Make it Pop With Pillows

Simple but versatile, this decorative game-changer can transform your home’s look and feel 

By Judy Royal

A new season often brings thoughts of a home refresh, but even if you’re not up for a  large remodeling or redecorating project, you can still spruce up your space with a simple solution: pillows.

“Pillows give a home its warmth and make you want to sit down and snuggle in,” said Susan Massey, owner of Fig & Ivy, a home studio in Longmont. “Pillows, throws, art and accessories are what make a house into a home, in my opinion.”

If you think of your room as a blank canvas, decorative pillows act as the “paint” that adds color to your sofas, chairs and beds, brightening up your spaces. You can also experiment with blending different textures, such as embroidery, velvet, linen and cotton.

“There’s so much to choose from,” Massey said. “Mix up your patterns. Make it interesting and have fun with them.”

Decorative pillows are among the easiest, fastest and least expensive ways to change the look of your space. Because pillows do not involve the same level of investment as a piece of furniture that you keep for many years, you can take risks and make bolder choices.

“It doesn’t hurt to invest in cabinets or a sofa in a non-traditional color if you really love it, but if you’re unsure or not confident enough to go for it, go with pillows and throws instead,” Massey said. “This is a much safer place to be bold and let your personality shine through.”

Because there are so many options when it comes to decorative pillows, many people opt to ask a decorator for help tying everything together. Massey cautions against having two small, busy prints together and advises her clients to make their largest pillows solids or simple prints, unless they are going with a dramatic bold print. In that case, they can add smaller pillows in solid colors to the mix to add texture.

“For me, I like a place for the eye to rest, so that’s a good place for texture and solids,” Massey said. “Colors should complement or intertwine.”

Of course, looks are just half of the pillow equation. There’s also the practical aspect of comfort. Pillows should be tactile, feel good and invite you to wrap up in them, Massey said. 

“It feels good to snuggle up to a down pillow,” she said. “A good down pillow is full, keeps its shape and stays fluffy.”

Fig & Ivy carries only down-filled pillows in natural fibers such as linen, cotton, wool and leather. It’s important to Massey that all the pillows leaving her studio are thick and lush.

“Pillows are an investment, and sometimes people are a little bit shocked by what a really good pillow costs,” she said. “One way to conserve money is by keeping your good-quality inserts and buying new covers when you’re ready for a change. Invest in good pillows in the right size for your space and you will never regret it.”

Many people make the mistake of having decorative pillows that are too small, Massey said. Others go overboard with the number of pillows on their furniture.

“Two or three pillows per end is plenty, unless you have a big sectional and want to do a lumbar in the middle,” Massey said. “You want it to feel inviting, not like a task where you have to clear a space to sit down on your sofa.”

Massey’s previous experience in real estate provided a seamless transition into interior design as it enabled her to help people find a house and turn it into a home. She eventually added decorating to her repertoire and found the perfect opportunity to open her own studio last fall.

“I never owned a retail place, but I took a leap and went for it,” Massey said. “People can come in and see my portfolio and my aesthetic.”

Some of her best advice for decorating with pillows mimics words of wisdom she heard many years ago: “Save up and buy what you really love,” Massey said. “Don’t just buy things to fill
a space.”

Expert tips for decorating with pillows:

• Invest in good pillows that are the right size for your space.

• Change pillows seasonally, not for every holiday, and go with colors and textures that are appropriate for the time.

• If you have high-quality inserts, simply change pillow covers when you’re ready for a refresh.

• Don’t go overboard by piling too many pillows on your sofa or bed.

• Avoid making the room look too busy; larger pillows should be your boldest print or texture and complement smaller pillows.