Fall Pillow Swaps for a Stylish Abode
Step aside, pumpkin. Indigo, plum, caramel, emerald and mushroom bring the season to the fall-to-winter living room
Laura Gaskill
September 20, 2018
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
One of the quickest ways to get your living room in the mood for fall is by swapping out light, summery pillows for their cozier counterparts. Think rich velvet, moody indigo and cuddly faux fur. Which of these ideas for warming up your pillowscape for fall would you choose?
Shades of Blue
Deep, rich shades of blue evoke the drama of stormy fall skies — and since a range of blues can work together, you can mix and match as you like. Accent a pair of solid blue pillows with a patterned pillow or two. Anything goes as long as you love it, but stripes, patchwork and dots are especially easy to mix.
Pair with: A blue or gray sofa; leather upholstery
Read about this perfectly imperfect Los Angeles house
Deep, rich shades of blue evoke the drama of stormy fall skies — and since a range of blues can work together, you can mix and match as you like. Accent a pair of solid blue pillows with a patterned pillow or two. Anything goes as long as you love it, but stripes, patchwork and dots are especially easy to mix.
Pair with: A blue or gray sofa; leather upholstery
Read about this perfectly imperfect Los Angeles house
Indigo and Faux Fur
To bring cuddly texture to your sofa, consider adding a big faux-fur pillow. It’s great for curling up against to read or chat, and it looks especially smart for fall paired with a striped indigo cushion.
Pair with: Gray, leather; industrial, modern or contemporary style
To bring cuddly texture to your sofa, consider adding a big faux-fur pillow. It’s great for curling up against to read or chat, and it looks especially smart for fall paired with a striped indigo cushion.
Pair with: Gray, leather; industrial, modern or contemporary style
Tactile Neutrals
If you enjoy a more eclectic style, mix-and-match pillows can be a good way to pack more personality into your space. For a cohesive look, stick with pillows in the neutral range: cream, caramel, espresso, black and white. Within that color palette, vary the textures and patterns — for example, you could mix solids with stripes, faux fur and a handmade pillow with decorative stitching.
Pair with: Eclectic or modern style; warm or cool color palettes
If you enjoy a more eclectic style, mix-and-match pillows can be a good way to pack more personality into your space. For a cohesive look, stick with pillows in the neutral range: cream, caramel, espresso, black and white. Within that color palette, vary the textures and patterns — for example, you could mix solids with stripes, faux fur and a handmade pillow with decorative stitching.
Pair with: Eclectic or modern style; warm or cool color palettes
Autumnal Velvet
Velvet pillows in shades of fall leaves give a space that cozy “let’s stay in” vibe. The rust and moss-green pillows shown here are one option, but the range of fall colors is surprisingly broad (there’s also mushroom, maple leaf red and eggplant, to name a few). Consider which hues are already in your space before choosing pillow colors. Pair a small velvet lumbar pillow with a larger square cushion for a more casual look, as shown here.
Pair with: Neutrals, leather, natural wood, warm-toned metals, plum, deep blue
Velvet pillows in shades of fall leaves give a space that cozy “let’s stay in” vibe. The rust and moss-green pillows shown here are one option, but the range of fall colors is surprisingly broad (there’s also mushroom, maple leaf red and eggplant, to name a few). Consider which hues are already in your space before choosing pillow colors. Pair a small velvet lumbar pillow with a larger square cushion for a more casual look, as shown here.
Pair with: Neutrals, leather, natural wood, warm-toned metals, plum, deep blue
Plummy Hues
If a more traditional fall color palette isn’t your cup of tea, consider pillows in claret, cranberry, merlot and plum instead. These warm, rich colors can be a refreshing change of pace from pumpkin spice.
Pair with: Black, white, leather, warm neutrals
Browse plummy pillows
If a more traditional fall color palette isn’t your cup of tea, consider pillows in claret, cranberry, merlot and plum instead. These warm, rich colors can be a refreshing change of pace from pumpkin spice.
Pair with: Black, white, leather, warm neutrals
Browse plummy pillows
Fringe and Knits
If you can’t get enough texture, pile it on with a mix of knitted and embellished pillow covers featuring cables, pompoms, fringe and tassels. Toss in a round pillow and tasseled throw blanket to finish the look.
Pair with: Traditional, eclectic or contemporary style; geometric prints, warm neutrals
If you can’t get enough texture, pile it on with a mix of knitted and embellished pillow covers featuring cables, pompoms, fringe and tassels. Toss in a round pillow and tasseled throw blanket to finish the look.
Pair with: Traditional, eclectic or contemporary style; geometric prints, warm neutrals
Emerald and Cream
A single huggable velvet pillow in a rich emerald green should do the trick when you want to add just a hint of seasonal color. Emerald looks fitting for fall, but unlike some of fall’s better known hues (such as pumpkin), it will still feel right at home throughout the winter holidays.
Pair with: Cream, white, black, leather, natural wood
A single huggable velvet pillow in a rich emerald green should do the trick when you want to add just a hint of seasonal color. Emerald looks fitting for fall, but unlike some of fall’s better known hues (such as pumpkin), it will still feel right at home throughout the winter holidays.
Pair with: Cream, white, black, leather, natural wood
Southwestern Mix and Match
One easy way to go wild with color and pattern without going overboard is by picking one style of pillow and sticking with it. Southwest style works especially well, because there are so many interesting color and pattern variations to explore. When you’re piling on as many pillows as seen here, it’s important to vary the size: All one size would look stiff, but the variation in sizes helps draw the eye.
Pair with: Southwest, Craftsman or modern style; leather, natural wood
Find Southwestern-style pillows
One easy way to go wild with color and pattern without going overboard is by picking one style of pillow and sticking with it. Southwest style works especially well, because there are so many interesting color and pattern variations to explore. When you’re piling on as many pillows as seen here, it’s important to vary the size: All one size would look stiff, but the variation in sizes helps draw the eye.
Pair with: Southwest, Craftsman or modern style; leather, natural wood
Find Southwestern-style pillows
Simply Black and White
A pair of big, cozy pillows in black and white works with just about any sofa (or home) style. To make sure your pillows feel fall-like without the color, choose covers made from thick, nubby wool and drape a warm cream- or camel-colored blanket over the sofa for even more texture.
Your turn: Which pillows caught your eye? Even better, show us your own cozy fall pillowscape in the Comments.
More
Throw Pillow Master Class: How to Choose and Style Like a Pro
Why You Might Want to Work With an Interior Design Pro
A pair of big, cozy pillows in black and white works with just about any sofa (or home) style. To make sure your pillows feel fall-like without the color, choose covers made from thick, nubby wool and drape a warm cream- or camel-colored blanket over the sofa for even more texture.
Your turn: Which pillows caught your eye? Even better, show us your own cozy fall pillowscape in the Comments.
More
Throw Pillow Master Class: How to Choose and Style Like a Pro
Why You Might Want to Work With an Interior Design Pro
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Love everything about pillows, they add so much warmth to a room...
Who sells the pillows in the last pic?