The use of cushions or throw pillows enhances interiors by introducing elements of design like texture, pattern, line, form and colour, and establishes principles of design like balance, rhythm, symmetry, emphasis and harmony. All these factors provide a space with layering and depth.

Cushions soften the straight, hard lines of architecture and furnishings, add warmth and comfort, and give a cheerful and welcoming look and feel to any seating area.

With throw pillows you can establish the theme, period, style, mood or setting of a space. Surface embellishment, colours, prints and patterns can complement or unite other elements in the area, to lighten or darken an area, to emphasise an area and make it a focal point or attract desired attention, to add visual appeal, to complete a colour scheme and to bring harmony and balance in a space.

Because of their low cost, versatility and flexibility, they can be used in any space to change or refresh the look with the right colour, texture, design and placement as seasons, styles and personal preferences change over time.

Enhance the way your room looks by the use of cushions and throw pillows

Usage

When purchasing or custom-making cushions, an important consideration is the usage and setting. Is it purely ornamental or is it for snuggling, lounging, armrests, backrests, laptop rests or to muffle and absorb sound? Is it for indoor seating or for outdoors? Will it be placed on a sofa, bed, chair or on the floor? The shape, size, style and filling of the pillow will depend on its usage — a tubular bolster with round ends provides good head and neck support for reading in bed.

Types

You can chose from various types of cushions. The knife-edge pillow is the basic and most common shape. It is a square pillow with 90 degree sharp, pointed corners. The bolster or cylindrical pillow breaks the visual monotony of traditional cushions, as do rectangular, round and kidney-shaped cushions. The box pillow has a top, a bottom and four sides called the boxing.

Fabric

The fabric, colour, texture, print and pattern of throw pillows help in establishing a feel or style of a space. Using the same theme or picking a colour from the room pulls it all together and complement the room.

Traditional settings use golds, browns and earth tones, floral patterns, paisleys and toile in silks and velvet. A Spanish theme would use leather and bright colours. A Victorian setting would use antique or vintage reclaimed tapestry, brocade, velvet and damask in deep colours such as red, dark pink and dark green. Contemporary settings would use sleek, unembellished pillows, bold patterns, solid colours and bright geometrics, thick black and white stripe and neutrals with neon accents. Typography, graphic prints, newsprint and artwork prints give a vintage Parisian chic feel. Stripes sit well in beachy summer outdoors, as does sailcloth.

Then you have handcrafted pillows that display intricate stitching, weaving or sequins; ethnic pillows densely embroidered with heavy mirror work and other embellishments allow you to be creative and give spaces a distinct personality.

You can also use leather, cotton, linen, satin, silk and canvas.

Edges, trims and closures

Small touches like treated edges and trims give a finished look that can turn the ordinary into extraordinary, providing a richly layered and detailed look.

Slightly rounded, butterfly or flared open pleats, French pleats, Turkish pleats or gathered or bunched edges create neat, rounded tucks at each corner, so that the filling fits right up into the corners to give a softer look instead of the flat, pointy look of knife-edge cushion.

Seams can be finished with different piping, braided cords and plain lipcords in contrasting or complementary colours or patterns. Likewise, trimmings can be added as can fringes that come in endless vaiety: plush, tassel, brush, bobble, bullion, ruched or cut fringes.

Size

The size of the pillow should be proportionate to the scale of the area.

Setting

Once you have your collection of pillows, create an eye-catching composition with the setting, like a collage or artwork. On sofas, the setting is outside in and on beds it is from back to front.

For a traditional look use an even number of large square pillows to create formal order and symmetry. For an eclectic or modern style, use an odd number of contemporary pillow rectangles and circles to create a casual, asymmetrical look.

You can be adventurous and mix and match patterns or embroidery with solids; two different patterns; a base of primary or secondary colours; a variety of florals; several prints or patterns of the same colour or theme; various geometrics and florals; textures and patterns; eye-catching contrasts and unmatched-matches with eclectic mixes.

You can be bold and throw them all together like abstract art, or set them in a 2-2-2-1 arrangement. Remember to leave enough room for sitting.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, September 14th, 2014