Types of Throw Pillows

Made of every fabric and color under the sun, throw pillows enhance any room, coordinating or contrasting with furniture to blend in or stand out according to the decorator's taste and style. Known also as scatter pillows, they can be homemade or store-bought in any shape, most commonly round or square. They cost only as much as you want to spend and can be a single pillow on a chair or a mound of many on a daybed.

Purpose

Throw pillows can be used for either decoration, comfort or both. Usually found on couches or beds, they bring interior decorating to another level. The types of throw pillows used change the tenor of the room. Emphasize coziness by using soft, round pillows or add a touch of sophistication with neatly tailored, stiff square ones. Propping one up behind the head or back makes a practical resting or support pad.

Size

Ranging from as big as your hand to 2 feet wide, throw pillows can be any size. Commercial standards come between 12 and 24 inches, depending on the manufacturer. Homemade pillows can be cut to any size and stuffed with filling. To make pillows using preformed or encased stuffing, the standard sizes are 14 and 16 inches. Sizes can be mixed and matched on display, using fewer pieces on smaller furniture.

Styles

Knife pillows are two pieces of square fabric sewn together and stuffed. Its cousin, the box pillow, has side panels running all the way around like a three-dimensional box. Bolsters are unique in shape and design. Long and round like a wrapper-free Tootsie Roll, they are bigger, fatter and stiffer than any other throws. Reserve them for a sectional sofa and other large pieces of furniture. They are sturdy to lean against or prop up legs, torsos or heads.

Features

Adorning pillows gives them character and pizzazz, allowing them to blend in with decor. Ruffles pose a softer look, for a more relaxed atmosphere. Lace or embroidered coverings create an antique or feminine aura, depending on the type of materials used. Tassels and fringe around the edges can match window treatments, following a theme in the room. Seams can be plain or embellished with cord or flanged borders. Those with zippers make the outside cover removable for laundering.

Inside

Throw pillows are stuffed with a myriad of materials. Polyester Fiberfil is white and fluffy. Hypo-allergenic and machine washable, it is a convenient and popular filling that may flatten in shape after many extended uses. Foam is another common interior. Preformed, it holds its shape, but over time tends to erode within its casing. Styrofoam or plastic pellets, also found in beanbags, adjust and move under pressure. Stuffing made of down or shredded foam is soft and durable.

References

• NationMaster
• The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing; Creative Publishing International; 2005

Resources

• Digs Magazine