Home Design and Decorating – Tips

Bed Pillow Styling Guide

Part 2

Colour

A good start when styling throw pillows on a bed is to choose a color story.  If you are lucky enough to be starting with a blank space, then look in your closet for inspiration to see which colours you gravitate towards.  Spend some time at the paint store and pick out samples in the muted or tony shades in your wardrobe. Decide on 3 to 4 colours, one of which will be your wall colour. Bedrooms require soft restful muted shades or really dark (think charcoal) shades. Whatever your choice, draw on the 3 – 4 colours you have chosen to populate the textiles, carpets, and art in your space.  When all else fails, white or neutral walls and white bedding will provide the basis for a restful bedroom retreat.  You can bring in colour with carpets, art, and textiles. Pinterest and Instagram will provide loads of inspiration.

Creating this color story will help to keep the look cohesive even if you choose different patterns and pillow styles.

MIX AND MATCH BED PILLOW ARRANGEMENT

Now that you have your color palette ideas, it’s time to start choosing patterns and styles.

Pillows do not have to match perfectly. To achieve that curated look you don’t want them to be too matchy matchy.

Think about using vintage or handmade pillow styles where each piece may be unique. Often, since they are aged or hand dyed the colors are not identical and this brings a warmth and character to the space not always found in industrially sewn pillow covers.

The sky is the limit when it comes to picking out decorative pillows. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing pillows. Number 1 – remember the basics of form and function. Function should always be the first consideration.

With Instagram and Pinterest at your fingertips start a little scrapbook or mood board full of your favourite colours and designs. To help with your decision-making, rate choices from 1 to 10 and discard anything below 7. Be mindful that most of the beds you are attracted to have been professionally styled, probably many times over to get the “perfect shot”. Most of us do not live in magazine-ready surroundings, but a stylish space with a little personality is well within reach if you keep it simple.
am a big fan of test runs. Designers very frequently adjust their decisions this way. Remember many retailers offer sample services and easy returns which is a great assist when there are so many textiles to choose from.

If you are not a big fan of a bed full of pillows try the following:

Create rows using as many pillows as you can handle.

Solid – This can be as easy as using your sleeping pillows as a row and building in front of them. White always works or use the wall colour or pick the main colour in an area carpet to populate solid colour choices.

Texture – Choose from different textiles such as velvet, linen, cotton, woven, faux fur, or even silk.
Pattern – Add a pop of colour, even if it is subtle. Patterns give you the opportunity to go beyond your comfort level and perhaps decide on something a little out of your comfort zone. Remember, you can easily replace it if it doesn’t work for you.
Using our guide and following this simple formula will help to keep your decorative pillow arrangement looking balanced and inviting.

WHERE TO BUY THROW PILLOWS

You may not need a seriously high-end $300.00 custom throw pillow, but you may not want the disposable quality that comes with a cheap and cheerful one either.   As with most things, there is a wide range of pricing and quality in decorative textiles.

Pricing is not always reflective of quality and workmanship.

There are quite a few good options for finding throw pillows, but we feel the best collection of handmade one-of-a-kind pieces is here at Pillows by Dwellissimo.

For over 20 years we have been motivated by our love of beautiful textiles.  We carry a variety of colors, fabrics, and styles to match any type of aesthetic. From traditional cotton to luxurious velvet and wool, to handcrafted pieces from textiles carefully made by artisans around the world.

If you’re like me, and you change cushions seasonally, consider investing in quality cushion inserts and purchasing new cushion covers when you’re ready to revamp.

There are loads of other places to source your pillow covers, but our customer service is second to none as our customer reviews will attest.  We offer Free Canada and US shipping. We also offer a Free Sample Service.  Our workroom produces skillfully sewn; long-lasting pillow covers from discerningly chosen fabric – all sewn right here in Canada!

Have a look at the post “Pillow Styling Guide” for a detailed buying guide.