At a Glance:
Matching Bed Pillows by Design
Styling Bed Pillows by Texture
Get Creative with Bed Pillow Materials
Decorate Bed Pillows in Various Shapes
Swapping out the throw pillows on your bed is a quick, easy, and affordable way to infuse new life into your bedroom. Decorative bed pillows can introduce new patterns, textures, and colors into your space while simultaneously providing coziness and driving home the design style you’re trying to achieve. So, if you’re wondering how to mix and match pillows on a bed like an interior designer, we have the methods for layering pillows on bed setups you’ll love.
Let’s dive into the best tips for decorating with pillows on bed layouts with the latest bedding decor pillows from our selection.
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Shop NowMix and Match Bed Pillows
When you truly understand how to mix and match bed pillow styles, it looks effortless—but there’s an art to it. Mixing and matching involves layering pillows on bed setups, while stacking pillows on bed surfaces and utilizing different size pillows for bed designs all can be used to create a balanced, curated look.
Later in the article, we’ll discuss how to mix and match throw pillows for bed based on design style, texture, material, and shape, so we’ll begin here by addressing how to style a bed with pillows based on color and pattern. bed pillow decorating ideas
Pillow Color
The first step to decorating with pillows on bed is to choose a color story. What is the color palette in your bedroom? Look at your bedding, rug, curtains, wall color, art, and even furniture. Pick a dominant color from your bedroom and make sure that each throw pillow contains the dominant color, even if it has multiple color. Use at least one solid-colored pillow to help create balance, but also make sure to incorporate patterns.
Pillow Pattern
The easiest way to decorate bed pillows is by starting with an organic print—one that has movement, curves, and nature-inspired elements. These are the hardest to match with others, so start it’s best to start here. Then, choose a geometric print that has one of the same colors as your organic print. Next, choose a print with contrasting scale. If your first two pillows feature a small-scale pattern, then choose something significantly larger.
The key is to avoid a grouping of pillows that all have medium-sized patterns. These will all blend together with no contrast.
Here are some patterns to dry mixing and matching when decorating with pillows on bed:
- Polka dots and stripes
- Floral and geometric
- Plaid and botanical
- Multiple animal prints
Here are two great bed pillow ideas for mixing and matching.
KAS Rugs 18”x18” Beige/Grey Elements Pillow
First, this pillow introduces neutral colors and a bold, large-scale pattern. Then, the woven look of this pillow adds texture and visual interest along with a small-scale pattern that strikes a perfect balance between busy and calming. This bed pillow would be at home in an eclectic or boho bedroom design.
KAS Rugs 18”x18” Ivory/Blush Treasure Pillow
Shop This KAS Rugs Tassel Pillow
This pillow draws in the same ivory color as our first pick and sticks to a dominant color. The pop of blush pink introduces color into your room and will liven up complementary bedding. This pillow shares a boho vibe, thanks to its texture, but instead of a woven pattern, it features fringe and sequins for a touch of glam and whimsy. If you’re a fan of maximalism, this is a great pillow to consider.
Learn More: 8 Fun Boho Decor Pieces Your Home Needs
Matching Bed Pillows by Design
Another tip we recommend on how to use pillows on bed setups is to turn your focus toward design style. Are you going for boho chic, minimalist, or modern? Do you want your bedroom to be casual, coastal, or traditional? The pillows you choose can help you communicate your chosen style, so take cues from that style in terms of shape, color, and pattern.
For example, pillows in a modern bedroom should be simple and unadorned, so even if they’re textured, they won’t be busy with fringe or tassels. You’d be much more likely to see a faux fur or boucle pillow in a modern design. In a coastal bedroom, look for pillows in neutral hues or calming earth tones, and incorporate organic and natural materials like burlap and linen. Here’s a stylish option that’s versatile with various bedroom styles.
KAS Rugs 18”x18” Ivory/Light Blue Chevron Pillow
Shop This KAS Rugs Chevron Pillow
This throw pillow incorporates calming colors, a pop of blue, and a medium-scale pattern. The mix of ivory and light blue as well as the classic chevron pattern are ideal for a coastal or transitional bedroom design. We recommend pairing this with a solid blue pillow and an ivory pillow that features a small-scale print that incorporates blue and a few other complementary colors.
Propped Bed Pillows
When it comes to decorating with pillows on bed settings, it’s not just about patterns and color palettes—it’s also about how you arrange your pillows. One of the most popular bed pillow arrangement ideas is propping pillows. The effect of the propped pillow look in the bedroom can be transformative. It can instantly elevate the aesthetics of your room, making it appear more luxurious, inviting, and put together.
The propped pillow look refers to arranging pillows on a bed in a deliberate, stylish manner. You’ll often see it in interior design magazines or upscale bedrooms. You prop the pillows up and layer them for a luxurious look. The key to how to stack pillows and achieve the propped pillow look is to choose pillows that hold their shape. This isn’t the moment for casual, squishy pillows. We recommend finding a pillow with down filling, like the following pick.
Stylecraft Dann Foley Lifestyle Black/Tan Pillow
This black and tan pillow is filled with down feathers—and is perfect for propping. Not only that, but the neutral colors and geometric pattern make it perfect for a midcentury modern bedroom design. We recommend getting a pair of these pillows to prop against two layers of standard- or king-sized bed pillows with neutral pillowcases. In front of the pair, you could add a long and thin lumbar pillow or a small circular pillow to add contrast.
Styling Bed Pillows by Texture
Texture can add coziness to your bedroom as well as visual interest, and throw pillows are an excellent way to achieve both. Just remember: throw pillows can introduce soft texture or hard texture. For example, fabrics like boucle, faux fur, silk, or velvet add in soft texture, which makes your room feel cozier and more inviting. They offer comfort. Wool, woven fabrics, and burlap add in hard texture as do details like sequins. These hard textures add visual interest and layers of depth and dimension to your design.
Signature Design by Ashley Liviah Natural Pillow
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Pillow
This bed decor pillow is sure to add texture to your space with its diamond-patterned fringe and textured stitching. All of the elements of pattern here are textured rather than being printed on the fabric for maximum impact. The neutral colors, various textures, and mix of geometric patterns give this pillow a global feel. It’s perfect for an eclectic or boho bedroom design.
⭐ Featured Signature Design by Ashley Liviah Review:
“This pillow is exactly as pictured. Really love it. Adds texture to my leather sofa and the colors are perfect.”
Learn More: 8 Cute Throw Pillows for Your Couch
Get Creative with Bed Pillow Materials
Expanding on the idea of texture, let’s look at some popular pillow materials. Each one creates a different effect in your space.
- Velvet Pillows: Velvet pillows add subtle texture and a luxurious feel.
- Leather Pillows: Leather adds a touch of sophistication and rugged charm, lending a contemporary or classic vibe depending on its finish
- Boucle Pillows: The looped weave of boucle is soft to the touch, instantly making your bedroom cozier and full of lofty texture.
- Tweed Pillows: Tweed offers a rustic and timeless appeal, and depending on the application, it can work well in a variety of rooms from traditional to coastal to boho.
- Silk Pillows: Silk exudes opulence and refinement, providing a satin-smooth texture that feels indulgent against the skin. It’s perfect for glam designs.
- Faux Fur Pillows: Faux fur is cozy, especially when it’s in in neutral hues. A faux fur pillow can help soften the hard lines of a modern design.
Signature Design by Ashley Bellethrone Gray Pillow
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Faux Fur Pillow
Imagine an industrial space dominated by neutral colors, metal, mirrored surfaces, and wood. The simplicity of the silhouettes and raw materials is beautiful, but a hint of warmth and softness is missing. This pillow offers a solution, adding in just the right amount of warmth and softness without dominating the design. Of course, it looks just as good in glam-style bedrooms, or even farmhouse bed settings where the faux fur texture adds a touch of gentle ruggedness that bodes well with the design.
Decorate Bed Pillows in Various Shapes
Throw pillows for bed decorating don’t just come in square and rectangular shapes. There are plenty of options, and mixing and matching various shapes can add depth and dimension to your bed design. The following two options offer two unique ways how to arrange pillows on a bed with trendy shapes that mix up bed décor.
Stylecraft Dann Foley Lifestyle Brown Throw Pillow
Shop This Stylecraft Round Pillow
This furry brown throw pillow can be the cherry on top of layering and decorating with pillows on bed spaces. Prop the pillows up on your bed from largest to smallest with this one centered as the final touch. The circular shape adds a fun, playful element while the faux fur adds coziness and warmth.
Stylecraft Dann Foley Lifestyle Off-White/Taupe Pillow
Shop This Stylecraft Throw Pillow
In a modern or midcentury modern bedroom, this pillow’s geometric pattern and neutral hues work perfectly. A pair of these provides the perfect backdrop to the circular accent pillow. And, thanks to down filling, this pillow is perfect for propping. When decorated with pillows of different shapes and sizes, this visually appealing pillow makes a major impact without doing too much.
Whether you want to achieve a luxurious glam look or a casual coastal design, the throw pillows you choose can help you bring your design vision to life. By paying attention to color, pattern, design style, texture, material, and shape, you can become a pro at decorating with pillows on bed. With an affordable selection of throw pillows for every design style, Colder’s is the best place to shop for bedroom furniture and decor in the Milwaukee area. Stop by one of our Wisconsin locations to browse pillows in person today.
Why Trust Colder’s?
Since 1942, we at Colder's pride ourselves on offering value, selection, and service. Serving Southeastern Wisconsin with four showrooms that stock quality name-brand furniture, appliances, and mattresses, Colder’s is sure to house exactly what you are looking for. And if you can't find it on our floors, chances are, we can order it for you. As a local, family-owned company, we are always doing our best to provide the highest value at the lowest cost to everyone who walks through our doors.
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Shop Bed Pillows at Colder’s
Don’t put off happiness — and shop home decor online for unbeatable prices at Colder’s. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you learn decorating with pillows on bed, whether you call us at 414-476-1574 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one of our Colder’s locations in West Allis, Oak Creek, Delafield, and Grafton, Wisconsin to touch, see, feel, and experience home products that fulfill your dreams. Visit us today!
Learn More: Home Accents & Decor to Stylize Your Home