Pillows are one of my favorite accent accessories. They can take a dull room and make it new again without breaking the bank. Since they aren’t a big ticket item you can even change them out seasonally by color and texture without your spouse putting up too much fuss. If you get really nice inserts you can get to the point where you are just changing out the covers.
At one point, I had so many decorative pillows that I bought a commercial pillow rack. It is awesome and if you are a designer or just have a lot of pillows I highly recommend it for organization and a space saver. If I remember correctly I think I got it off of Amazon.
I like to use the “guest of honor” pillow to get inspiration for the rest of the room. I can then go and find paint colors, rugs, décor, art work etc…. A “guest of honor” pillow is one that is your more expensive pillow. It is just FABULOUS and probably cost too much. I have seen some really amazing ones in leather, animal skin, velvet and some amazing patterns. Then you can fill in with solids or other patterns that compliment that pillow on a less expensive scale.  However, those pillows are just as important to the design.
Think about your groupings and where you place your pillows. Are they indoor or outdoor pillows? If you are putting pillows outside, make sure they are pillows that are made for outside. However, just a tip, I still try to bring my pillows in, especially if it is going to rain. You could store them in a little container or a shed.
Think about the function of the pillows. Are you using them for decoration only or are people using them as actual pillows to watch a movie or hang out? You wouldn’t want to put pillows with sequins on them if people were going to lay their head on them.
When I’m trying to match up colors and sizes on my couch, beds etc… I purchase a lot of options and then try different combinations and see what works best. Sometimes I get it right the first time. Sometimes I have to take a bunch of items back and try again.  I think it’s better to try a bunch of selections than to settle with something you don’t like.
Hopefully this was helpful. Â Nobody gets everything right the first go around every single time. Â There are too many variables in design that play a big part in the final product. Â You have to play around and see what you like. I find I like the end result better when I do it this way.
Yours Truly,
Jenn