Designer’s Guide: Pillow Bootcamp

What’s the importance of pillows in a room? We’re glad you asked! Pillows are often easily overlooked as a last thought when designing, but truth is, they shouldn’t be! They’re both functional and decorative. If you think about it, you can place pillows and cushions in just about every room of the house (other than the kitchen and bathroom). So why not pay them more attention?

Pin Me! Find more pillow inspo on our Instagram!

How do we give pillows the love they need? First, by placing them correctly! There are some tried-and-true pillow combinations that will always look magazine-ready on your styled bed. Plus, you need to make sure the color combinations complement, not clash, each other. For the perfect picture, make sure to give them a chop: fluff the pillow, pull the corners out, then give a light karate chop in the middle. As long as you stay around these size guides and ratios, your couch will look like it has been professionally styled.

bedroom bed pillow placement

A master guide on bed pillow placement.

Now that you have the placement picked that suites you, time to focus on the colors and textures! Pillows can be your first step towards choosing a color scheme or match the existing decor. You can definitely have some fun here, mixing the sheen of fabrics, textures, and patterns. We know this can seem pretty overwhelming, but don’t freight. Here are some pre-thought-out pillow combos that are affordable for the wallet and pretty to the eye! Pick the one you fancy most and either click the source links or source similar ones in stores near you!

peach, beach pillows

Peachy, beachy vibes!

Pillow Sources:

Back 1

Middle 1

Front 1

teal knit and handmade pillows

A down-to-earth boho look.

Pillow Sources:

Back 2

Middle 2

Front 2

orange and blue pillows

Complementary color schemes are always a go-to.

Pillow Sources:

Back 3

Front 3

white and blue pillows

A more modern look with a touch of traditional.

Pillow Sources:

Back 4

Front 4

Look into unique shapes for the front layer to match your style, too!

 

Adding color, texture and pattern is always a plus!

 

Layering is always a good idea.

 

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your bedroom or living room, we have some more tips for you! In the living room, the couch size you have determines the appropriate amount of pillows to place. While it’s sooo easy to pick up any pillow you enjoy looking at, be careful! It’s crazy to believe that you actually CAN have too many pillows!

loveseat pillow placement

Three pillows are great for a loveseat.

couch pillow placement

Probably the most pillows you should allow on the couch.

sectional pillow placement

Sectionals are big, which means lots of pillows!

Hopefully, you found this blog to be super helpful! We know it’s a lot of information, so be sure to save for next time.

Pin you favorite placement and color scheme place for breezy designing!

transitional living room design

If your couch is particularly plush already, don’t worry about having too many pillows!

 

Adding pops of color + we love a good textured bolster pillow.

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Incorporating Color in a World of Neutrals

A neutral design palette seems like a trend that’s here to stay. While using all neutrals can create a serene and sophisticated space, it can leave you wanting something that you just can’t put your finger on. (Hint Hint: it’s color!) We advise our clients not to envy those picture-perfect living spaces you see on Pinterest. This isn’t sustainable for families with messy kids and small budgets. That being said, having a clean background to design can be fun. Here are some of our favorite ways to keep a space neutral with added hints of personality.

In the Kitchen

The kitchen craze today is all white, very sleek, very clean. While this may be easy to admire, it is not easy to maintain and start to bore homeowners. We always work with clients who want a modern, white look, but also need to feel at home. An easy way to add color to a kitchen space is on the island. Below eye level, two-tone cabinets are enough out of the way to be bothersome, but effective when adding interest to a modern kitchen. Additionally, most kitchens have an island area for casual seating and this can be a great opportunity to add color. Whether the stools are upholstered or colored metal ones like below, incorporating a common color similar to the rest of the house can really tie a home design together without leaving the kitchen out.

 

In the Living Room

Similar to the kitchen stools, accent chairs are a great way to incorporate a bold color into the living room to liven it up. These rich navy armchairs with acrylic feet are modern enough while also inviting to sit down in. If the entire chair seems to be too much for you, we often customize upholstered seating to have two coordinating patterns on the inside section then another on the backside. This is especially helpful if you would want a detailed look from a specific viewpoint. Even less of a risk, add colorful pillows and a rug that incorporates a color to avoid designing a bland space.

 

In the Dining Room

Incorporating color into a dining room can be tricky; there are not a lot of ways to do it without breaking a modern, sleek feel. In this home, we did it in the wall art. This is the safest route to go for people, for it is easily changeable. To create a unique space, the paired wall hangings add variety while still matching the color scheme. It is important to add variety to space and in this case, it was done in a unified way. The colored corals in geometric frames easily enhance the mood of the area while sticking to the modern coastal design.

 

In the Bathroom

A bathroom is a place for serenity and calm, so, people tend to steer clear of bold colors when designing it. Naturally, neutrals thrive in this. A quick pop of color can really freshen the room up. Here we see this on the turquoise wall decor and some greenery on the countertop. Avoid the easy mistake of going to bland and add color to your bathroom by painting the vanity, having a bright accent tile, or placing a thin, colorful woven rug on the ground. You will appreciate this accent one groggy morning.

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Thank you for being an A.Clore Interiors Blog reader…..

Don’t forget: you can find us on Facebook – “like” us to keep up with the latest and greatest!

You can always find more design inspiration on our Pinterest and Instagram pages!

Connect with us on Google+ and LinkedIn

Visit our Website for more information on what we are about and how interior design can change your life!