Color Craze: Passion for Pillows

image: abc carpet & home, New York, NY

Over the years, I have found that decorating with pillows is one of the easiest ways to refresh your home and incorporate new patterns, textures, and colors into your decor. And as a PwPP (Person with a Pillow Passion), I exercise my right buy colorful cushy cushions whenever I can. One such shopping excursion took me to one of my fave pillow emporiums in New York City, abc carpet & home, where I found a plethora of pigment-rich pillows in incredible fabrics.

image: (top left, clockwise) Master Bedroom, Living Room, JulRe Designs Studio, Master Bathroom

There aren't many rooms in my home that haven't been touched by a pillow treatment or two, but that's not because I have an obsession. I mean, I do but that's not really relevant, is it? And though the standard square pillow will always be my go-to classic, other shapes such as bolsters and lumbars are the perfect way to add even more appealing optics to your pillow pastime.

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Here are some tips on how to decorate with pillows of many shapes and sizes:

It's Hip to be a Square Pillow 

image: Missoni Home Pasadena Pillow

PILLOW TALK: While a good square pillow can hold its own, placed solo on a chair or stacked in multiples on a sofa, the shape coexists well with others. Use them as a foundation for a pillow arrangement: Place two squares with an striking lumbar or bolster pillow for a stylish, cohesive look.

 

Long and Lean: Lumbar Pillows

image: Yves Delorme Tonga Decorative Pillow - Bloomingdale's

Lumbar pillows are those chic rectangular shaped cushions you're not quite sure what to do with. Their name is derived from the support they offer to the lower back but they offer a unique design element to any room. You can find them in many sizes, from standard (around 14″ x 22″) to oversize (typically 60″ in length.)

PILLOW TALK: Lumbar pillows are typically used as a focal point—the pièce de résistance in the position of prominence of a pillow grouping. But this versatile style can do it all solo. Try using a pair as armrests at the ends of a couch for a contemporary look.

 

Raise the Chic Quotient: Bolster Pillows

image: Harbor House Crystal Beach Quilted Bolster Pillow - Macys

Long, cylindrical bolsters are similar to the lumbar pillow in that they come in a wide variety of sizes and can be used for both back support and decorative purposes. They are a bit more traditional due to their shape.

PILLOW TALK: As member of the lumbar family, the bolster is often seen as the on-the-bed rockstar, but I also love it alone on a quirky chair or at the ends of a dramatic daybed.

 

The Unorthodox: Uncommon Shapes

image: Cyprinus Carpio Creative Knot Throw Pillow - Amazon

From updated classics like cube and box pillows to quirkier designs such as spheres, stars, and animals, an offbeat pillow may be just the touch of whimsy your room needs.

PILLOW TALK: Use them anywhere you'd place a standard throw pillow! Mix and match with other comfy, loungy cushions for super coziness.

Want to try a new pillow or two? I've got 20 goodies so shop my 20 cushy cushion picks below:

 

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