My pillow story

Hello, let's get to the topic of the day!

My love affair with pillows has recently been rekindled, due to the completion of our reading nook and my passion for holiday decorating (and it's also partly thanks to all those home and decorating shows). But no excuses, I've had this passion for a while, I'd say ever since I got my first apartment.

Over the years, I've amassed a fairly significant collection of cushions, and although most of them have been stored away for a long time, I recently got back to work to revive that magic.

I've also become more selective about what I buy, as I want them to be versatile enough for different rooms and for their quality to stand the test of time.

My pillow catalog now consists of all sorts and styles, from inexpensive products to quality fabrics, as well as vintage handmade pieces collected during my travels. From fluffy cushions, embroidered ones, or those with pompoms... You get the idea, no cushion is left behind.

Oh dear, I feel like this will take a while. It'll be the perfect time to test some if I feel a bit tired and rest on them with my small furry blanket!

Cushion Combination

For this holiday look, I went with a classic black, white, and red Christmas theme with strong contrast. It's important to have a neutral base (white walls and bench, warm wood floor, and beige cushion) to be able to layer colors and patterns without looking too busy.

Throws are just as important as pillows! You can even get creative and use a scarf, a tablecloth, or any fabric of your choice (I pulled this one out from my grandmother's house).

I'm going to show you something different, but in the same shades as the previous decoration.

This mix of black, brown, and beige with simple patterns can work all year round. You can easily swap or add some flowers/pastels for spring, blue for summer, jewel tones for autumn, and red/green for Christmas.

Notice the mix of textures - when working with neutral colors, you want a nice variety so the result isn't flat.

Here, we have a mix of velvet, linen, wool, and cotton with a range of thickness and texture.

I bought this black and white printed fabric in India 3/4 years ago (time goes by so fast). There are so many uses for this fabric: a tablecloth, folded at the end of a bed, draped over sofa cushions, an ottoman, or an accent on a bench seat!

Last example with the color blue! A very trendy and much-appreciated color in our interiors. A neutral color that adapts perfectly well to decoration.

This look is ideal for summer, as the navy blue and white theme evokes boating without being overdone. And of course, there are plenty of warm tones to balance the cool colors.

I've had most of these cushions for a while because I've always had a soft spot for this type of cushion. I find that it blends well.

Cushion Size

Whether it's a bench, a sofa, or a bed, you want to look for a variety of shapes and sizes (just like texture and color, variety is the spice of life!)

Generally, you'll want to place the larger cushions at the back and on the outer sides, and layer the smaller cushions towards the front and center. In the example above, I started with a 50x50 cushion in each corner, then added a couple of 40x40s, and finished with some rectangular cushions in the center.

The dimensions you need will vary depending on the size of your sofa/bed/seat, but generally, I prefer to use mostly 40x40 with a few 45x45 on sofas.

My bench is twin-bed size, so I needed some 50x50 and 55x55 to help fill it out. Speaking of beds, I like to use large bolster cushions or large cushions against the headboard, and 2-3 40x40s in front, as well as a lumbar. Lumbar pillows are great for breaking up repetitive square shapes, so I always try to incorporate them somewhere!

As for quantity, there's no need to overdo it - sometimes, less is more. As a rule, I count between 3 and 5 on a sofa or bed (besides the classic pillows). For these photos of pillow combinations, I added more, but I also like a more minimalist look.

Your pillow inserts are almost (or maybe even just as) important as the pillow cover itself! I was reminded of this recently when I pulled my old polyester pillow inserts out of their box and discovered they were sad.

They look even worse when stuffed into a pillow and, in fact, all my polyester-filled inserts are now unusable. You can see the difference below between a feather insert (left) and a polyester insert (right):

Polyester is much flatter, and it doesn't hold any shape, so you can't manipulate it to look fuller (or do karate if that's your thing). Poly inserts are cheap, but after having to throw away and replace mine, I can't bring myself to buy them again.

Down and feathers only for me! The best value for money.

I also have to mention that this pillow came with a microfiber cover that has the heavier weight of down feather and is super soft and pliable. In fact, I love it even more than feather pillow covers.

I wish you could see and feel the quality through your screen, but this velvet is so rich and the color is perfect - the depth ranges from golden orange to olive green in certain lighting. This will be a pillow I move from room to room!

One last thing to note regarding placement: I recommend going one size up from your pillow (for example, ordering a 45x45 cover for a 40x40" pillow).

This can depend on the quality of your cover and how much stuffing your pillows have, but I've never gone wrong by going up a size.

We are spoiled for choice these days, and I have traveled far (on foot and by public transport) to find pillows.

At this stage of life, my horizons have broadened, and I like to include a mix of high-end, handmade, and unique pieces. I have met many manufacturers and curators in interior design, which has also influenced my style.

Don't worry, I don't plan to stop my superb collection but to continue it and my journey around the world to find unique cushions to add to my list.

Lately, my favorite source for discounted pillows has been 1001 Housses. Plus, they offer a wide selection of cushion covers, which is great for starting a collection.