It seems that most every retailer sells decorative pillows these days.
But how do you choose the best quality?
Here is a list of some of the characteristics of high quality pillows to look for the next time you go shopping for decorative pillows.
photo courtesy of Wiccahwang flickr.com/photos/wiccahwang/5480579233/Fabric
What material is the pillow fabric made of?
Is it silk, polyester, cotton, a blend, or something else?
Does the fabric look sturdy?
Is the fabric cleanable?
Does it have a strong chemical scent?
Does it have sequins, buttons, or anything else on it that will be uncomfortable to lay against or could be easily ripped off?
Exterior Construction
The construction of the outside will give you a good insight as to the overall quality.
Make sure the fabric pattern aligns at the seams.
The pillow should be stitched on the inside all the way around, not stitched on the outside along one side, revealing inferior quality.
Make sure the pillow is actually square, not almost square.
Make sure the pattern is centered on the pillow.
If you get 2 or more of the same pillow, make sure that the fabric pattern is centered the same on all of the pillows.
Does the pillow have a pretty fabric on one side but a cheaper fabric on the reverse? Using different fabrics is nice for variety, but using a cheap fabric on the back is not as high end as using quality fabric on all sides.
Size
The pillow size is also important.
Just like every other product on the market, manufacturers are going smaller.
Decorative pillows should be a good size, else they will look like clutter.
Most square pillows for your sofa should be at least 20 inches square.
Purchase fewer larger pillows than many smaller pillows for a high end designer look.
Edge Trim
More expensive traditional pillows usually have some sort of trim on the edges, whether it is just piping or something more fancy.
Make sure the seam of the trim is not very visible.
Also make sure the trim is not unraveling.
The Inside is Important
The inside of the pillow is also very important.
High quality pillows have a zipper for the cover to be removed and cleaned. Most pillows are filled with either (listed from cheapest to most expensive) polyester, faux down (usually a polyester), down wrapped polyester, down & feather, or just down.
If you select down, make sure the pillow insert has a sturdy cover, else you make be poked with feathers through the pillow.
A designer tip is to purchase a pillow insert that is 2 inches wider than the pillow to get a full and fluffy pillow. For example, a 20 inch pillow cover would have a 22 inch pillow insert.
