PILLOWPOWER
Creating a stylish bed display
PHOTO : CATHY HOBBS , INTERIOR DESIGNER AND FOUNDER OF DESIGN RECIPES , WWWW . CATHYHOBBS . COM
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
When it comes to pillows on the bed , how many is too many ? Cathy Hobbs , interior designer and founder of Design Recipes , shares her insight and expertise on style , size and pillow arranging .
“ For many interior designers , toss pillows are not only a secret design weapon , but also the icing on the cake . Toss pillows , instead of being an afterthought , can and should complete a color story , serve as an opportunity to bring in graphics and texture , as well as serve as a prominent design accessory ,” Hobbs said .
How many pillows is not only a matter of personal preference , it ’ s a great debate . While “ displaying pillows properly does require some thought and planning ,” in general there are no rules , Hobbs said .
Scale and proportion
To achieve proper balance , start from the back and work your way forward , Hobbs said .
“ Organize your pillows by size , with the largest pillows in the back and the smallest pillows in the front . A cascading layout in which the heaviest concentration of pillows is in the center and then the display becomes thinner on either end remains a popular trend ,” she said .
A look that ’ s especially “ en vogue right now is the use of pillows that are all the same height . Instead of using a series of pillows that are high and low , pillows that are all the same height and even the same color is a current popular trend relating to displaying toss pillows ,” Hobbs said .
Go bold “ Pillows are considered to be portable design . ... Use toss pillows as an opportunity to introduce bold patterns and textures such as faux fur or metallic , and if you don ’ t like the look you can always try another space in your home ,” Hobbs said .
Pillow talk
“ One popular trend is to dress a bed only using decorative pillows and place one ’ s sleep pillows in a closet or under a bed only to be used at night . … Beds are large and as such this is an opportunity where you can display a larger amount of pillows and not overwhelm ,” Hobbs said .
As a general rule : two or three decorative toss pillows work well on a twin bed , five or six pillows on a full or queen bed and kingsized beds can typically accommodate seven to 10 pillows , Hobbs said .
Dress ( your bed ) for success
• Determine how many rows of pillows you wish to have . One or two rows work well with twin beds ; three rows are ideal for full , queen and king beds .
• Begin by positioning large decorative pillows against the headboard : 20 by 20 inches or 24 by 24 inches are good sizes . Choose just two or enough to extend across the length of your headboard . As this row serves as the anchor for the pillow display , solid colors work best .
• For the next row , go a size or two smaller , such as 18 by 18 inches . In this middle row , you can mix pillows of different colors and textures .
• For the third row ( the front ), make a statement . One or two pillows perhaps in an interesting shape or material will help make your display shine .
Spring Vermont Home , Garden & Auto 2018 • 19