Are you a thrifter? Grab my free tips! Click Here!

Pillow Talk

February 28, 2017

This post may contain affiliate links.

I love decorating with pillows. They give the room warmth and personality.

Do you have enough?

How To Decorate Your Home With Pillows
Can you ever have too many pillows?

I mean think about it, how many do you have in your home right now? Start counting. I'll wait.

There are the ones on your bed, the ones on the couch, the ones on your chairs and maybe even floor.

As I was walked though my own house this weekend, I started noticing all the pillows I have and thought, wow, I really love decorating with pillows, I mean, I have two in my kitchen alone.
And no, they are not used as chair cushions.

They serve no real purpose, they're just decorative accents to liven the up place.

Although, I guess that is their purpose.

Even in the kitchen.

You know, that room I'm supposed to cook in, but would rather just accessorize.

In all seriousness, I have always believed that fabric is what adds magic to a room. I've used it to warm up my glass cabinets and soften the hard edges of every window in my home.

I've even skirted a few tables with it.

Decorating With Pillows

In the right fabric, pillows become a powerful decor statement. They add warmth, a lived in comfortable feel and, when chosen correctly, they are often the defining style pieces in a room.

Come. I'll show you what I mean.

For even more pillow ideas you can check out my Amazon Shop Pillow Board or my Shop My Cottage Page.

Unexpected Embellishments


Let's start in the kitchen since I already mentioned these two pretties.

I whipped up this "sweet" pillow to accent my patchwork chair.

The chair itself mixes patterns in a traditional cottage style, so the wooden ornament fits.

It adds to the quirky, collected aesthetic of the room.

Easy Ornament Embellished Pillow

Country Style Animals Add Whimsy


 Pillow number two was a fun rooster pillow cover I purchased rather than made.

(I love covers since they're cheap, compact to store and easy to change.)

This part of the kitchen still has a cottage feel, but it's more of a garden or farmhouse cottage look.

That rooster wouldn't look great on my patchwork chair, but he absolutely makes the space seated on my mom's old deacon's bench.

Farmhouse Rooster Pillow

He also makes a much better farmhouse statement, than the previous pillow does...

Cottage Style Kitchen Decor Ideas

...and he eases the transition into the distinctly cottage style family room, right next door.

That room is full of pillows.

Solid Pillows Anchor A Room


Now, a few of them are solid, to provide a contrast against the floral couch, plaid bolster and patterned pillows. 

Cottage Style Living Room Decor Ideas

Technically, even the window seat cushion is a pillow.

It's another solid anchor, so the couch really pops. The pillows also support and soften the larger wooden pieces and windows in the room.

Without them?

Floral Couch In Cottage Style Family Room

Boring.

Now in 2023, this family room has been updated and sports a brighter cottage vibe.

It's got floral wallpaper and a bold checked sofa, but the pom pom pillow covers add a pop of color and a little charm. 

Cottage Style Checked Sofa and Floral Wallpaper

Again, anchoring the room and pulling together all the other patterns in the room.

Pick Pillows That Fit The Room


The living room is up next. Truth be told, this room is all about the pillows and to prove it, I'm going to show you a neat trick.

A few years ago, this was my living room at Christmas. I loved the bold color and cozy feel.

Cottage Style Christmas Living Room Decor

Then summer came along and I felt the need to lighten the room up a little.

Sandy feet and pool towels were being tracked though the house and the room felt wrong. So I made new covers with some lighter fabric.

And I hated it.

The whole room just felt wrong.

It lost its magic, its punch ~ its style ~ and all because I swapped out a few pillows!! The patterns, color and texture were all wrong for this room.

Summertime Cottage Style Decor Ideas

Once I whipped up a few new floral covers, in coordinating red tones, the room was back to its charming cottage self again.

Ah, the power of pillows.

The coffee table looked richer, the fireplace and beams regained their rustic stature and all was right with the world again.

Farmhouse Living Room Decor Ideas

If only.

But it was pretty close. Especially with the addition of my DIY stenciled rooster (okay, okay, chicken) pillows.

They carry the theme of the other rooms right in here.

Farmhouse DIY Stenciled Rooster Pillows

Even though the paint color in all three rooms is totally different, there aren't any beams in any other room and there aren't any chickens (or roosters) in the family room, it all fits and flows.

Seamlessly.

And it's all because of the pillows.

Pillows In The Bedroom...of course!


Of course, there are pillow in the bedrooms and they were all chosen based on the style of whoever inhabits that room.

Oh, my room takes it cue from the rest of the house. Cottage style. Country style. Farmhouse style.

Tons of pillows on the bed.

White Bedding In Cottage Style Master Bedroom

Even at Christmas with a little DIY placemat makeover.

Merry Christmas placemat Pillow DIY on a bed of white pillows



Master Bedroom Cottage Style Christmas Decor

Even on my chair.

Green And White Master Bedroom Decor

I swap that pillow out to coordinate with my bedding.

Cottage Style Master Bedroom

Even on Instagram.

Elegant Master Bedroom Decor

The kids' rooms are a different story.

When they were little, I called the shots. Now I pick my battles and leave the decor decisions to them.

Little Girls' Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Over the years there have been many changes, but pillows have always been featured prominently. Sequins and satin. 

Tween Pink Bedroom Decor Ideas

Boho and floral. They still define the style of the room.

Purple Boho Bedroom Ideas

Even fuzzy.

This pillow adds an elegance and a bit of fun all at the same time.

Girls Boho Bedroom or Dorm room decorating ideas

Amazing.

Pillows Poolside and On The Patio


Think I'm done? Well, almost. You see, I even pepper pillows outside.

Can you imagine my screened in porch without them?

Decorating With Pillows On The Porch

They pull the cottage style character from the inside of the house outside.

And as I said before, since most of my pillows have covers, I can swap them out anytime I feel like making a little decorating change.

Like I did on the porch last summer.

Outdoor Covered Porch Decor With Candles


Especially in the pool area, pillows are essential.

The concrete is hard and cold.

Fabric accents at the water's edge give the space a resort feel. Without them, it would be undecorated.

Decorating Around The Pool

And we can't have that now.

Can we?

😉

So how many pillows do you have?

* One last note. With the exception of the sweet wooden pillow, because it hurts, every one of my pillows is used on a regular basis. What's the point of having pillows if you can't lay all over them? *

Happy Decorating, Friends!!

How To Decorate And Add Style With Pillows

Looking for more decor?


Cottage Style Fall Decor


Decorating With Less Style Transformation

Kim Signature


Post a Comment | 67 Comments

Hey~ before you go, let me know what you think!

I love comments and respond to them all.

*Please refer to our privacy policy if you have questions regarding your profile and note that comments with links will not be published.



  1. I love your cottage-style pillows! I tend to put them out for a few days, then put them up except for one small one on my bed. Because the pupsters knock them to the floor. So what's the point? You know I love all your colors!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My kids and husband do the same thing as your pups, Brenda! ;)

      Delete
  2. i thought i had a lot but not near as many as you, my grandsons tend tp use them as weapons lol xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! Yes, pillows tend to fly around here, as well. Last night, in fact, there was a game with tossing and flinching or blinking being played. Kids! ;)

      Delete
  3. I have tons of pillows too. Love having lots of pillows. Love all your sweet pillows Kim especially the ones in the bedroom.
    So pretty. Happy New Week.
    Hugs,
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris!! Thanks! I knew you'd love the bedroom ones...just a hunch! ;)

      Delete
  4. Pillows are fun, aren't they, Kim? I've always used a lot of pillows in my decor. I can count 9 right now in our tiny house. I'm ready to change 'em up, though. Pillow covers are one of the easiest things in the world to make and you're right. . .they make a big decor impact. Your pillows are really special. Love them all. Hugs, Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Covers are the best, Nancy, I agree. I love the ones I have purchased recently, but since I’m a fabric junkie, I really enjoy making them. I need to learn how to put in zippers though. That is something I have only done when I was costuming - and under duress!! ;) I hope you are warm and snug with all your pillows!!

      Delete
  5. can you tell me where you found the red hen pillow?

    Kathy Nielsen kniels9548@wildblue.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kathy. Thanks for the comment. I actually made the hen pillow from a stencil kit. The post with all the details and links to the exact stencil is here: http://www.exquisitelyunremarkable.com/2015/09/diy-stenciled-rooster-pillow.html. It’s not an affiliate, so I don’t get a commission for recommending it, but I have to say, it was super easy to make. I hope that helps. :)

      Delete
  6. I have quite a few pillows here in my little cottage too. :) I love all of your pillows and your decorating style! We are definitely kindred spirits. I love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lily, you just made my night! Thank you so much for your super sweet words...and pillow filled cottages are the best! :)

      Delete
  7. I'm a pillow enthusiast too! I have six "bed size" pillows on our master bed plus two throw pillows with cooridinating fabric. I have four pillows on our guest bed plus four or five throw pillows. And, the other guest room has 2 king size pillows plus a "husband" pillow and a throw pillow. I change out the covers on the pillows in the living room according to seasons and holidays. There are three to four pillows on the couch and one on the deacon's bench.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb, you are a girl after my own pillow loving heart and a true pillow aficionado!! :)

      Delete
  8. Love pillows!!! I also love your chair in the kitchen! Have saved a photo of it and also have several types of fabric in the same patterns...someday when I get the nerve!!! Beautiful home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh you just made me smile! Thank you so much and I say go for it, with the chair! It was SO much easier than I ever imagined. It's all about the ironing...really!! :) Thanks for the visit!!

      Delete
  9. Kim, I have lost count. I was making covers and changing them out, but since Christmas, I have just stuffed a few and now I'm running out of room to store the ones I'm not using. Will I ever learn?!! I have some more of those $2 and less coming from Amazon. That is the best deal in the world right now..Happy Tuesday..Judy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sort of addicted to those cheap Amazon pillow covers, too, Judy. I really expected the quality to stink, but it’s decent enough to keep me buying! Now if I could just find shoes and bags like that. Ha! ;)

      Delete
  10. When we are sitting on the couch with laptops, our 4 pillows are piled helter skelter in the middle with us sitting at either end. So no decor there. I love the way your pillows add to your decor so wonderfully. Ours...we don't like to sit on them or lounge on them, or prop on them, so they don't look pretty as I'd like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Comfort is always the key for me, Florence. If we're not really going to use them, I can't have them around...because as you know, whether I want them to or not, kids are going to use them!! And yes, sometimes they end up "moved out of the way". That's not so pretty!! ;)

      Delete
  11. Fun post Kim, you had me counting . . .
    I am "pillow crazed" too . . .
    It really is an easy way to dress and change things up.
    No pillows in my kitchen though, you have it there!
    LR and MBR . . . 15 . . . plus six cushions . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fabulous!! When it comes to pillow count I say go big or go home!! :)

      Delete
  12. I am counting 15 in my house at this time. I definitely agree with your choice of pillows for your living room! They do bring out the cottage style in a big way :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I learned that living room lesson the hard way…and I really do not like to sew! ;)

      Delete
  13. I love all your pillows and how they all flow together. Of course the red helps too! I don't have a lot of pillows, but there are pillows on all of my furniture. I will have to work on that :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have snuggly kitties! They may not stay where you want them, but I bet they "decorate" your couches and chairs all day long!! ;)

      Delete
  14. I'm with you, Kim. No, you can't have too many pillows ;) Pillows and paint are my two favorite ways to change up a room. I counted close to 40 inside my house, not including outside. {In my defense I have a daybed and a chaise in guest rooms that are loaded.}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The more the merrier, I always say! The pillow covered daybed and chaise sound dreamy.

      Delete
  15. I love pillows as well. Sometimes I get crazy about the way hubby tosses them off chairs and the bed. Any solution for pillows scattered??? :)

    Love yours! I try to get them for $16 or under, or the covers. I can't sew for the life of me.

    Thanks for a great post as always, Kim!

    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, I do not have a solution for that, Jane. It's like those shoes that gather at the back door...irks the heck out of me, doesn't seem to bother anyone else!! Grrr...I sew out of necessity and the fact that I'm cheap! ;) There are some great inexpensive covers out there now, though. I've been racking up quite a collection thanks to Amazon Prime. It's addictive!

      Delete
  16. I have a pillow obsession. The best I save and pull out from time to time. xoxo Su

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree...I actually have a glorious red Christmas pillow that I haven't been able to tuck away yet! ;)

      Delete
  17. I do not think you can have too many especially when they are on rotation. That's my favorite way to do it. I'm already eyeing new pillows for outdoors this year. :)

    I'm so jealous that you can sew some new pillows when the mood strikes!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha…well, I can sew, but I don’t love it and I’m not very good at it. If I could find what I wanted pre-made and for a great price I would buy it. Trust me. I have a feeling you’re going to be doing a lot of fun pillow shopping very soon! Lucky girl!

      Delete
  18. I love sewing pillows, buying pillows and decorating with them, but I don't love when they get scattered (I'm a bit acdc) so I keep them to a minimum.

    Not sure how many I have but now you got me thinking. I'll have to count when we get home. :)

    (I thought this post was gonna be racey from the title. Just goes to show you where my mind is).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know I didn’t actually count all my pillows. I should go do that now! And the title…yeah. I was counting on that. ;) (Marketing and PR major in college!)

      Delete
  19. Can I confess? Before blogging I didn't have all that many. It was all practical. But since I've started blogging and paying attention to my surroundings I have slowly been accumulating those sneaks! Why I must have at least 10 in the living room alone. And who can resist a good sweater pillow? I think your chicken takes the prize though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blogging really does change your perspective doesn't it, Mary??

      Delete
  20. Hi Kim, Love all your pillows in each area of your home. Just Gorgeous!! No I don't think we can have too many pillows. My hubby often says, "did you add more pillows" Ah yes!!! lol
    Have a great rest of the week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That’s so funny, Celestina, a conversation just like that is what sparked my post this week. I told my husband that I needed to make a pillow cover for our bedroom and he said, how many pillows to we have in there? And so I started counting… ;)

      Delete
  21. I have as many as I can without them ending up on the floor when they are not in use- my pet peeve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pet peeve, too....but apparently no one else's around here! ;)

      Delete
  22. Absolutely right, fabric softens a room. I love seeing the pillows of your rooms and the different looks you get from them. I love the current ones you have on your white sofa! Such a pretty combination.

    I counted 19 in my head, not counting pillow shams. And this is a small house. A few are stuck in a closet as we didn't move one of our sofas with us. Not going to feel guilty anymore about all these pillows!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No guilt!! Pillows add such warmth and coziness. I say enjoy them all!

      Delete
  23. I like the look of pillows and have been picking up pieces of fabric so now I just need to sew the covers. I have been picking up pillows when thrifting and I plan to use those old pillows as the pillow forms for the fabrics that I have in my stash. I have the sewing machine out, now I just need to get started.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know the feeling, Lorri. I have a bunch of sewing plans and not enough time in the day to get it all done.

      Delete
  24. I am a bit pillow obsessed too. I mean, they are the perfect decorating accessory and they don't cost an arm and a leg. Like you said, pillows can completely change the look of a room. That's what I love about them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Kim! Pillows, glorious pillows - so many choices, so little time! You definitely have a knack for using them, so pretty. Jane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Jane! They are an easy accessory to add and have such an impact!

      Delete
  26. Hi Kim, wow you have such a wonderful collection of pillows! I do love how they can change the look of a bed or a coach or even a chair. I do have pillow all over my house too. I do need to update the ones on my coach I think after looking at all of yours! LOL. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I often get the itch to update, too, Julie...especially after I browse though Home Goods. So many pretties!

      Delete
  27. I seriously adore your house. I could move right in and not change one single thing!! How many pillows???? Too many, according to my sweetie....but that's ok because it's MY house, ha ha!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My sweetie says too many sometimes, too, but he deals. Happy wife... ;)

      Delete
  28. Well my place is smaller so I have FAR LESS pillows than yours :) I loved seeing your variety though. I have 5 in my living room, and 2 on my bed :) But I have lots of covers that I change out and then I also have quite a few pillows down at my son's house, on the kids beds, their porch chairs, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The covers really are the key, Deb, I agree. I have outside pillows, too, but harder to store. I wish I had outdoor covers to swap out..hmmm. I am on the hunt now! ;)

      Delete
  29. I am a pillow girl! I love pillows.
    I do have a very special pillow tucked away that my grandma made me. She embroidered flowers on it. Each one sewn with love. I will have to do a post about it.
    It is very special to me and it has yellowed some with age.

    Beautiful decor Kim, you are so creative. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds lovely, Carla and wonderfully sentimental. Those are the best kind!! :)

      Delete
  30. I love pillows too! I just finished making a new one. I love how pillows can totally change how a room feels! I don't have as many pillows as you, but I am with you. Pillows add so much character to the room, and you can jazz it up, or cozy it up or whatever you choose. Now I'm looking at my pillows and thinking, I really, really need a chicken pillow! LOL... can you believe I don't have one? Gotta remedy that... !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You do need a chicken pillow!! Or two!! ;)

      Delete
  31. I totally agree with you on having pillows that you can cozy up with. I've seen some really cute pillows, but they had embellishments on them that would make it impossible to enjoy. I really love your house. All the pillows, colors and fabrics make it so personalized, perfect and cozy. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lisa! Yes, it's a struggle...pretty versus practical. I try to find both and it's not always easy. ;)

      Delete
  32. I have a total of 11 pillows, not counting the bedrooms. I love them, but I can't keep them on the chairs in the living room, because the dogs ruin them with hair and dirt. I don't have rugs either, for another dog related reason. I'm a slave to my darn fur-babies lol

    xo,
    rue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But they're such cute fur babies! ;) Totally worth it.

      Delete
  33. Simple is often the best route to cozy, Teri and usually my decorating mantra...except with pillows!! ;)

    ReplyDelete