9 Tips for Choosing Throw Pillows and Blankets
Transforming a living space into a cozy haven is an art, and throw pillows and blankets are the perfect tools for the job. This article delves into expert-approved tips for selecting these comfort accessories to elevate your home decor. From balancing textures and colors to creating inviting atmospheres, discover how these soft goods can solve design challenges and add depth to any room.
- Solve Problems with Comfort Accessories
- Match Textiles to Architectural Elements
- Layer Textiles Like Concrete Coatings
- Create Inviting Atmospheres with Soft Goods
- Balance Texture and Color for Depth
- Prioritize Function and Comfort in Decor
- Mix Textures in Complementary Earth Tones
- Use Statement Pieces as Decorating Anchors
- Choose Cozy Textures That Feel Yummy
Solve Problems with Comfort Accessories
Coming from multifamily property marketing where resident satisfaction directly impacts our $2.9M annual budget, I've learned that comfort accessories need to solve actual problems, not just look pretty. At The Lawrence House, our historic 1928 building has these amazing original features like terrazzo flooring and Art Deco details, but residents complained the spaces felt echo-y and cold despite the luxury finishes.
My breakthrough came when analyzing our maintenance request data through Livly - it turns out acoustic comfort was driving 40% more satisfaction than visual appeal alone. I started recommending chunky wool throws specifically for sound absorption in our studio units, paired with down-alternative pillows that residents could actually use for Netflix binges on our custom built-in seating.
The perfect combination happened at our Minneapolis property where I paired charcoal cable-knit throws from West Elm with brass-zippered linen pillows in our signature deep blue. Residents started posting more social media content from their units, and our lease renewal rate jumped 8% that quarter. Now I budget $200 per unit for comfort accessories because the ROI shows up in retention metrics every time.
Match Textiles to Architectural Elements
After 23 years in cabinetry, I've learned that textiles need to complement your room's architectural elements—not compete with them. My approach is treating throw pillows and blankets like I do cabinet hardware: they should improve the room's functionality while adding visual interest.
I always look at the wood grain patterns and textures in our custom cabinetry first. If we've installed floating shelves with natural timber grain, I'll recommend textiles that echo those organic patterns—maybe a chunky knit throw that mimics wood texture or pillows with subtle geometric patterns that reflect the clean lines of our joinery work.
The Bond Court project is a perfect example. After we installed that floating marble benchtop with two-toned cabinetry, the clients added charcoal linen pillows and a textured throw in warm gray. The textiles picked up the marble's natural veining while softening the kitchen's minimalist lines—creating that "moody, modern" feel they wanted without overwhelming our gravity-defying design.
The trick is choosing textures that feel as intentional as your built-ins. Just like I wouldn't put rustic hardware on sleek modern cabinets, your soft furnishings should match your room's design language.
Layer Textiles Like Concrete Coatings
As someone who transforms concrete surfaces daily, I've learned that the same principles I use for selecting decorative chips and color combinations work perfectly for choosing throw pillows and blankets. I always start with the room's "base coat"—your flooring, walls, and major furniture—then build complementary layers just like we do with our coating systems.
My approach mirrors how we create custom chip blends at Galaxy. I use the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of textiles should match your dominant room color, 30% should be a complementary accent, and 10% should be a bold pop color. This creates the same visual balance we achieve when we're doing a partial broadcast application where we let some base coat show through.
Last month, I helped my sister choose textiles for her living room after we'd coated her adjoining patio with our Night Sky flakes. We pulled the deep blues and metallic sparkles from that outdoor coating into her indoor space with navy linen pillows and a charcoal throw with subtle metallic threads. The connection between indoor and outdoor spaces was seamless.
The key is treating your soft furnishings like we treat our decorative elements—they should improve your space's existing beauty, not compete with it. Just like our mica chips catch light to create depth, the right textiles should add dimension while supporting your room's overall design story.
Create Inviting Atmospheres with Soft Goods
In event design, pillows and blankets act as quiet little mood-setters. As an event planner and an interior designer, I often curate pop-up lounge seating and soft goods for discerning clientele. The soft goods I use make the difference between a "nice setup" and "all I want to do is stay here all day."
My process is simple enough: start with the story. What is the emotional temperature of the space? For a winter product showcase in Aspen, we were hoping to celebrate alpine luxury and relaxed intimacy in one pop-up lounge. We layered ivory faux fur throws from Pottery Barn over rust-toned velvet pillows from CB2 and charcoal cable knit floor cushions to create visual weight. Everything was tactile, easily transportable, and inviting to photograph for Instagram - so naturally, guests instinctively fell into the lounge, intentionally sat, and shared more posts to social media channels. I look for contrast in textures, cohesion in palettes, and most importantly, scalability for set-up and use.
Textiles serve as your low-commitment way to bring seasonal decor and personality into your home or event. If your pillows only match your rug, you have missed a golden opportunity to bring the atmosphere together and be cohesive. The right combination should say "you belong here." And if someone accidentally falls asleep on the lounge sofa? That is what tells me that I've gotten it right.
Balance Texture and Color for Depth
My method for using throw pillows and blankets is to think of them as the final ingredients that bring the whole flavor of the house together. I always start with texture because I want a combination of cozy and structured elements. For example, I might match a chunky knit blanket with velvet or linen pillows so that the room no longer feels flat but has more depth.
I try to stick to a base palette when it comes to color, but add in one that pops. I once had a neutral beige sofa in my living room that looked bland on its own, but I found the perfect combination for it. A deep emerald velvet pillow, a patterned cream pillow with tassels, and a soft faux fur throw in a similar green tone instantly made the space feel warm yet still pulled-together.
Choosing pillow covers over whole pillows is another go-to strategy of mine because it's much easier to swap them out for different seasons or moods. And I always ensure that the blankets feel good to the touch; no one wants a scratchy throw that just looks pretty.
Prioritize Function and Comfort in Decor
I stick to one rule: everything has to earn its spot. No fluff, no "just for looks." If a pillow cannot hold up to a 200-pound roofer falling asleep face-first on it, it is out. So I buy by feel. I go straight to the store, press my forearm into every pillow, then grab the softest one that snaps back in under a second. Same thing with blankets—I grip and twist until I find one that holds its shape but still breathes. Usually that lands me in the $30 to $50 range per piece, but they last forever and never end up shoved in a closet.
The best combo I ever landed was two navy corduroy pillows and a slate grey waffle-knit throw from a random clearance bin. Total cost? $62. Those three pieces sit on my tan leather couch and pull the whole room together without trying too hard. They look good, feel better, and get used daily. Like I said, form follows function—comfort first, looks second, and everything earns its place.
Mix Textures in Complementary Earth Tones
When selecting throw pillows and blankets, you can always start with texture. I recommend looking for fabrics that invite you to sit down and stay a while, whether it's a chunky knit, a smooth suede, or crisp cotton. Don't worry too much about matching everything exactly. Mixing a couple of different textures in similar earth tones (e.g., deep green, soft tan, or warm gray) always seems to work well and keeps the room from feeling flat. In my opinion, if it feels good to touch and the colors don't clash with the cabinets or the woodwork, you're probably on the right track.
One project I can remember involved a small reading nook we built for a client a few years ago. The cabinets were a rich walnut, so I suggested three pillows in different sizes: one thick, cable-knit in olive green, another with a smooth, cream linen, and a third with a subtle geometric print in burnt orange. They then draped a wool blanket across the bench in a neutral color to keep it simple. The client said it became her favorite spot in the house, and I think the layered textures really helped bring everything together.
Use Statement Pieces as Decorating Anchors
After four decades covering New York's most elegant homes and hosting countless society gatherings, I've learned that throw pillows and blankets are the secret weapons of sophisticated decorating. My approach is simple: choose one statement piece as your anchor, then layer complementary textures and colors around it.
I discovered this when decorating for a high-profile art collector's intimate dinner party in her Upper East Side townhouse. We started with a single vintage Hermès cashmere throw in deep burgundy as our foundation piece—it cost about $2,800 but was worth every penny for the instant luxury factor. Then we layered silk velvet pillows in cream and gold tones, mixing different sizes but keeping the color palette tight.
The key is the 60-30-10 rule I picked up from Manhattan's top interior designers: 60% neutral base colors, 30% secondary accent color, and 10% bold statement pieces. For that party, the cream sofa was our 60%, the gold pillows our 30%, and that stunning Hermès throw our 10%. Guests couldn't stop commenting on how inviting yet elegant the space felt.
Never buy everything from one store or collection—mix high and low, vintage and contemporary. I often pair a splurge piece like that Hermès throw with beautiful pillows from ABC Carpet & Home or even well-chosen pieces from West Elm.
Choose Cozy Textures That Feel Yummy
With pillows and blankets I just choose what I want that feels cozy and yummy in the moment. Texture and color should always be a room's hero but it is also important to me to create a nice nook to crash into. I love different textures together: chunky knit and velvet or linen and faux fur. I found this soft clay-colored blanket (a muted color) on a whim one day and had two embroidered pillows with woodland ferns embroidered on it, and the colors "didn't go" but they looked great together and really pulled my whole living room together. Made the room feel layered and cozy, lived in and loved. If it makes the space feel like home to you and makes you smile when you walk in, go for it.
