How to choose decorative pillows for a sofa or chair

I really didn’t think that unnecessary jackets and trousers could fit on pillows! But I unexpectedly liked them - a calm combination of noble colors, sound texture of the material. Beautiful, to my taste.

How do you like pillows from old jackets?

For kids

A child’s dream can die in a most unexpected place. Lucky for those parents whose children immediately fall asleep tightly - you can safely transfer to bed. And mine slept sensitively, it’s better not to touch. No matter how carefully she picks them up, they still wake up, and then - hold on! They can’t fall asleep anymore, they whine, they are capricious, they don’t want to do anything - they rumble, in a word. There was only one way out - to let “sleep off” for 10-15 minutes, no matter in what uncomfortable position the child fell asleep. Therefore, for me, a lot of pillows in the nursery was not a luxury, but an urgent need.

Do not wake until lunch!

The kids really like the small pillows that are easy to transfer wherever they want. Fortunately, now there are almost weightless fillers, and they are inexpensive, and it will take a little pillow. And the beloved child will have a new soft friend. For example, a fish.

Fish pillows

Very reverently, as to living beings, children belong to animal pillows. Mine has already grown, but a lamb sewn several years ago is still hugged before bedtime.

Animal Pillows

You can sew a whole set of pads - the children probably will not mind! Well, or one, but bright!

Mine would definitely not refuse a single one!

Recently, a friend ordered a splyushka on Aliexpress. The pillow is beautiful, but the chemical smell has not disappeared even after three washes! While she is in the overexposure, it disappears on the balcony, but the mood from the purchase is already spoiled, and the acquaintance no longer wants to give her to the child, she is afraid. But to sew such a pillow with your own hands is not difficult, there would be a desire!

Soft

Just look how interesting pillows can be if you are creative in creating them!

How could such a pillow not like?

I liked the soft books - an interesting idea. And the youngest at first sight fell in love with a mischievous unicorn: apparently, you have to take up the needle.

Interesting ideas

By the way, a do-it-yourself pillow is a great idea for a New Year's gift. She will never be superfluous, and believe me, a cute fox or a dog sewn by her mother’s or grandmother’s hands, the child will love much more than a factory pillow, if it was made three times better!

Sweet Tooth Pillows

New year

Already now I want to feel that the holiday is coming! It’s too early to decorate a house, especially to put a Christmas tree. But the pillows in the New Year’s design will be just the way!

New Year mood

I specially gathered ideas in various performance techniques so that everyone could make a pillow to their liking.

For a festive mood

Or maybe you want to make a pillow cover for someone as a gift? I believe that more children and representatives of the beautiful half of humanity will be delighted with such a present. Although, I could be wrong.

Great idea for a Christmas present.

Snowmen and Christmas trees in any form cause a surge of nostalgia for the smell of needles and tangerines, the sparkle of Christmas toys and garlands. Of all of the above, only tangerines and oranges can be added to the pillows, and anyway the pre-holiday elated mood is guaranteed to you!

I will not distract you with ordinary questions - time is expensive, but you still need to have time to choose and make one, or even two or three pillows! But if you want to share your impression of what you saw, I will be only glad!

Decorative pillows: convenience + beauty

Decorative pillows have long ceased to fulfill a purely utilitarian function: today it is a full-fledged element of interior decor that can decorate a room and even set the tone for the style of a room and place accents. Speaking about the choice of decorative pillows, designers usually pay attention to several nuances that should be taken into account when determining the number of such accessories, their size, shape, color, texture of the fabric.

DIY pillow with pompons

It’s better to refrain from these options.

Pillows made of the same fabric as the cover / sofa upholstery or of the same fabric as the curtains look dull and will “forgive” the interior

Let's start from the opposite. So, options that are better to refrain from when choosing decorative pillows for a sofa or chair:

- Pillows from the same fabric as the sofa upholstery

It often happens that such decorative pillows are sold with a sofa in the kit. However, they usually look uninteresting, merging in color in the massif of the sofa and making its shape irregular. In addition, this option is now out of fashion. If you have several of these pillows, you can easily change them by stitching pillowcases for decorative pillows with your own hands.

- Pillows made of the same fabric as the curtains

Another popular option, but now out of fashion. According to the designers, decorative pillows made of the same fabric as curtains or curtains in your room look dull and will forgive the interior a little. If you already have such pillows, you can also change them by stitching new pillowcases or decorating existing ones.

- All pillows in the room are simple and of the same type.

No matter how you strive for minimalism and simplicity, it is worthwhile to “dilute” a set of pillows of the same color and texture with at least one or two different ones that attract attention.

The option with a set of identical or almost identical pillows is possible if there is another strong interior accent nearby.

DIY pillow letter

How to choose decorative pillows: simple rules

- Contrast in tone

An easy way to choose an interesting set of decorative pillows is to focus on the tone of your sofa upholstery. Pillows should be clearly darker or clearly lighter than a sofa. In one set of pillows, both darker and lighter than the tone of the upholstery of a sofa or chair can be present at the same time.

- Contrast by color

Another way to choose an interesting set of pillows is to choose contrasting colors. For example, for a sofa with warm beige upholstery, you can choose pillows of dark and light shades of blue, and cold gray upholstery will be decorated with pillows of red or orange + warm green. If you choose fabrics for pillows with a pattern, it can be a little more difficult to combine, but more interesting. To begin with, in order not to be mistaken, you can adhere to the rule: the main number of pillows is one type of pattern, 1-2 additional ones are different. Example: 3 pillows with geometric patterns + 2 with vegetable. Or: 4 pillows in a different cage or strip + 1−2 with a floral or abstract pattern.

- Contrast of textures

Try playing with the texture of fabrics. For example, if the upholstery or cover of your sofa or chair is made of simple matte fabric, add pillows made of materials with volumetric patterns, boucle effect, fabrics with pile or gloss, embroidery, volumetric knitwear, with tassels, frills, applique or other decor - etc.

- Number, size and shape of pillows

Here you can be limited only by your desire and imagination. Classical prescriptions, of course, exist, but whether or not to follow them is your choice.

On a medium-sized sofa, as a rule, from 2 to 10 pillows are selected. On the chair - 1-3. For a large corner sofa, there may be more pillows.

The classic sofa cushion has the shape of a square with a side of 40-50 cm. This model is suitable for almost any sofa, bed or chair. Smaller pillows are suitable for small sofas and armchairs or for a children's room, and larger ones are for large sofas, spacious rooms, otherwise furnished with large pieces of furniture.

The most popular shape is the square. In the second place - rectangular pillows, in the third - round, pillows in the form of rollers are also convenient. Curly pillows of unusual shapes - polygons, triangles, pillows in the form of stars, hearts, animal figures - can make the kit and the interior more interesting. It is better that such unusual pillows in the set should be no more than half of the total number, then against the background of other simpler and more classic pillows, they will attract attention, making the composition of the sofa and room more interesting.

Why do you need it?

You can place decorative pillows on sofas, armchairs, ottomans, in any rooms, especially the nursery, the hall. Why do some decide not to buy ready-made models, but to make them themselves? Firstly, you can create an original version made with love only with your hands. Secondly, it’s cheaper to remake an old unnecessary thing or create it yourself from improvised materials.

Decorative furniture will be a good gift option for relatives and friends. The basic rule is that they must fit the design of the room in which they will be located. Therefore, to do this for yourself is simple, when preparing a gift, you must first find out the design of the room for which they will be intended.

Decorative pillows - help make the interior brighter

Schemes, patterns

The first thing to do is create a pattern. Only experienced professionals can engage in sewing any product “by eye”. And that is not always the result of such a negligent attitude will be an even, neat thing. It is convenient to use the pattern - it is enough to calculate the measurements on paper to avoid errors.

Pattern for a product in the form of a cat

Creating a pattern takes place in several stages:

• We determine the size, draw a square, a rectangle on paper, add 1.5 cm on each side.
• We transfer the pattern to a double fabric, sew it, leaving a small opening for stuffing, turn it out.
• We make a pillowcase. We compose the second pattern, which differs from the first in size - each side should be more by a couple of centimeters.

If you have experience in creating similar products, it is not necessary to be limited to a square or rectangular shape. It is better for beginners to start with it. You can create more interesting patterns:

Easy to sew with your own hands

To fulfill any of your ideas, simply draw them on paper, then transfer them to the fabric. Nevertheless, in most cases, when they are intended for the decor of the hall, living room, it is better to choose the classic options. They will be rectangular, square in shape.

Master classes. How to sew?

The easiest way is to take a finished thing, decorate it, making it suitable for the design of the room. Some needlewomen decide to create everything with their own hands, for this it is not enough to create a pattern. It is necessary to pay attention to such moments as the choice of fabric, printing, thread.It is necessary to proceed to the solution of decoration issues only after a successful attempt to sew it.

The cloth

The most commonly used materials are:

The texture, color of the fabric should be suitable for the interior.

In some cases, several types of tissue may be used; however, it is important to ensure that they are compatible. Otherwise, it will not be easy to sew them, the finished product will turn out to be messy, it will be difficult to decorate it. Experienced seamstresses adhere to such rules:

• The selected fabric may not coincide with the upholstery of the sofa, other furniture that will complement the product. It is in itself a design decision, the peculiarity of which can be emphasized.
• The color of the fabric may also differ from the shade of the furniture, but they must necessarily be combined with each other. If the sofa is brown, orange, yellow, beige will be a suitable color for additional elements.
• If there is a pattern on the fabric, it should not be too sticky. Bright, colorful drawing becomes a separate design element. In this case, further decoration with different techniques is inappropriate.
• It is necessary to pay attention to the rules for caring for the selected material. Sooner or later it will have to be washed, especially if it is made in bright colors. The simpler the material, the easier it will be to care for.
• When choosing a fabric, it is important to think over the stuffing of the product in advance. If solid feathers are to be used for it, the material must be strong enough to hold them.

Stuffing

There are three main options for possible stuffing:

Natural materials are:

Their main advantage is safety of use, however, not everyone has the opportunity to purchase such materials. Some decide to dissolve old down products, use the material available in them, but this is also not safe.

Choose natural fabrics

Over time, all living creatures start up in natural gaskets, especially if the products are not given for dry cleaning, they are not provided with proper care. The result may be that a person will have an allergy, even if he is just in a room, nobody is sleeping on it.

Plant packing has a short life, because plants require replacement. Often used:

• medicinal herbs,
• bamboo,
• hop cones.

It is believed that such material is very healthy. It is important to consider that if the healing properties are indeed present, then not for long. In this case, a small amount of moisture will be enough for the formation of rot.

Natural materials - safe to use

Synthetic materials have the least drawbacks, so many choose them. The most commonly used synthetic winterizer, foam rubber, holofiber. These stuffing materials are affordable, low cost, do not cause allergies. If it is not possible to purchase such materials, you can use the ones that you have at home:

Thread

When choosing threads, two important factors must be taken into account: they must be of high quality so that the product does not spill at the seams. They should also be combined with the selected fabric. The basic rules are:

• The threads should match the fabric in color. The more suitable the shade will be chosen, the less attention will be drawn to the applied seams.
• If it is not possible to use a precisely selected shade, you need to choose a few tones darker. When the thread is lighter than the fabric, unnecessary attention is focused on it.
• The threads should match the width of the fabric. Too thin will not be able to firmly hold matter together, too thick just tear it apart. Those that are used for decoration should also be suitable in width so that the embroidery or other pattern looks neat.
• If the machine will be used when sewing the product, you need to select the correct needle for the thread. In addition, the upper, lower threads should be the same.

You can combine different colors and textures.

The most common type of thread suitable for sewing many products is cotton, especially combined with natural fabrics: linen, cotton. Depending on the material, polyester, viscose, silk, and woolen threads can also be used.

Step-by-step instruction

After choosing fabric, stuffing and threads, you can proceed to sewing. The easiest way to use the machine. But if this is not possible, you can make accurate seams with your hands, no worse. If you do the product yourself, you will need these tools:

• scissors,
• ruler
• marker or chalk (depending on the density of the selected fabric),
• needle.

• We twist the fabric inside out, fold it in half, measure the estimated length, width. Then we draw straight lines under the ruler with a marker or chalk.
• We cut rectangles or squares along the drawn lines, for convenience, you can chop the doubled-up fabric with needles for basting. We apply them to each other "face to face" - if suddenly there are bumps, we even.
• We sew the three sides completely, and the fourth half, the pad will be inserted through it. Sewing is necessary with the usual lowercase seam, not different from the machine. The fewer the stitches, the more accurate the finished product will look.
• We turn out the stitched cover, we stuff it through the side that was not completely stitched to the end, we carefully sew it too.
• The product is ready for further decoration.

Cushions

Some housewives decide to sew sofas, their role is not only in the decor of the room, but also in the addition of furniture. Often such a need arises from the lack of “relatives” - after the purchase, they are often torn in the first place. It happens that it is impossible to buy them to a certain model of the sofa, since they are no longer produced.

Option for a sofa

The principle of sewing sofa products does not differ from the above: first, fabric, stuffing, threads are selected. Then a pattern is created along which the product is sewn.

• Fabric compatibility. It may not be possible to find exactly the same material from which the sofa is made. In any case, the fabric should be dense, silk, satin will be inappropriate options.
• Colour. The shade of sofa accessories is often different from the sofa itself. On brown they can be beige, on green - yellow, on black - red. Therefore, the color does not have to be identical, the main thing is that they combine.
• Stuffing. They must be dense, so it is best to use a dense synthetic winterizer, another similar material.

The shade of sofa accessories is often different from the sofa itself.

Methods for decorating pillows

The easiest way to decorate is to use different colors. You can make several pieces that differ from each other, you can combine different colors in one. For a room with a set of furniture: a sofa, armchairs, you can play with flowers, changing them for each item.

For children's rooms, an interesting option would be a cartoon coloring - you can make several options with different characters of the same cartoon. You can use several plots.

Use different colors

More complex decoration options are:

Despite the complexity of the implementation, many note that each time it becomes easier to use these techniques. With their help, you can create beautiful compositions for different interiors.

Applications

Applique is a good and easy way to decorate. You can pick up a drawing for her any, come up with it yourself or find a ready-made template on the Internet. The only caveat - do not stop the choice on too nagy images, in which there are many details. If you make the slightest mistake, you can completely ruin the product.

• Flowers from ribbons look appropriate on things in bed shades. Best to create such compositions are satin ribbons, from which you can easily make different petals.
• If the pattern is more complex than ordinary flowers, a fabric appliqué technique may be needed to implement it. It implies the same as working with colored paper, only fabric material is used instead. The necessary figures are cut out of it, then glued, sewn to the product.
• To create a fabric applique it is not necessary to buy a new fabric, it is not cheap, especially high-quality. Instead, you can use old unnecessary things.
• Applications can be supplemented with other elements: beads, beads, sequins, buttons.

Applique is a good and easy way to decorate.

Shape, fragments

The more complex the shape, the more difficult it is to sew and care for it. However, it is the products of the original form that look unusual. If you are good at sewing square, rectangular pillows, you can try moving on to more complex ones.

Positive cartoon characters

Technologists distinguish four main forms:

• Square. It is considered a classic option, suitable for sofas, armchairs, ottomans. A product of this shape is also practical - it is convenient to lean on it, sit down.
• Rectangular. It is also a classic option used for furniture of massive sizes. Rectangular pillows can balance large dimensions, give an aesthetic appearance to the largest sofa.
• Round. The main disadvantage of this form is the difficulty in creating a pattern, tailoring. When a product with right angles is sewn together, it is easy to manipulate the seams, create bends, with a round shape it is more and more difficult. However, round decorative products are a good way to smooth out the sharp, straight lines of simple design sofas.
• Oval (roller). The main place for pillows of this form is to decorate leather sofas.

The original form looks unusual

An interesting design option is to create geometric fragments that change the overall shape of the pillow. This addition looks especially successful on corner sofas.

Knitting, embroidery

Not all needlewomen know how to knit, embroider, so decorating can be an excellent occasion to learn a certain skill. We can definitely say that decorating pillows in this way is a laborious task that requires a lot of time and effort. Nevertheless, the enthusiastic reviews of relatives and friends will fully justify all the costs.

A completely connected case looks most original when instead of a fabric, a cover is knitted into which the packing is inserted. If there is no time or opportunity to make such a model, you can simply connect a separate element, for example, a pigtail, which acted as an ornament. Such a pillow will become a mute witness that the mistress of the house has “golden hands”.

As for embroidery, absolutely any technique can be used when decorating pillows. Cross-stitch looks beautiful, however, it is performed on special fabric, canvas, which must be taken into account when choosing fabric for the product. You can embroider the pattern separately, and then sew it to the finished pillow.

Relief

Relief decor can be made with various elements:

Each of the options has its own characteristics, design features:

• Braid. Adds originality to any product used to create the interior. On the pillows, the woolen braid looks particularly beautiful, successfully combined with satin, velor.
• Decorative brushes. In most cases, their production requires linen, satin, silk thread. Brushes - an indispensable element used when sewing pillows made of velvet, silk, and other "noble" materials.
• Bows. The simplest decoration element - you just need to take the fabric, tie it to a knot in the form of a bow.

It can be a wonderful gift for any occasion.

It will be interesting for you:

Popular styles

Popular design styles of rooms in a house or apartment are so diverse that there are no two equally designed rooms. The idea of ​​decorating pillows should be consistent with the overall design of the rooms. The styles that are popular today are unique; even a novice can make a pillow in them.

Provence style

Provence is a popular modern style that came to us from the design of ancient French villages. Its main features are:

• natural motifs, patterns,
• light tones, close to natural,
• “Graces” in the form of various small details,
• high-quality, natural materials,
• naturalness.

Provence - popular modern style

Pillows in the Provence style are identified with lightness, naturalness, as a result, the impression should be created that they are a native element of the interior. This French style of design is associated with relaxation, comfort. Therefore, decorative pillows in Provence always look appropriate.

Oriental

The oriental style of interior decoration of the room is considered a luxury, it is used mainly in rich houses. If the room is decorated in any other, then they can not be combined in any way. Oriental style design pillows involves the use of "rich" colors - gold, silver.

In oriental style

Shabby chic

The style of shabby chic is suitable for romantics seeking to create an atmosphere of tenderness and love around them. The main elements of this style are:

This style is reminiscent of vintage, especially suitable for young girls to design a room.

To create accessories in the style of shabby chic, material of light, pastel colors will be suitable, which will be used for the decor of bedrooms, children's rooms. Such a gift will be a good sign to a lover / lover. All ruffles, roses, other elements of jewelry can be created with your own hands, having mastered the techniques of knitting, embroidery.

Shabby chic style suits romantics

Chinese

In the Chinese room design, pillows with a specific ornament are suitable: Chinese painting. In their corners, a fringe, tassels, the same shade as all the furniture in the room will look appropriate. The Chinese style is distinguished by a variety of colors, in everything there is a variety, brightness, colorfulness.

Chinese painting option

Baroque

Baroque is one of the most popular. Literally translated Italian word means "pompous", "elite". The main way to use any interior item made in this style is to create an emphasis on luxury and wealth of its owner. Sewing appropriate decorative accessories is necessary only for a suitable environment.

Baroque

The loft is considered suitable for freedom-loving, people, bright personalities. He came from America, where there are still many living quarters, especially private houses, summer cottages, in this style. At first glance, it may seem inconspicuous, cheap, but behind this imaginary simplicity lies wealth and chic.

A feature of decorative loft accessories is restraint of shades, often used are gray, olive, blue. As for the ornament, it can be absolutely anything - from bright prints to restrained minimalism. Upholstered furniture made in a loft usually has a classic shape, pillows are also sewn square or rectangular.

For freedom-loving people and bright personalities

Country

Country is derived from Provence, but has its advantages. Preferred shades of country:

A popular pattern is small flowers. You can create decorative accessories in the country with the help of applications, a variety of colors, embroidery, knitting, relief.

Especially suitable are pillows made in country in the kitchen or in the dining room. The soft corner around the table often has a monophonic structure, so you need to be able to make a variety with the help of decorative pillows. The main features of country objects are unobtrusiveness, naturalness that you need to consider when choosing a color.

Scandinavian

In the Scandinavian style not only decorative pillows can be made, but also rugs, carpets, and other interior elements. It is popular because of the climatic features of our region - in the fall, in the winter I want to create warmth, comfort, even artificial is empty. A great option would be to add elements of the Scandinavian style to the interior of the house / apartment.

The furniture, made in the Scandinavian theme, is distinguished by comfort, gentle, bright colors. The main shade of accessories is white, it is also used to create sofa attributes. Their distinguishing feature is restraint, if there is an ornament, it consists of several colors, if there is a fringe, it is monophonic, short.

Scandinavian style

Thus, the decoration of pillows is an important part of the overall appearance of the room, which can be done in the right style.