Ferm Living's Kelim Cushions; $100+up; available at Lawson Fenning. (image source: Domino)
Pillows are powerful - good ones can make your space pretty damn spectacular; bad ones can create a real downer of a room. For that matter, even a boatload of superfluous pillows piled onto a sofa can make your space look disorganized and somewhat junky and, hey, if you've gotta move pillows from one piece of furniture onto another just to be able to sit your butt down, you've got too many pillows. And that's much too much of a good thing.
Deb and I find we're shopping for pillows several times a week, as throw pillows are entirely unique to each space we see and there are zillions of options out there in the world. In our exhaustive and entertaining adventures in pillows, we've learned a thing or two. Here are a few Lily Spindle tips:
#1 - Whatever size the pillow cover is, go one or two sizes up with regards to the insert (i.e. a 20"x20" pillow would call for a 22"x22" insert). Unless you happen to love a flaccid pillow and abhor a plush, fulsome pillow, of course. And in that case, entirely ignore this wisdom..
#2 - If the sofa is leather and slopes backwards at all, try to find pillows that can (literally) stand on their own, like a thick Kilim or cowhide pillow. A slippery silk or velvet pillow typically slides onto its back like a helpless turtle when placed against leather upholstery, which may sound kind of adorable but it looks kind of terrible. Trust me.
#3 - Mix your patterns and textures, but do so with discretion to avoid looking like a lunatic. For instance, if you're using a bold pattern in bright primary colors in one or two pillows, the others should be relatively neutral - quiet patterns or one particular background color with a single stripe or detail that complements the whole lot of them.
In general, pillows should require zero assistance and effort once you've got the right ones dialed in. Their job is to hang out and be awesome. We've gathered up a few of our favorites right here, from the divine to the darling. Have at it!
xx - Rebecca
Mid-20th century Indonesian silk Ikat pillow, $330; 1stdibs.
Aviva Stanoff Purple Stain Velvet Pillow; $275+up; abchome.com
Stone Textile Studio's Tuxedo Pillow; $215
Vintage Moroccan pillow; $450; Habibi Imports.
Mud cloth pillows; $110-$140; Etsy
Donna Wilson wool pillows - Badger, Pup, Elk, and Kitty; $140/each
Dark Indigo, $200+, House of Cindy
Malibu pillow (made of vintage Mexican Serape); $230; House of Cindy
