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    Think of accent pillows like fun, trendy jewelry—you don’t expect it to last forever, but it lets you keep up with current trends without buying a new wardrobe. Photo: Palacek

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    Accent pillows are a simple, inexpensive way to maximize your room’s decorative possibilities and create a compelling visual effect. Photo: Schnadig International

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    Colors inspired by autumn—such as deep oranges—create warm, inviting rooms. Photo: Global Views


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Colors inspired by autumn—such as deep oranges—create warm, inviting rooms. Photo: Global Views

 

Accent Pillows Are Your Sofa’s Accessories

Think of your neutral-toned sofa as you would a classic, basic wardrobe. Now use your accent pillows as fun, fashionable accessories that you can change with ease throughout the year.

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  • Pillows that Pack a Punch

    Fun tips for livening up your living spaces with accent pillows.

    by Trisha Kemerly

    With neutral colors increasingly popular for big furniture items such as sofas and chairs, accent pillows are the perfect addition to help you add color and personality to your rooms.

    “Accent pillows are used to incorporate necessary contrasts to color and texture in order to make a room more interesting and inviting,” says interior designer Ann Newton Spooner of Charlotte, N.C.

     

    Escape the Ordinary

    “An ordinary sofa or chair fabric comes alive with the addition of accent pillows in a strong contrasting color or texture,” explains Spooner. “For example, a nubby, tan, woven upholstery fabric chosen for its durability can be contrasted with accent pillows in a soft linen blend or even a shiny silk fabric in red or coral.”

    Think of accent pillows like fun, trendy jewelry—you don’t expect it to last forever, but it lets you keep up with current trends without buying a new wardrobe. Similarly, accent pillows allow you to change up your décor seasonally and keep your room looking fresh and new throughout the year.

     

    Color Choices

    Here are a few general rules to help with your color combinations and materials: 

    • Choose accent pillows in a mix of warm white and oatmeal hues to create a clean, soothing feeling.
    • Bold stripes and graphic patterns add visual interest to a room.
    • Botanical silk pillows are a great choice for giving a room drama and romance.
    • Colors inspired by autumn—such as deep yellows, oranges and reds—create warm, inviting rooms.
    • Pillows in aqua greens and cool blues infuse a room with a sense of calm and serenity.

     

    Accent on Style

    “Accent pillows are also one of the tools designers often use to draw the eye around the room,” Spooner says. “If your sofa, chair fabric or rug has a pattern containing several colors, pull a favored color from the pattern to accent the room. Repeat that color throughout the room with your pillows, art or other accessories.”

    Since there’s no rule for the perfect pillow dimensions or number of pillows in a room, let the size of your room and furnishings guide you. “I generally recommend a minimum of two 20"-22” pillows on each inside corner of an 84” sofa, depending on the height of the sofa arms and back,” says Spooner.

    Along with your accent pillows, large floor pillows can add multipurpose style to the décor of the room. Stack them in the corner or against the wall for a splash of color, and then use them as extra seating when guests come over.

    Accent pillows are a simple, inexpensive way to maximize your room’s decorative possibilities and create a compelling visual effect. They’re just the thing to add a little something extra to your room and take it from boring to bold. So be creative; experiment.