on the bed! Euros often sit upright, resting against the headboard, and for beds without a headboard - euro pillows act as one! Functionally, they are an ideal size (traditionally 26” x 26”) for leaning against and perfect for reading in bed, comfortably!
Styling Tip: Buy three for a King size bed, or two for a Queen or Double. Remember that you will need an insert for each euro-sized sham.
Lumbar Pillow
Like euros, lumbar pillows also serve a functional purpose! As the name might suggest, these rectangular pillows offer back support when seated on a sofa or bed. Visually, these pillows are adored for their eye-catching length!
How They’re Used: From a visual point of view, the striking length of lumbar pillows does a lot of the heavy lifting! For a minimal approach, you need only a single lumbar pillow to elevate your bed or sofa.
Styling Tip: For a low-maintenance pillow makeover, pair a lumbar pillow with two euro pillows (these are placed at the back), sandwiching your regular pillows in between! You’ll be amazed at the difference three extra pillows can make to your bedroom.
Boudoir Pillows
A boudoir pillow is a small rectangular pillow with a decorative spirit.
How They’re Used: Being smaller than most of the other pillows, boudoir pillows are best used as a finishing touch, either alone or with a twin. Rest these against your regular pillows or add a single boudoir as a lovely centerpiece for your bed!
Styling Tip: Don’t be shy when it comes to texture and embellishments, boudoirs don’t necessarily have to be comfortable!
Round Cushions
Think outside the box with round cushions, we love using these to add a stylish and fun textile element to the bedroom or living room!
How They’re Used: Typically these are better as individuals, rather than in a matching pair. Like other smaller-sized cushions, round cushions make a great final touch. Round cushions look great in the middle of your bed (or slightly off-centred), think of them as the cherry on top of your bed!
Styling Tip: Pair with a larger euro cushion for use on an armchair or single bed. Simple yet effective!
Square Cushions
Square cushions are often used on sofas, and are just at home styled on a bed! Smaller than a euro pillow, they are the classic accessory pillow.
How They’re Used: There’s really no limit to how square cushions can be used! Buy in pairs for symmetrical placement on your bed. For cushion enthusiasts, you may prefer to collect these in various patterns and colours, as they can be easily combined (and in odd numbers) for an ‘effortless’ aesthetic.
Styling Tip: Invest in a few square cushion inserts, then you can invest in removable (and washable!) cushions covers for much easier care.
How to style throw pillows
Step 1: Choose Your Colours
Try to pull colours from throughout the rest of your bedroom. A good place to start is your bedding or upholstery colour. You don’t necessarily want to match these exactly, but you do want the colours to ‘work’ together in one way or another. Your room’s rugs, artwork, and walls are all excellent sources of inspiration to draw from!
Mixing neutrals with accent colours is a great way to achieve visual balance! In general, it’s safest to keep pastels, jewel tones, and earthy colours together (ie. paired within their own category) however, rules were made to be broken!
Step 2: Pick Some Patterns
Play with size and scale to add visual interest. Don’t be afraid to combine different looks, as even floral prints can be paired with geometric patterns with the right patterns & colours!
The key to achieving mix and match perfection is a juxtaposition between small (think ‘busy’), medium and large patterns. A good rule of thumb is to choose three different patterns, including any block colours.
Step 3: Name The Number
The number of pillows depends on the size of your bed or sofa, and personal preference! For an aesthetic that leans more eccentric or modern, an odd number of pillows positioned in a slightly haphazard fashion can inject the perfect amount of chaos.
For a more traditional or classic style, you might want to go with an even number of pillows, with an even & symmetrical placement. Our QE Home Sleep Experts have done the research, and have determined it's IMPOSSIBLE to have too many pillows!
Step 4: Select Size & Shape
Use an assortment of various shapes and sizes to create the perfect display and fit your comfort preferences. Mix and match square, round, rectangular pillows to easily change up the look of your space, and make it so your bed doesn’t become a bunch of bouncy boxes!
It also helps to have a range of sizes, from large euro pillows to smaller round and square cushions. This way, your bed will have a diverse lineup of comforts to make it even more unique!
Step 5: Top Off With Some Texture
While pattern, colour, size and shape are crucial factors, our final tip is to try and incorporate textural, tactile details. Certain fabrics are naturally textured, while some pillows feature embellishments such as tassels or tufted elements.
Decorative pillow styling tips
Here are some of our bestselling looks and tips on achieving these stunningly dressed beds!
Look 1
A rectangular boudoir pillow ties in with the bright summery palette used in the Zest Collection. This pop of blue sits as a contrasting yet coordinating addition. This is a really nice way of breaking up the yellow palette and adding vibrancy without ‘stealing the show’. For a coordinated look that’s not ‘matchy-matchy’ try adding another similar tone.
Get this look with:
- Tufted Boudoir Pillow Cover in Harbour
- Zest Pillow Shams
Styled with Zest Duvet Cover and Eucalyptus Luxe Sheet Set in Canary.
Look 2
Grey cushions are used in this look for a calming, minimalist aesthetic. Notice how the different tones add a subtle contrast without disrupting the soft harmony of an all-grey palette? Try a multi-tonal patterned grey such as our Danube Pillow Sham for a similar effect! For a ‘lived in’ look, try scattering cushions on top and experiment with asymmetrical pillow placement. This technique helps to add visual tension when sticking to a single colour!
Get this look with:
Styled with Sheldon Duvet Cover
Look 3
Textured details are a fantastic way of adding visual interest without deviating from a chosen colour scheme. Here, a tufted pillow sham and boudoir perfectly blend with the beautifully beige Anya collection.
Get this look with:
- Anya Pillow Shams
- White Diamond Square Cushion Cover
- Tufted Stripe Boudoir Pillow Cover
Styled with Anya Duvet Cover and Vintage Washed European Linen Pillowcases in Natural.
Look 4
In this example, this bed has been styled using the concept of ‘analogous’ colour pairing. Different to the previous monochromatic example (where all colours are the same), this look uses colours that sit adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, e.g. green and blue, or blue and purple.
Notice that when compared to the gradient blues of the duvet cover, the round corduroy pillow is a brighter shade and the euro pillows are a much darker shade? With the dark forest green sheets moving even further away in the colour wheel, these layers combine to form a multi-dimensional and elevated look.
Get this look with:
- Nairn Pillow Sham
- Waffle Cotton Euro Sham in Navy
- Round Corduroy Cushion in Deep Teal
Styled with Nairn Duvet Cover and BeechBliss TENCEL™ Modal Sheet Set in Rainforest
Decorative cushions are an excellent and easy way to add colour and texture to the spaces you love most in your home. We hope our tips get you excited to start expressing your style and experiment with different types of cozy cushions. Get yours at any of our 75+ store locations around Canada, our Sleep Stylists always love to help! Happy decorating!
