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Perfectly pleasing pillows
A: This summer, blast your tired living room out of the doldrums by harnessing the power of a few amazing pillows. I'm not one to change out my furniture very often. In fact, I've just celebrated 18 years of wedded bliss with the sofas and chairs in my living room. But to keep the love light burning, I like to keep my furnishings fresh by constantly weaving in fabulous new accent pillows. Like a gorgeous scarf that makes your basic black dress sing, pillows can transform the look of your room in a snap. Here are some tips for picking pillows that will fill your living room with kick-your-shoes-off comfort and show-stealing style. Make a plan What do you want your new accent pillows to accomplish? Do these little beauties need to lend a pop of color or perform a makeover miracle? If you're yearning for a new sofa but can't get one now, use pillows to remake the look of your old, tired piece. Remove all the cushions from the back of the sofa and replace them with Euro shams in a fetching fabric. Or, instead of putting up with those stained and misshapen seat-cushion sections, have one long seat cushion made in a complementary fabric. You can also give your leather chair a new look for summer by covering the seat cushion with a linen or cotton slipcover. Love your look Just like everything else you put in your home, your pillows must reflect your style. Resist being swept up in the latest fad unless you adore the hot new look. If you're capsized by the swell of awesome pillows available in all shapes, colors, patterns and sizes, get your sea legs by zeroing in on just one fabric or pillow you absolutely adore. Then build from there. Do you want a soft, monochromatic look that repeats a few favorite fabrics - or a sofa swallowed up in as many bright colors and patterns as it can hold? Because my furniture is upholstered in neutral fabric, I add panache with a mosaic of mismatched pillows. The key to making this mix look exciting - not nauseatingly busy - is to have a common theme that knits all the pillows together, such as a similar color, texture or pattern. Create killer pillows Through the years, I've become a pillow snob because there is nothing more inviting than a squishy down pillow. I use only pillow forms filled with a mixture of doublecrushed goose and duck feathers. I love how this special blend of feathers makes pillows look full and ready to plump for an afternoon nap. To keep your feather pillows in great condition, ensure they stay clean and dry by zipping them up in a liner. For visual interest, pick pillows with unique shapes, sizes and trims. Right now, I'm wild about boxed pillows that are about 3 inches deep and have each edge corded in a contrasting fabric. Add a big, round button in the middle, and I'm a goner. I also adore pillows trimmed in a flat flange that's pleated at the corner. If you want something a bit fussier, go for a mini-ruffle about 3/4-inch wide. If you're brimming with creativity, create one-of-a-kind pillows featuring your own needlework, whether needlepoint or crewel. Creative configuration Play with your pillow placement. If you yearn for symmetry, place a matching cluster of pillows by each sofa arm, then showcase a beautiful lumbar pillow in the sofa's center. Want more energy? Create a joyful mishmash of pillows tucked in by the sofa arms or marching down its length. Or try something quirky: Mimic a chaise-lounge look by stacking pillows to one side of the sofa, leaving the opposite corner bare. Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home-furnishings stores in Atchison, Kan., and the author of several best-selling books on home decorating. Write to Mary Carol at nellhills(at)mail.lvnworth. com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com. |
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