Most don’t think much about throw pillows, since they simply sit on your sofa or bed and tie the room together. Many distinct types of throw pillows exist, however, each with different qualities. The only time individuals think about throw pillows is when in the market to make a new purchase.
This could be sprucing up an existing bedroom or living room as part of a redecoration project or purchasing new furniture. Before running out and buying any old throw pillow, it’s essential to understand what’s available in the market to make an informed decision.
Countless throw pillows exist in varied materials, shapes, and patterns, so it’s essential to give this purchase some thought before buying.
To learn more about the various throw pillow types, keep reading!
A diversity of material to suit your comfort
1. Burlap
When I think of burlap, I think of a burlap sack. However, burlap throw pillows couldn’t be further from this image. Burlap is a highly versatile fabric created using tightly woven and sanitized jute fibers to eliminate the natural trace oils. The resulting product is a natural and rustic-looking pillow that is elegant, with a retro-esque appearance.
This makes burlap the ideal material for pillow covers. Various geometric patterns and color palettes exist and can be added to the fabric by downplaying the experience. Given burlap’s natural look, many prints can help improve your interior décor while not bringing too much attention to the pillow.
2. Chenille
Only the hardcore fabric and pillow enthusiasts have heard of chenille, yet this material is utilized internationally. There’s a good chance your grandparents handed down an overused, fuzzy quilt that boasts a pleasing and fluffy appearance.
This quilt is likely woven using this material. Chenille is a soft material with durable characteristics that can be used for various applications. This material is a yarn type that, when incorporated, generates a chenille.
Dating back to the 1780s, chenille was first used by a French weaver who cut it into strips to develop this beautiful chenille yarn. This gorgeous fabric then spread to other areas of the world, thus becoming a new trend. Finding a throw pillow is exactly what you need if you’re interested in understanding what the material feels like and don’t have grandma’s quilt lying around.
3. Cotton
Cotton is a widely used, natural material in many products, including cushions. Some of the most significant benefits of cotton are it remains cool and gentle on the skin, is highly breathable, and the smooth and crisp feel makes throw pillows easy to maintain. Additionally, due to cotton’s high durability, it ages gracefully.
Cotton is available in many stunning colors and stylistic prints, so it’s the ideal choice for making a bold statement in your home. Cotton throw pillows complement most interior styles due to their minimalistic and laid back appearance.
When searching for cotton throw pillows, find colors that match the décor of the room and furniture. You can purchase this pillow type as individual units, but they are also available in sets of two and four with different patterns.
4. Faux Fur
Faux fur is the ideal simulation of real, plush animal fur without causing harm to nature’s creatures during the process. The lush appearance faux fur brings to your interior décor is unmatched by any other material. If you’re seeking a lush, soft, natural material with an elegant feeling, then faux fur is your best choice.
Through modern printing technology, faux fur is available in a variety of solid colors, decorative designs, and animal prints.
Consumers are most impressed with the thick, soft material that instantly makes even the most difficult sleepers fall asleep. So if you are searching for an excuse to catch a good night of Z’s, this throw pillow material has you covered.
5. Leather & Suede
Leather and suede combined material has become an excellent alternative to genuine suede fabric. This is because the material mimics the texture and appearance of the real stuff while remaining animal-friendly, without the limitations of matting and fraying.
Also, leather and suede are easy to clean since it’s not water sensitive. Other benefits include cost effectiveness, acid resistance, odorless, and breathable.
For those searching for a pillow that mimics the real feeling of leather and suede, this is your best option, with many more benefits than the real deal. Most leather and suede throw pillows feature hidden zippers (for aesthetics), are available in eclectic designs, and have elevated durability.
6. Polyester
As the most popular modern synthetic material, polyester is used in countless fabric blends and for numerous products, including throw pillows, because of its many advantages. First, the fabric is exceptionally durable, making it water and chemical-resistant.
Second, polyester is challenging to shrink or stretch because it’s thermoplastic. Third, this heat sensitivity allows endless shapes and decorative patterns to be used without destroying the fabric.
In addition to these wonderful positive aspects of polyester, the greatest advantage is property enhancement by blending it with other materials like cotton, which combines the best properties. Comfort, functionality, and flexibility are all added to this blend.
7. Satin
Satin is one of the leading fabrics because it doesn’t absorb moisture like cotton and other fabric types. No wonder these protective properties have caught on in the home decoration department. Satin also doesn’t wrinkle easily and is incredibly soft to the touch. Therefore, if you’re lying on the couch using a satin throw pillow, you may wake up six hours later due to the comfortability!
8. Silk
Every individual loves silk because it is the definition of a classy and chic material. Silk can effortlessly transform even the most boring room into a luxurious living area. This elegant material can be added to your décor in stunning gold or cream colors, geometric designs, or solid colors to achieve the minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic.
The luster of different silk designs captures and reflects the light to create a different ambiance for distinct colors and patterns. If you’re searching for a highly luxurious design that’s incredibly soft and comfortable, silk is your ideal choice.
9. Velvet
George Costanza from Seinfeld once said, “I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable.” While walking around in velvet still isn’t socially acceptable, it’s perfectly reasonable to use on throw pillows in your home. Throw pillow velvet is a woven, tufted fabric with evenly distributed cuts in a dense pile.
This is a specific manufacturing method that results in the soft and smooth feel our skin absolutely loves. Traditional velvet is made using silk, but the most recent advancements in fabric technology allow synthetics to mimic silk and create velvet.
Before the textile advancements that provided synthetic velvet, traditional velvet was incredibly difficult to maintain and wash. If you’re searching for traditionally made velvet, it’s essential to keep this point in mind if the throw pillow needs to be cleaned.
10. Wool
Wool is a fabric that sounds incredibly itchy but is quite comfortable. Factors for having high-quality wool include processing practices, sheep’s health, and breed type. In addition, wool is a complicated physical structure that must protect sheep from harsh weather.
Benefits of this material include remaining warm during wintry and cool during warm weather, being soft against the skin, being warm when wet, and not attracting moisture.
Eye-grabbing (and not-so-eye-grabbing) shapes
1. Rectangular
Rectangular shapes are primarily found in civil engineering and architecture because they are literally and metaphorically linked with strength. Therefore, homes utilize more rectangular shapes in various rooms since the form portrays durability, longevity, reliability, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
2. Round
A round shape in your room can help spruce up the décor. Circular shapes impact others due to their universal application and compatibility. Think about it, the natural conditions formed in the heavenly bodies across the universe are dominant round bodies, a pattern you can find everywhere.
Circles have ancient associations with the sun, moon, Earth, and other planets. Since round shapes lack a beginning or an end, they portray the idea of timelessness and eternity. Circular throw pillows are the ideal option to make your room visually pop every time you enter.
3. Square
The most basic throw pillow shape is the square, which depicts professionalism, proportion, and balance. Some of the most secure establishments on Earth are square, including vaults, safes, and homes. Therefore, this versatile shape can easily be integrated into any room or furniture piece throw pillow form. Square can also be married to any other shape imaginable and still look chic.
4. Star-shaped
Novelty shapes allow you to bring the night sky into any room by adding a star-shaped pillow. With perfectly straight lines, the star symbolizes symmetry and balance. Since this shape tends to lean more toward a toddler demographic, it’s an excellent opportunity to help bolster a child’s creativity and challenges their imaginative limits by assisting them to think beyond Earth.
Pretty patterns that pop
1. Floral
Floral patterns offer a critical role in our culture by enhancing everyone’s quality of life. Floral designs add a fun dimensional layer that is pleasing to view and process. Flowers are found in all corners of the Earth and provide sustenance to insects, animals, humans, and birds.
The trick to integrating floral patterns into the room is to find the ideal balance between color palette and composition. It’s also best to use floral pattern throw pillows as the centerpiece since they are decorative. In addition, the dynamic nature of the pattern draws attention to room blemishes.
2. Geometric
More consumers are purchasing geometric patterns to utilize aesthetics that create pleasant indoor spaces. For those that wish to avoid geometric designs, it’s challenging because they are everywhere. Nature even produces simple geometric patterns ranging from tree branches, seashells, and snowflakes.
Humans are generally drawn to the mystery and complexity of geometric patterns, and when executed correctly, they have a critical impact on our psychology and physiology.
3. Plaid
Plaid is growing in popularity to the point where it’s a universally recognizable and widespread design on shirts, suits, pants, and throw pillows. Plaid patterns are available in all colors and shades.
Recently there has been a significant resurgence of plaid fabric because it never goes out of style. Traditional Scottish plaid patterns are also prevalent due to their beautiful appearance, clean lines, and contrasting colors.
4. Solid
Adding a little solid color can be just as effective as an intense pattern. Single colors deliver positive and negative feelings, depending on the color. Simultaneously, they calm hostility, promote creativity or can provoke aggression.
Therefore, before choosing a solid color throw pillow, it’s crucial to conduct some research about assorted colors to ensure you set the proper mood for your home.
5. Striped
Striped colors efficiently pack additional versatility into the room using different contrast ratios. Standard color combinations include tonal variations of single colors, like bright red strips with a dark red background or other neutrals like white and grey.
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