I moved into a new apartment on July 1st. By this point, I’ve ticked all the boxes of the necessary large items—seating, tables, desk, etc. Now, comes the fun part: the finishing touches, the objects that make a home truly your own. I’m talking art, vases, coffee table books, and, of course, throw pillows. The butt of many jokes, throw pillows are often seen as superfluous, an unnecessary addendum. I staunchly disagree. Toss two unique cushions on an all-white bed, and suddenly you have intrigue.
I’m looking for a range of possibilities. Solid color washes and loud prints both pique my interest as they will serve vastly different purposes in my space. I know what I want, but finding them is the hard part. A lot are, well, ugly. Instead of starting on e-commerce websites, I begin my journey on Instagram and Pinterest. My personal favorite sources of inspiration are Beata Heuman, Picnicforlunch, The World of Interiors, The London List, The London List, Harris Vintage, Alex Eagle’s occasional interiors posts, Simay Demirel, Ash World, and Charles Gmagne. I’ll find images of rooms I like (with throw pillows galore, of course), and type a description of the cushion in question into Google.
Pinterest is even easier. (Just scroll through my Pinterest interiors board if you want to see the true inner contents of my brain.) I’ll often find inspiration images I like then do a visual search of them on Pinterest and let my journey begin there. It’s an imperfect process, but it sometimes leads to gems. If I’ve now piqued your interest, continue scrolling to read through the extravaganza of my personal throw pillow journey.
Striped Cotton Velvet Bolster Cushion
I didn’t know of this brand before I began my search, but now I’m completely obsessed. I’m hovering over the purchase button for this particular bolster cushion, but honestly, most of their offering appeals to me—this one also tempts me.
Ikat Silk Velvet Cushion
I love the ultra feminine colorway of this pillow from Les Ottomans. This print will clash with the feel of the cleaner lines I typically gravitate towards in the perfect way.
Silk Cushion Cover From Upcycled Vintage Obi Silk
Thanks to this story, and the bedroom in particular, I’ve been obsessively searching for vintage silk pillow cases. This Etsy shop seems to have a lot of great options.
Carling Geometric Square Indoor Outdoor Throw Pillow
I love the way these graphic red pillows look in this room—queue the Pinterest visual search. So far, these are the best reproductions I have found.
Mayfair Standard Sham
I love the way crisp white bedding looks with a clean blue border—especially when it’s set against whatever wacky art deco furniture I add to the room. And Matouk is the gold standard here (I’ve tried their towels but am itching to get my hands on some bed linens).
Clear Blue Stripes Pillow
I’m really attracted to sheets and shams that exude the vibe of traditional men’s pajamas. I know this isn’t technically a throw pillow, but it was also part of my journey—bed sheets and all.
Abstract-print Pillow
While I’m not currently in the position to drop this much on a throw pillow, I can’t help obsessing over this psychedelic pattern.
Washed Organic Cotton Velvet Throw Pillow Cover
Not every throw pillow has to be weird or wacky. I have two of these deep green velvet pillows on my slightly off-white couch and I love the simple contrast—it ties my green-and-white striped chair in perfectly.
Pillow Shell Under the Sea Embroidered Accent Pillow
This pillow channels the Luke Edward Hall (another favorite account to follow) energy I delight in. I’m imagining it set against any solid-hued sofa.
Tiiliskivi Outdoor Accent Pillow Cover
Marimekko is forever the queen of prints and for good reason. I love the simplicity of this pattern. Plus, they’ve chosen the perfect shades of blue and green.
Perennials Pinstripe Pillow Cover
I love the retro feel of tubular pillows with contrast piping. This perfect bolster definitely satisfies that itch.
Green Gingham Cushion
The Tanner Fletcher clothing aesthetic calls to me, as does their gingham-print throw pillow.
Bamboo Mania Saffron Cushion
I love Gergei Erdei’s sense of style, so of course, I love his designs, too. I’m currently coveting this dandelion-hued cushion, but I’m also eyeing these fab plates.