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March 27, 2007
Posted by: Cathy at 4:29 pm
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There’s something about decorative pillows that I find joyful. They’re like wonderful fabric artwork for the furniture. Pillows really seem to tie the room together with color, pattern and visual interest. I suppose you could overdo a good thing. Like any design element, you need to know when to stop. Some people, (especially husbands), think they’re a nuisance. They have to be moved all the time. But for the big design statement they make, I’ll continue to fluff, pouf and rearrange them everyday.
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1. Cathy, I love pillows and I love the way you carry your themes and patterns throughout your home with accent pieces. Beautiful!
by Deb — 3/27/07 at 5:18 pm #
2. The pillows look great… they do really help to tie everything together.
by Jessica — 3/28/07 at 9:19 am #
3. Thanks Deb, I do enjoy decorating.
Hi Jessica, Its amazing what a few pillows can do in a room. Thanks for commenting.
by Cathy — 6/10/07 at 2:14 am #
4. I think of pillows as “jewelry” for a couch or chair. Your pictures are
colorful and cheerful. I’m thinking of putting several in a big wicker
basket for color. Keep up your good work!
by Brenda — 9/4/07 at 10:40 pm #
5. Hi Brenda,
Yes, Pillows deliver a hugh bang for the buck when decorating. They are like the jewelry for the furniture. If more people knew what an impact they have they would be surprised. Theres a great article in the Fall 2007 issue of ” O at Home” (Oprah magazine), called Genius! The Power of Pillows. Good article. You might be interested.
Thanks so much for commenting.
by Cathy — 9/5/07 at 11:30 am #
6. Cathy, I’m never sure where to post my comments, but this seemed to be the appropriate topic. Do you remember those black and white damask throw pillows you were telling me about — the ones I’ll be using on the bed with the white coverlet, and black wall behind it? Well, I was strolling through the isles of a local department store the other day when something black and white caught my eye. It was one of those large beach towels, which had a black background and a beautful white floral print, oversized and very pretty. For a second I thought, “Wow, wish I could find fabric like that for my pillows!” But, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the towel didn’t look like the typical terry cloth material, but it resembled smooth velour. You know, one of those plush, pretty fabrics. Would that work for my pillow fabric? As I said, it’s not a small scale print but something you might see on an Hawaiian shirt, but in black and white. If you think this would work, do I need to make over-size throw pillows, Euro-type pillows, long bolster-type pillows — or what?
by Janice — 4/1/08 at 4:59 pm #
7. Hi Janice,
Just about any fabric can be made into pillows. This one you saw, sounds like a good candidate. Very graphic and fun. Sure, make some big pillows with it. The big pattern will be seen better on a larger pillow.
Layer your pillows to contrast against each other…light against dark…larger in the back , Euro shams, smaller in the front . You never know where you’ll run across a great textile that might make the perfect decorative accent.
by Cathy — 4/1/08 at 10:34 pm #
8. That’s great, Cathy. As I said, although this was a beach towel, it wasn’t terry cloth and didn’t look like towel fabric at all. The only concern I have is — will the large graphic print on the towel look too modern or contemporary for my grandmother’s bed? Or, should I even be concerned about the pillows matching the style of the bed? A friend of mine, who decorates her house in a tropical/Ernest Heminway style, has a home filled with old pieces of furniture she has inherited from her grandparents. Needless to say, her style of decorating doesn’t match the furniture — but I like how she makes everything work with the right accessories (pillows, etc.). So, what do you think — is my bed too “old-fashioned” for such graphic pillows?
by Janice — 4/2/08 at 10:22 am #
9. Janice, Absolutely not! In fact, your large contemporary print will UPDATE the look and feel of old, antique, or very traditional pieces. I love to thrown in a bit of the unexpected. Keeps a room fresh and exciting. Try the towel in the room. Wrap it around some pillows. Add some of your other pillows to the mix and see how it all looks together, before you make it into pillows. If it feels right and gives the room some excitment, then go for it.
by Cathy — 4/2/08 at 12:43 pm #
10. I’m glad you said that — I really do like that black and white towel. For the longest time, I thought I must use a quilt on my granny bed, or an old-fashioned coverlet, because the bed, in my opinion, was meant to be dressed like that. Thanks for opening my eyes. Now I need to find a red pillow or something that can be made into a red pillow. I do have a couple of yards of red velvet (true red) stashed in my closet. Would that work, or does it need to be a damask or brocade-type fabric — you know, something that is a solid color but with texture or design.
by Janice — 4/2/08 at 2:12 pm #
11. Janice,
Try your red velvet for some pillows. since you already have it, it might be fine. So, for pillows, you have your large graphic B/W floral, you have a solid red, maybe add a med. scale B/W geometric…stripe, diamond, check, or even a little zebra might jazz up your granny bed. LOL. Don’t be afraid to add a little drama by changing the style of a few things. They don’t all have to be traditional. Updates the room and adds lots of interest.
by Cathy — 4/2/08 at 10:29 pm #
12. I’m slowing getting this room together, thanks to your help. You mentioned some other pillow options, and zebra print was one of them. I have two zebra throw pillows that I’ve never used. Got them at an estate sale because they appealed to me — the black and white, you know. If these will work, all I need to do now is paint the wall black and find lamps. I’m hoping I will find lamp bases that I like at the auction and then just purchase white shades. Speaking of lamps, I saw some cute ones the other day on Rate My Space. The homeowner had a cottage look in her living room, and used lamps with chunky white bases and lampshades in a large red and white check. But, I think you told me that my lamp shades need to be white. Anyway, my search continues.
by Janice — 4/3/08 at 10:32 am #
13. Please, help me to give a nice appereance to a large corner couch
with a chaselong. The color is dark beige and the fabric is like a
shine velvet.
I really appreciate your time.
Thank yo!
by Cathy — 2/22/09 at 4:33 pm #
14. Hello Cathy (great name!!)
So your corner sofa with chaise needs some jazzing up? Your sofa is a nice neutral, so, find some other colors in your room or an accent color and add that color to, maybe, 4 pillows. 2 in each corner. You can have them all the same, or mix them up with prints and patterns depending on your style.
Then I would add a coordinating throw to the bottom of the chaise for more color and texture. Those few elements should add all the interest you need to make your sofa “SO FAntastic”.
Thanks for your question, drop back soon.
by Cathy — 2/23/09 at 2:36 pm #