Amp Up Your Bedroom with Creative Pillows

Does your bedroom lack personality and feel stale? Transform any boring sleeping space into a luxurious oasis using the power of pillows. Decorative throw pillows allow you to inject color, texture, and creativity without a major redesign.

Let's explore imaginative ways to use pillows to amplify your personal style.

Determine Your Design Goals and Bed Size

Before shopping for pillows, pinpoint the aesthetic you want to achieve. Are you aiming for a cozy, romantic nest brimming with textures? Or perhaps a crisp, modern look with graphic pillows? Define your goals upfront so you can select pillows purposefully instead of randomly.

Nail down the dimensions of your bed next. Measure the length and width accurately, taking notes. Then research standard pillow sizes that suit your mattress size. A king bed looks best with more substantial back pillows like 26" square euro pillows, while narrow twin beds only need 20" pillows.

Define Your Style Vision

Decide what design style or mood you want to create before buying anything. Eclectic rooms can use totally random pillows, but most spaces look best with a bit of coordination. If your room leans modern, stick with graphic prints and solid colors versus florals. For bohemian beds, woven textures, tassels and tapestry prints could be ideal.

You can also name the feeling you want. Aim for soft and cosy with fuzzy pillows or crisp and tailored with linen. When your style is well-defined from the start, you can evaluate pillows based on if they fit your vision.

Choose a Color Scheme

Scope out the existing colors in your bedroom to guide your pillow color selection. Neutral bases like white walls make stunning backdrops for vibrant pillow hues. For calmer spaces, limiting colors creates unity. If you adore blue, collect multiple blue tones like indigo, denim and aqua in various prints and textures.

Color grouping looks more polished than random colors. But don't be afraid to incorporate 1-2 statement pillows in colors outside your palette. A fiery orange or lime green velvet pillow adds festive flair against blue and white bedding.

Calculate Pillow Quantities

Measure your actual mattress length and width in inches, then map out suitable pillow sizes. Standard bed pillow dimensions range from 12" square accent pillows up to 26" square euro sham back pillows. Lumbar pillows measure 12" tall by 16-18" wide.

On average, you'll need 4-6 standard bed pillows at 20" square plus 4-6 larger back pillows at 26" square. Then add as many accent pillows as you wish based on your space. Arrange pillows symmetrically so both sides mirror each other.

Select Your Pillow Inserts and Cases

With your pillow quantities and dimensions decided, now select both inserts and coverings. Pillow inserts come in different fill materials and densities. Cover fabrics like linen or velvet also affect the vibe. Mix things up for textural interest and dimension.

Choose Pillow Insert Fill Material

Goose or duck feather pillows offer cloud-like plushness but require frequent fluffing as feathers clump. Down-alternative poly fills maintain better height over time. For firmness, polyester is bouncier than down. Touch test options to decide what feel you prefer, balancing comfort and support.

If you love sinking into billowy softness, choose feather or down inserts, adding firmer types too for back support. Opt for easy-care polyester or microfiber if you want pillows to hold their shape longer before fluffing.

Select Your Pillow Cover Fabrics

Fabric selection is key for both durability and beauty. Luxe bedding fabrics like Belgian linen, silk, velvet or wool up the coziness, as they feel soothing against skin. For decorative throw pillows, almost anything goes style-wise. Have fun with metallics, needlepoint, chenille and more.

Do quality check pillow covers by stretching fabrics in person pre-purchase to confirm solid construction with no puckering seams if possible. This ensures longevity so covers won't rip out easily from normal use over time after washing.

Tie It All Together

Coordinate pillow case colors with your headboard fabric and existing bedsheets for a pulled together aesthetic. Contrast cording or flange edges on shams can pick up subtle colors from area rugs and window treatments too. Arrange same color family pillows in triangle formations for best flow.

Experiment with Pillow Placement

When it comes time for pillow play, start by leaning your tallest back pillows against the headboard first. Angle them attractively towards the center of the bed so they almost kiss. Then arrange matching pillows on the opposite side against the headboard.

Next comes pillow propping. Set your standard sized bed pillows upright on top the back pillows, facing forward. Adjust their angle slightly towards the center as well in a mirrored formation on both sides for symmetry.

Toss In Your Accent Pillows

Now scatter smaller 12-16 inch square accent pillows artfully on both sides in front of the propped bed pillows. Vary heights and angles for dimension and a "just tossed" look. These are your colorful statement pieces, so go bold.

Try centralizing subject matter pillows featuring people, flowers or animals facing forward. Surround them harmoniously with geometrics, plaids and solids mixing textures like velvet and linen.

Consider Height & Size

Bigger is better for back pillows, so 26-36 inch squares give you more to work with for dramatic cascading arrangements. Limit standard bed pillows to around 20 inches square for easier overnight comfort.

Vary pillow heights for contrast and visibility of designs. Prop largest statement pillows higher behind neutrals so focus isn't lost. Keep things interesting with peaks and valleys versus flat rows.

Work in Circles Around a Center Point

Visually connect pillow groupings by leveraging circular formations emanating from a central point. Place subject-centered accent pillows featuring flowers or animals front and center. Surround them harmoniously working in a circle formation with plaids, solids and geometrics in related color families for a polished curated look.

Amplify Your Focal Points

Strategically highlight special areas in your bedroom using decorative pillows. Defined focal points lend cohesiveness to space, drawing the eye smoothly to accent features you love or want noticed more.

Highlight Artwork

If beautiful gallery prints or wall hangings get overwhelmed by busy surroundings, build out the area underneath with euro shams. Stack two 26" pillows under each bottom corner of the frame. The white space helps isolate artwork from competing elements so detailing can shine.

Color coordinate sham fabrics to your prints for a tailored look. For eclectic art, choose textural solids like linen as bases highlighting the piece. Symmetric pillow pairs keep things orderly versus random.

Soften Hard Elements

Do hard edges or surfaces like tufted headboards or leather bench seats feel overly stark? Softening sharp lines helps spaces feel more relaxed and welcoming.

Flank bench cushion edges with floor cushions or toss pillows to disguise hardness. Pair squishy rounded corner velvet pillows behind rectangular headboards to offset severity for lighter balance.

Build Dimension

Plain walls and flat headboards miss chances for added dimension. Cleverly layered pillows remedy blankness introducing volume and texture to any flat vertical plane.

Start by stacking two same size euro shams atop the mattress leaned against the wall to build out a faux headboard. Then angle lighter toned pillows higher partially covering the base row to add noticeable depth versus single rows.

Pull Your Bedding Look Together

Tie together your entire bedding story using throw pillows as anchoring design elements. Coordinate colors, patterns and textures first with main components like duvets, sheets and shams for continuity.

Match or Mix: What's Your Color Approach?

Matching matters more for base layers like sheets and duvets, as solid blocks of color create unity. Infuse personality mixing in throw pillows capturing secondary blanket scheme colors or introducing new hues.

Limit accent colors to 1-2 for clarity. Multi-color print pillows still work if a dominant shade already exists in the bedding palette. Keeping most pillows in the color family adds coherence.

Repeat Key Prints on Pillows

Echo fabric patterns prominently displayed on duvets or shams on a few throw pillows. Repetition builds connection, so if paisley features largely on your comforter, use paisley print pillows too.

Yet don't overdo matchiness. Sprinkle in solids and varying prints so things don't look costume-like. Pillow diversity keeps the eye traveling interestedly around the whole bedscape.

Pick Up Room Colors

Notice colors woven through room decor like small accents on lampshades or artwork edging? Connect these sweet subtleties to pillow palettes. Especially link to special chairs or sofas nearby the bed visually leading seating areas together.

For example, integrate a soft sage pillow if hints of green reflect in sofa throw blankets. Just one or two pillows channeling the color makes spaces sing together.

Maintaining Your Pillows

Preserve your pillow investment using proper care tactics to prevent flattening, clumping or faster soiling. Routinely fluff and rotate all decorative pillows so wear distributes evenly across fills over time.

Fluff and Rotate

Fluff pillow inserts when making the bed, redistributing fills evenly for renewed loft post use. Frequently change pillow orientations too front to back and left to right targeting uneven spots.

Foam or fiberfill pillows need molding and shaping to support neck alignment and aerate insides preventing moisture buildup.

Check Care Labels

Know how to clean all pillow covers according to materials like down, poly-fills or synthetic blends, following individual product instructions. Only wash what's machine washable gently in cold water as needed by removing sham covers.

Dry clean silk, velvet or wool pillows covers. Spot clean with professional solvents instead of machines to avoid snagging delicate fabrics.

Replace Worn Items

Limp, misshapen pillows signal replacement time even if covers stay nice. Standard bed pillows wear out fastest under nightly use, flattening permanently after 1-2 years despite rotations.

Swap tired pillows annually restoring comfort, support and height your bed depends on for that luxurious feel.

Use decorative throw pillows freely to inject color, softness, texture and creativity easily transforming lackluster bedrooms into sumptuous sanctuaries. Arrange euro shams, lumbar pillows and accent pillows purposefully to amplify your style story.

Follow professional guidance on aligning finishes with existing bedding, repeating key colors and coordinating patterns flawlessly. Showcase beautiful focal points while softening hard edges for a welcoming lived-in look. With the endless pillow possibilities available today, you can readily refresh bedroom style on a whim any season to keep your personal paradise inspiring.