It’s time to face the age-old question that has been plaguing us for generations: What’s the Goldilocks Rule for Throw Pillows / Bedding Pillow? How many are Too Many? Too Few? Just Right?
We’ll answer these questions (and more!) as we plumb the depths of all things about throw pillows!
The Beauty of Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are handy to have around as a multipurpose decorative tool you can throw pretty much anywhere to add a special touch. And one of the beauties of throw pillows is the fact that they’re not only decorative, they’re also wonderfully tossable. As in, you can literally throw them. In fact, the term “throw pillow” comes from the Latin root throwus pillowus, which loosely translates to “a self-contained cloth bag that is equally functional both as a cozy resting place for your head or other body parts and as a plush, non-lethal missile.” Your son (or perhaps, your husband) has likely demonstrated this dual functionality of the throw pillow to you on multiple occasions.
Seriously though, throw pillows are nice in that you really can use them in a myriad of ways. Beyond just adding color and texture to your room, you can prop yourself up, support your back, or place the throw pillow however you desire to provide additional comfort. I’ve seen throw pillows used as armrests, as well as for napping aids. And I still love seeing kids use them as building blocks for their indoor forts.
Is There Any Rule About the Ideal Number of Throw Pillows?
Let’s get back to the original question. There really aren’t any hard-and-fast rules about how many throw pillows to use on a particular piece of furniture. I personally prefer a lot of pillows but depending on the makeup and preferences of your family and your furniture, fewer might be better. When it comes to throw pillows, I generally like to use odd numbers, e.g. two on one side of a sofa and just one on the other side. For instance, you could have a pair of a larger matching pillow, and then add another smaller pillow to the mix for contrast.
On the Sofa and On the Chair
A longer sofa or sectional couch can use more than three pillows, perhaps five or even seven. Rarely would I put more than one on any single armchair, though and for more variety and texture, I like to use up to three coordinating fabrics spread throughout the room.
Choose Three Pattern Pillow Sizes
A larger bedding pillow is a huge trend right now. I prefer the 22- or even 24-inch square size and 18 inches square is my personal minimum. But smaller-scale sofas and chairs might be overwhelmed by the larger-sized pillows, so I’d advise starting with a pair of 18-inch pillows and see how they look. Alternatively, you could just measure the pillows that came with your sofa and use that as your starting point.
A Few More Tips
Here’s a fun tip, especially if you sew covers yourself. Use a pillow insert that is the next size up for a plump, luxurious look! And don’t worry – just as there is no single rule about the ideal number of throw pillows, there’s also no rule about the legality of “overstuffing” throw pillows, either. As long as you can still sew the cover on it, it can’t technically be “overstuffed,” right?
On the other hand, if you don’t really like the look or feel of a super-plump pillow, you can also opt for “understuffing.” Down inserts or slightly under-stuffed pillows allow for a more formal “karate chop” look if that’s your preference.
And if your husband complains about you having “too many bedding pillows” (is that even possible?), here’s one more suggestion to help maintain a more peaceful family climate. Keep your hubby’s favorite sitting spot pillow-free, and perhaps he’ll be fine with you having an abundance of pillows elsewhere. Let me know how that goes!
