The Pick on Pillows

As a person who recognizes that simple things can pack the most punch sometimes I find it hard to stray from what I usually tend to do, hence my life has followed a path (interiorly speaking) and has thus lacked, in a way, a bit of adventure. I'm sure there are many that can understand this. 

The best way to make any changes, especially when you're hesitant is to introduce this thing (your hesitant to do) slowly into your life, some like to call it baby-steps, I call it... taking it easy.  And with this 'hesitation' in mind I bring you pillows that I find to be top-picks when it comes to introducing a bit of adventure into your home, whether that adventure be a slight modern take, a splash of color, a bit of spice or... perhaps, something just a little bit different. 

The beauty with the pillows featured in today's post is that the base hue of the pillow (or the primary color) is as neutral as it can get, but added to this neutral color is a splash of color and a splash of texture. And while you may think pillow cannot make too much of a difference... let me just say one more time, "sometimes it's the simple things that can pack the most punch"or as another saying goes, "big things come in little packages".

CB2 Boucle Swoon 20" Pillows

It can accessorize a modern home or a retro home. The Boucle Swoon Pillow by CB2 is knit in soft acrylic and features flecks of color. Available in blue or orange.

West Elm Cotton Velvet Duo Pillow Covers

Perfect for the contemporary home, West Elm's Cotton Velvet Duo Pillow features a textured natural-colored cotton with velvet colorful piping along the borders. Stay in your comfort zone while still adding color by sticking to one color or add a bit more fun by opting to buy a set of different colors. Available in blue, red, green, orange and yellow.

Accent Pillows

A throw pillow isn't just a throw pillow just like knobs aren't just knobs- details count in the complete picture of a room.  Not too long ago I bought a pair of throw pillow covers from CB2 with green birds on a cream colored backing to replace a couple of plain cheap pillows I had bought in what may have likely been Linen's And Things or Bed Bath & Beyond.  I bought the covers on sale for a very decent price of $6.00 a case and used the old pillows for the stuffing.  It worked out beautifully and now my couch looks half way decent, if anything, the couch needs now to be replaced in order to live up to the standards of the throw pillows!

Below are pictures of a few throw pillows and pillow cases I thought were worth looking at.

Sometimes just a nice plain  throw pillow will do, below are pictures of the Leisure Clay throw pillows from CB2.  I was at CB2 last weekend and saw the cushions up-close and personal and  found the pillow definitely lived up to the picture and would even go as far as to say they look better in person.  At 23" square they are a good size, neither too big or too small and with a soft velvety front it's the ideal simple cushion.  The throw pillow comes in three colors:  white, blue and yellow.

 

CB2 Leisure Clay 23" Pillows $39.95/each

Back view of the Leisure Clay Pillows

For a little more comfortable and homey feel with the simplicity still intact I found from West Elm the Alpaca Textured Pillow Cover.  In four different pastel-like shades:  Cream, Gray, Purple and Brown and two different sizes 16"sq and 24"sq - a variety of looks can be achieved, with the variety in color and size giving you the option to mix and match or go for all one-size and one-color.  The Alpaca Textured Pillow Covers are made in Peru and handcrafted; hand-spun and hand-loomed with alpaca yarns ultimately creating a pillow case with "supreme" softness.

West Elm Alpaca Textured Pillow Cover $29-39.00
Made of Alpaca, wool, nylon & cotton backing with zipper

I found that Urban Outfitters is a good place to look for many interior home decor items, such as throw pillows.  Often Urban Outfitters will have unique looking decor such as the Hand Quilted Velvet Pillow below for fair prices.  Keeping to 'simple', the Hand Quilted Velvet Pillow from Urban Outfitters comes in four different solid colors all with dimensions: 15"sq and 4" deep and with a velvet textured front that makes this pillow so attractive.

 

Urban Outfitters Hand Quilted Velvet Pillow $24.00

Comes in colors:  Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green

Below is my favorite throw pillow find than none other than Jonathon Adler the Mod Model Pillow at 15"sq, hand made with 100% wool front with velvet back and zipper and feather/down insert.  A throw pillow can't get any hipper than this.  And with the odd combination of a wool front and velvet back it doesn't get anymore chic.

Jonathon Adler Mod Model Pillow $165
Hand made, 16"x16", 100% wool front, velvet back with zipper, feather down insert