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Summer Pillows Ideas
Pillows are a great décor item any time of year, but most people associate them only with fall and winter. The word “pillow” tends to connote a warm, somewhat bulky item that only serves indoor purposes. In reality, you can use pillows for a myriad of summer decorating projects, some of which we’ve highlighted here.
Use Durable Summer Pillows
Summer is the perfect time to move your decorating skills outdoors. Adding summer pillows to your deck or veranda can give it a splash of color and make guests more comfortable during a cookout or poolside party. While shopping for outdoor pillows though, make sure you look for a few key features:
- Weather protection. Look for acrylics and other fabrics that won’t hold moisture or become mildewed
- Durability. Avoid pillows made with silk, rayon, or nylon, as they will tear easily and are more difficult to clean
- UV resistance. Using a pillow that soaks up too much sunlight can make you hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable. In addition to this, colors exposed to sunlight from the wrong sorts of fabric will soon fade. Look for temperature-resistant fabrics in light, heat-reflecting colors.
Bring the Beach Home with Summer Pillows
During spring and summer, everyone is anxious to get outdoors again. If you aren’t near a beach or mountain resort, use outdoor pillows to bring those luxurious locales a bit closer. Look for pillows with specific designs, such as beach scenes, pineapples, sunsets, or bright florals. If you want more subtle décor, seek out pillows with multicolored waves or stripes, or a tie-dye style.
Go Big and Bold
During summer, most people wear brighter, bolder colors. Your home and outdoor spaces can, too. Popular summer shades include –
- Turquoise, aqua, and indigo blues
- Deep, saturated pinks
- Neon greens and yellows
- Purple in almost any shade from lavender to violet; this is often used as an accent color in larger designs
- Oranges in bold or soft shades; these can be tinged with soft pink for a sunrise effect
Many summer designs also use larger, bolder prints than their fall and winter counterparts. Look for starburst designs, large geometric patterns, or patterns that evoke tribal or Native American cultures. Some summer pillows are made with fringe or tassels for an extra bold touch.
Nod to Mother Nature
Your pillows and other outdoor décor should be backdrops to the natural beauty around you. To facilitate this, look for pillows whose designs celebrate nature. Some pillows use floral designs, while others have a single bird or animal as a focal point. Still other pillows use more abstract designs, relying on colors like green, cream, and earth brown.
How to Design a Room with Geometric Patterns
Decorating a room with geometric patterns and shapes is a bold move that’s sure to get your room noticed. Be careful, overuse of geometric shapes can be overwhelming to the eye. Make sure your room gets noticed for the right reasons, by following a few simple tips:
Keep to a Single Pattern
If you decide to cover a large area with geometric patterns, reserve yourself to using one pattern. By doing this, you will be able to use this pattern on many objects throughout the room without over-stimulating the eye. Research is important to decorate this way successfully. Find all the items you want to use before purchasing them. Once you begin shopping, you may decide to switch to a different geometric pattern due to the options you are finding the most of.
Consider the Color of Geometric Patterns
Another strategy that will allow you to use different geometric patterns is to focus on just one color palette. It is more pleasing to the eye to see different patterns together if they share the same colors.
The color of a geometric pattern can soften its effects greatly. Look for patterns that use similar colors, such as white and cream or two shades of light blue. The pattern will appear softer, because the pattern will recede into the background.
Reserve Your Theme to One Item
Geometric patterns create a strong focal point that fits the rule of less is more. If you have one item with the geometric pattern, centrally place it in the room. Next, decorate the rest of the room with solid colors and clean lines that will complement the geometric theme. This item could be very large, like a painting, area rug, or bedspread. A small item will be just as impactful such as lampshades, pillows, or placemats.
Creating a Focal Point: Using Art Prints in Home Decor
If you love art history, art prints or just enjoy spending time in art museums, you likely have a favorite artist or painting that inspires you. Be creative when decorating your home by using this passion for art as a theme for room décor. Don’t worry about breaking the bank to get a famous painter represented in your home, simply follow these ideas:
Create a Focal Point
If your piece of art is large, put it on display as the focal point of the room and decorate around it. Your favorite piece of art can be an original of a yet-to-be discovered artist to keep costs low. If it is a piece from Monet, you may want to opt for large art prints and splurge on an ornate frame. The focal point of the room doesn’t have to be a painting. You can find art on scarves or blankets that you can hung up as artwork as well.
Feeling creative? Paint your own replica of a masterpiece. Some famous painters’ work can be fun to mimic, such as Piet Mondrian’s Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue. If creating art isn’t what you had in mind, don’t worry; it is easy to find art prints and art-inspired objects.
Art-Inspired Objects
Look around at stores and online, and you will find many items featuring famous artwork. Lampshades, curtains, towels, placemats, coasters, and pillows are all popular items decorated with famous art motifs.
Go Big with Art Prints
If you have the space and want to make a powerful statement about your favorite piece, consider reserving an entire wall to showcase your favorite artist. Buy a postcard of your favorite art and make many copies – enough to “wallpaper” your wall with the print. Another idea is to commission a local artist to paint a mural on the wall using your favorite painting style or movement.
Color Palette
After you have found your focal point and art-inspired objects to place in the room, keep the rest of the décor simple. Doing so will draw attention to the art prints and allow it to be the centerpiece regardless of its location or size. Pull colors from the piece of art to decorate the rest of the room. If the artwork contains many bright colors, choose only one to paint the walls or pick a lighter shade of the color to avoid overpowering the artwork. Save the stronger colors in the art for accent colors in the room.
An Animal Lovers Guide to Decorating Your Home
Whether it’s a cat, dog, or goldfish, animal lovers love to display their favorite animal or breed, just as a sports fan likes to tout their favorite sports team. Adding pet-inspired touches to a room can be fun and whimsical, but it is also possible to maintain a high level of design aesthetic.
Color and Pattern for Animal Lovers
A pet-themed room doesn’t have to be filled with images of animals. Take a subtler path to creating your theme by designing a room with a color palette that is representative of your favorite animal. A Dalmatian-inspired room could be white and black with red accents. Look for spotted faux fur throws or upholstered chairs. Plaids are popular in dog accessories, so think plaid wall coverings or a plaid throw or bedspread matched with a neutral paint color similar to Rover’s brown fur.
Consider Your Pet’s Comfort
How better to show your love for your pet than to consider them when decorating your room? Make your beloved fish and fish tank the focal point of the room. Instead of hiding your dog or cat’s bed or scratching post, put it in the center of the room. Upgrade their bed to something that will be a conversation starter and complement the room décor.
Having an area designed for your pet’s comfort expresses how important your pet is in your life. A nice basket or bin can house your pet’s favorite toys. You can hang pet leashes or coats neatly with the rest of the family’s coats and accessories.
Pictures and Sculptures
Animal photography and paintings are plentiful and easy to find. Decorate your walls with artwork of your favorite pet. Add a personal touch by framing your own pictures of your pet to remember special moments with him or her. Look for sculptures and nick-knacks of your favorite animal at novelty and home stores. Yard sales and vintage shops are other fun ways to find animal memorabilia.
You can find animal images on just about any object. Clocks, aprons, napkins, tissue boxes, and throw pillows can be found with animal motifs on them. Get creative and do your own pet inspired piece of art to add to the room.
Land-locked? Create Your Own Nautical-Inspired Room
Nautical-inspired décor has always been popular and is making a strong resurgence this year. A maritime theme is possible in any room and can be as subtle or obvious as you choose.
Soothing Water Theme
For a soothing beach getaway feel, dress the room in paint and linens of light blue and green shades or light beiges and grays. Add a bright accent color, such as aqua, navy, or red, for interest. Nautical fabrics are easy to find and can be used to reupholster stool cushions or framed to add to your theme. You may also choose to strengthen your theme with nautical-inspired throw pillows. This is an easy way to create a nautical theme in any room, without spending a lot of time or money.
Favorite Vacation Spot
Fill a room with reminders of your last beach vacation to keep the memories fresh. Frame pictures of your family having fun building sand castles or splashing in the water. Or, you can add more-traditional pictures like sailboats, lighthouses, or weathered cliffs and buildings. You may even have a maritime painting that you purchased while on vacation that would set the tone for your nautical theme.
Found Objects
Maybe you collected some treasures while on your last vacation. Seashells are a great way to create an ocean theme. Large seashells can be centerpieces, and you can display driftwood and coral as pieces of art. Another idea is to fill a jar with small seashells. Use seashells to create a frame around a favorite photo or glue seashells onto a candle to add nautical touches to a room.
You can add fishing nets, oars, and life preservers to a room to enhance your theme. Get creative and use a fishing net as a curtain. A life preserver can double as a shadow box, and you can place oars horizontally above a bed or couch or stacked in a room corner.
Appealing to the Senses – Textured Pillow Décor
Recent décor trends call for texture throughout the home. From raw wooden surfaces in the kitchen to woven fabrics in the living room, the emphasis is on natural, unrefined materials. For those of us who want to dip our toes in the trend, textured throw pillows add visual interest to your living room without going overboard.
Why create texture in the first place? Usually one’s eyes are initially drawn to the lines of a room; along the walls, around furniture, or along the straight lines of exposed baseboards and carpet. These tend to be smooth, less cluttered but also less visually arresting. But just like looking at a photograph, our eyes naturally search for that final focal point in a room. The right throw pillows can be an excellent way of drawing the eye into the room, while at the same time extending an invitation to sit and relax.
Many people are aware of the power of color but few realize that texture can be just as effective at creating a visual point of interest in a space. For example, a long haired Mongolian sheepskin textured pillow on a smooth leather sofa can creates fantastic contrast in texture. Similarly, the reverse will work just as well, such as in the example of a smooth silk textured pillow on more heavily textured chenille sofa.
Not only are pillows a great a way of bringing texture into a room, but they can also be changed with the seasons, and are more affordable than many larger accents pieces such as curtains or area rugs. Pillows allow you the freedom to experiment with color and texture until you find the perfect look without compromising comfort.
You can try to apply texture to the walls or ceiling in the eccentric rooms in your home and contrast this look with bright or patterned pillows. This loft looks fantastic, though without some pillows to liven up the space it would look sterile and perhaps too much like a museum. Notice how the orange and black pillows stand out against the white walls, also successfully complementing the picture hanging above the couch.
How Do I Arrange Them?
Because the texture is the focus of the pillows, arranging them carefully is a must. It is just like hanging a picture. Pillows tossed carelessly against the floor or in the middle of the couch make the room look cluttered. Speaking of the couch:
• If you have two pillows sitting at both ends of your couch, find two with different patterns. You might want to keep the same texture so they match, but choose one with a solid color and the other with polka dots.
• Large sofas work best when patterned pillows are in the middle with solid colors at each end, or vice versa. Make sure your textured pillow matches the couch!
• Prints work much better with neutral colors. Bright-colored pillows stand out like a neon-green jogging suit in a room full of tuxedos.
• If you do decide to mix up patterns, at least one color should stay consistent. Otherwise, the color scheme fails and it looks less like décor and more like what you found in a string of garage sales.
• Vary the size of each pattern if possible. For instance, if one pillow has light, thin stripes, pick another with a bold plaid.
Pillow Inspiration From Other Cultures
Cultures from all over the world use pillows for decorating and comfort. Some cultures, like the Japanese, prefer to use pillows as seating, while other cultures, like Moroccans, spend weeks weaving decorative pillows and blankets for their homes. Below, we analyze some interesting trends in other countries for your pillow inspiration.
Japan. Dakimakura is a word that comes from the words daki and makura, which mean “to hug or cling” and “pillow,” respectively. Essentially, this translates to hug pillow. These traditional items are very similar to body pillows in the United States. Over time the word began to evolve, slowly becoming to mean “love pillow,” something people held when they were lonely or their spouses were away for the night. Today, this word has merged in Japanese popular culture, and the dakimakura’s popularity has exploded. The meaning is a tad different now as characters from Japanese popular culture have their faces printed on the top.
The zabuton is another important Japanese tradition, where squat but sturdy square pillows are used for sitting instead of chairs. They gained immense popularity during the Kamakura Era of Japan – between 1185 – 1333 AD. The zabuton is occasionally paired with a wooden zaisu, or wooden support. This backing prevents the pillow from sliding around. It is important that the zaisu and zabuton match in both color and style.
Indonesia. A guling is a cylindrical pillow borne out of Indonesian culture. It is considered standard fare before going to sleep and is a very round body pillow. Incorrectly (or perhaps mischievously) translated to “Dutch wife” in English, it is also sometimes used for decoration or to hold a person’s place on a bench.
Philippines. From these tropical islands comes another body pillow called the abrazador, which translates to “embrace.” Not used for decoration, these decorative pieces were made by family members when a child left the house.
Morocco. In Morocco, wedding preparations takes weeks. The guests are invited into a drifting passage that opens into a courtyard, then into the dormiria, where the reception takes place. The family spends weeks painting furniture, sometimes homemade, weaving rugs, and making pillows as décor for the dormiria. In the past, it was considered tacky to not create the pillows and rugs by hand.
China. Many people in China and throughout Asia believed that soft pillows robbed the body of energy while you slept, so they perfected the creation of hard pillows. These were made of stone, wood, and at one point, ceramic. These pillows were engraved, painted, and filled with stories of their families’ past.
Yes, You Can Use Outdoor Pillows Inside Your Home!
Have you ever purchased a new throw pillow for your living room, only to spill a glass of soda or wine on it a week later? Here’s a solution! Outdoor pillow fabric is made from a cotton polyester blend that is both stain and sun resistant. Some styles even come in luxurious silks and wools. Not only will it last a lot longer if you are raising young kids, but now you can get that puppy you always wanted.
There’s nothing more annoying than damaging a brand new pillow, except perhaps watching your older pillows’ vibrancy fade away from sunlight exposure. Outdoor pillows fade more slowly (some don’t at all!), and it will protect the integrity of your décor when a couch or chair is opened against large, south-facing windows.
Decorating With Outdoor Fabric
The protective polyester comes in a great number of styles, colors, and various textures. In fact, it is easier to find well-decorated, textured fabric with outdoor-woven covers. Comfortable lawn chair cushions make great body-sized floor pillows in the TV den or basement or perhaps just a comfortable place to relax with a book.
If you are unable to match your indoors with the outside, consider bringing the outside in! Bamboo ceiling slats or tiles look smashing paired with wicker furniture and a bold color. If you are one of those people with a spring and summer furniture set, you can seasonally decorate by swapping out the bases and keeping the cushions to match the ceiling and walls.
Make Your Own!
As it turns out, making outdoor pillows is pretty easy. You can find the weather-resistant inserts you need for the cushion for as cheap as $10. Next, purchase a waterproof fabric. You will have a variety of options and outdoor canvas comes in several styles and is easily purchased online.
If canvas sounds too rough, you can also use outdoor tablecloth. There are other fabric options which work just as well, but they are a tad more expensive. You can use solution-dyed acrylic, or 100% spun poly fabric. Solid dyed acrylic averages $30 /yard, while stripes and woven are between $40-50 /yard. Spun polyester is much cheaper, ranging between $10-20 /yard. The big drawback to spun poly is it will fade in sunlight.
You can read through the process step-by-step here. The project guide recommends also using a shower curtain liner to prevent mold growth in the insert. Besides that, all you need a sewing machine!
Stay Grounded – Using Floor Pillows in the Home
Floor pillows and poufs are a great way to add extra seating and a decorative look to any room. Because they come in an endless variety of fabrics and sizes, they can be used in every room of the home. Recent college graduates take note: buying some sturdy pillows is going to be a lot cheaper than getting a whole set of chairs. Here are some neat ways to use pillows!
Accent Woodwork. Amber and maroon-colored floor pillows look great set against a dark hardwood floor or even scattered about next to a dark banister. Also, consider a woven floor cushion, its wicker-like design looks great against lighter colored wood flooring. Light wood also looks excellent with a paisley pattern adorning the pillow’s exterior. White on black is another popular mix-up.
Liven the Room. For a fun accent style, go for floor pillows in bright colors and bold prints. For a more refined look, luxurious fabrics, like velvet in sandy neutrals or vibrant gem tones, add a touch of sophistication. Bright curtains supplement the zany pillows well against a neutral tone if you want the room to look young.
Coziness. Pillows used for seating in tiny spots are not only adorable, but comfortable as well. Pillows are stackable, which essentially makes them adjustable chairs. Place floor pillows around a short tea table in the corner of the room against the window. It will be your own little nook for relaxation after the days’ work.
Create Piles.You can use your pillows to make stacks on stacks on stacks. We’re not talking about money – we’re talking about height variation! Instead of using a classic end table at the foot of your couch, consider styling the room with extra tall end tables leaned up against the walls. This will create a unique contrast between the short pillows and the high tables. Typically, many home surfaces tend to be at waist height so why not mix it up?
Outdoor Floor Pillows. If you have
an open patio overlooking a sprawling horizon, why not give yourself something to lean against? A dark, striped rug matches white-painted decks, giving you an excellent base to recline upon and it contrasts nicely with the wooden planks. With an exterior fire pit, you can recline with a good book in tribal style. Invite some friends to a barbeque and take a night to look at the stars. Citronella wicker torches further accentuate the outdoors look and is superb at keeping away those pesky mosquitoes.
How Neutral Pillows Enhance Your Décor
Neutral colors are often forgotten or pushed aside, especially during spring and summer when homeowners like to decorate using bright, saturated colors. While colors are a must for any decorating project, neutrals help ground your ideas and give you focal points from which to begin. Today, we’ll focus on how neutrals, especially neutral pillows, can enhance your spring and summer decorating.
Versatility
One of the best things about neutrals is that they go with every color and theme imaginable. This is crucial if your spring or summer project revolves around a few large items or an eye-popping theme. For example, let’s say you want to re-cover the big couch in the center of your living room, and your living room’s theme is “sunset.” Upholster the couch in burnt orange, yellow, or soft pink. Then choose neutral pillows in beige or white to evoke clouds and calm. If you have a bedroom with a literary theme, stay away from pillows with big quotes on them. Instead, let the walls and main furniture pieces revolve around the theme. Use cream or chocolate-colored neutral pillows to ground the design and evoke a relaxing library.
Embellishment
Neutrals are often unfairly judged as boring. Yet neutrals are softer and less showy than other colors, so they’re easier to embellish. For instance, not many people know metallic colors are neutrals. If you want a truly eye-popping room, consider using pillows with hints of gold or silver sparkle to enhance existing neutrals. Purchase neutral pillows trimmed with fringe, lace, or embroidery to speak to a room’s theme – indigo trim for a celestial theme, perhaps. Finally, don’t forget the fabric. Neutral pillows can garner attention if they’re made from unique or luxurious fabrics like raw silk or Mongolian wool.
All There in Black and White
Using neutral pillows doesn’t mean sacrificing pattern and theme. In fact, black and white pillows are increasingly popular because their patterns are often more versatile than those in multicolored pillows. A black-and-white striped pillow could evoke your love of zebras and African safari trips – or it could be the backdrop for the multicolored quilt you received as a wedding gift. Black and white pillows with kaleidoscope designs can evoke everything from flowers to snowflakes to spider webs. Black and white pillows often have special quotes or postcard designs on them, so if you’d like to build a theme around a favorite travel destination, they’re a great choice.
How to Decorate Shared Kids Room
Sharing a room can be difficult from multiple perspectives. While it’s generally hard to please any two people with one design, it could be even more difficult when the kids room is shared by a boy and a girl. Let’s take a look at some simple ways you can decorate an appealing room that pleases both boys and girls.
Proceed with Caution
Before starting the design process, discuss the idea of a shared room with your children. While they may not care, it can be helpful to hear their opinions. Kids are usually quite candid and will provide you with keen insights on how to approach the situation.
Aim for Symmetry
One of the best things you can do is aim for symmetry in the kids room. This is true for a number of reasons. First, it helps kids feel like they are being treated equally. If each side has the same amount of room and features, there is less ground for quarreling. From a design point of view, it makes the room flow better and is visually appealing.
{Source: Pinterest}
Incorporate Neutral Shades and Pops of Color
While you may be able to get away with blue, you most certainly won’t be able to go with a pink theme without some serious backlash. The idea here is to stay away from the traditional blues and pinks and go for something more neutral and satisfying. Think subtle blues and pinks, vivacious reds, bright pops of color and plenty of white and cream.
Spring Tulips Throw Pillow adds a vibrant pop of color
A playful rendition of the classic nautical anchor theme
Divide the Kids Room
If you absolutely need some separation and privacy, don’t be afraid to divide the room. You can use area rugs and furniture to create natural dividers, while still leaving the room fairly open. This way you can incorporate two distinct designs that will appeal to both kids.
{Source: Pinterest}
Pillow Décor in a Kids Room
Throw pillows are a fast, easy and creative way to add some personality to the room and also to change things up a bit. When designing a bedroom, be sure to add stylish fun pillows to the mix.
Mongolian Sheepskin Hot Pink.
Pacifico Stripes in Blue.
Pacifico Stripes in Pink.
Mongolian Sheepskin Turquoise Blue.
Balancing Dark and Light in the Bedroom
When it’s time to relax, a dark room can prove to be a calming retreat. To create a quiet and restful space, each component of the bedroom must be carefully assessed. Changes to color, lighting, and accessories are all worth considering. Ultimately, delicately balancing dark and light hues can produce a calm, quiet ambiance.
To get started, consider the following factors:
- If the room receives a significant amount of natural light, it is better suited to wall paint in a dark color.
- If a bedroom does not enjoy an abundance of sunlight, strategically placed lighting sources of varying brightness can set the mood.
- In a room of dark colors, whites will appear especially sharp and crisp. A white bedspread, pillows, wall trim, and lampshades will pop when contrasted with deep navy or chocolate walls.
Balancing dark and light – creating contrast
Reaching the ideal combination of light and dark hues is not merely challenging – it is an adventure. While it is fun to experiment with contrast, many agree that the best way to achieve it is by first painting at least one bedroom wall in a dark color to see if it agrees with your taste. If so, it is then safe to choose furniture, such as dressers, nightstands, chairs, and a headboard that create enough of a contrast, yet provide the cohesive look you desire.
The dynamic Bird’s Nest Pillow is an elegant geometric accent piece for a darker bedroom
Vintage Seltzer Bottles Pillow adds a beautiful graphic accent to a black and white bedroom
The Waverly Fun Floret pillow is classic with a contemporary twist – perfect for an elegant bedroom
Choosing the bedding and accessories
The next step is to choose bedding. If the room feels heavily weighted on the darker side, contrast with whites and bright lighting. Otherwise, dark bedding and subtle lighting will add the perfect amount of richness and depth.
When these fundamental steps have been accomplished, it is time to accessorize. Curtains, artwork, and throw pillows need careful consideration to maintain balance. For more decorative guidance, and for an impressive variety of pillows to add style and comfort to your new bedroom browse the wide selection of throw pillows Pillow Décor has to offer. There is no shortage of sizes, colors, patterns, or materials to complement your bedroom space.
Create a powerful visual statement and achieve a harmonious balance of dark and light in your bedroom. Try bringing in the delightfully soft textures of Mongolian Sheepskin pillows or the bold black and white graphics of the Vintage Bus Scroll design.
Vintage French Tapestries for Contemporary Decor
Many people decorating the interiors of their homes opt to shy away from classic French tapestry, believing that such designs are stuffy and outdated. French tapestry designs are making a comeback, however. These designs are occurring in pillows, wall hangings, and more.
A Brief History of French Tapestries
While the term “tapestry” is now used to describe numerous different kinds of textiles, the term has been historically used to designate a weft-faced textile hand-woven on a loom. Tapestries varied enormously in quality throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, depending on the skill of the weaver, precision of detail in the weave, and, of course, in the quality of the materials being used.
The purpose of the first tapestries was also varied. They were used to block out drafty weather, divide large rooms into smaller, more intimate spaces, and simply as high quality decorations to relax the feeling of cold medieval stone walls.
How French Tapestries Are Used Today
Tapestries today serve much the same decorative purpose. Rare, centuries-old tapestries are technical marvels displayed in high-end European homes and museums. They add wonderful depth, warmth, and dimension to a space, and can offset the sometimes stark lines of modern architecture. However, many antique tapestries are enormous, which can require designs to accommodate the tapestries – rather than the other way around.
Incorporate Contemporary French Tapestries Into Your Home
Tapestries are beautiful, but because of their size, they often become the focal point of a room. Unless you are actively designing a period room, the result can feel very out of date. If you want to incorporate tapestries into your home, one way to do so is through the use of throw pillows. French tapestry-inspired pillows, such as this garlic flower pillow, are a perfect way to update Renaissance style, creating a fresh, contemporary look. Classic designs such as this Sun King tapestry pillow are also a great option. Tapestries don’t have to look medieval considering a variety of updated designs that would suit various home décor styles from classic to contemporary to rustic vintage.
This Buddha in Pink French Tapestry is bold and colorful – the heavy French tapestry fabric is perfect for this image.
French Tapestry with Van Gogh’s classic “Vase with Twelve Sunflowers” – an original way to display art at home.
The rich detail of the French tapestry gives the wisps of the thistle flower nuance and presence.
This fun French tapestry throw pillow in bright pink will bring liven up your home.
Innovative Ways to Incorporate Artwork into the Home
In small urban apartments, there are few opportunities to display photographs, paintings, or other artwork. In homes with limited wall space, attempting to hang multiple works of art can present a complex problem. It takes a little bit of creativity to incorporate all of your artwork into a smaller home, using tactics such as displaying pieces on bookshelves or layering works of art on top of each other. Read on to learn some tips for incorporating artwork into a small space.
Use Bookshelf Space Creatively
If you’ve got multiple bookshelves in the room, they may be monopolizing valuable wall space. Bookshelves are tall, wide, and usually full of books and knickknacks. However, with some careful rearranging and creative use of shelf space, you can create room for framed works of art. Try displaying your artwork in a row across the top of the bookshelf, and tastefully arrange a few smaller works of art on the rest of the shelves alongside your book collection.
Layer Your Artwork
Try leaning framed artwork against the wall if you have artwork of multiple sizes and extra space on shelves, desks, and countertops. With this arrangement, no nails or hanging devices are necessary. Another benefit is that you will have the freedom to place small works of art in front of larger ones, saving wall space, and showing off your style.
Fine Art Throw Pillows
If you want an innovative and completely different way to showcase your favorite artwork, why not go the unconventional route of throw pillows? The versatility of decorative throw pillows allows you to express your personal sense of style in a variety of ways and add personality to your apartment. Famous paintings like Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflowers make wonderful additions to any discerning home.
A reproduction of Sandra Forzani original Pamianthe Lily painting.
A deep orange poppy in full bloom by Sandra Forzani.
If your flavor is displaying multiple works of art at once, try mixing and matching artworks from the same artist, such as this collection by Sandra Forzani. Fine art throw pillows add a sense of class and comfort to any home. On another note, graphic pillows showcasing lettering, pictures, abstract designs and patterns work great to make a bold statement in a contemporary decorated space.
Trends in Throw Pillows: International Textiles and Tapestries
For those who want to incorporate international flair into their homes, throw pillows are an ideal way to do so. It is important to be respectful of the cultures whose designs you are using, which is why conscientious designers need to carefully consider mixing and matching different textiles and tapestries. Read on to learn about some of the ways savvy designers are using culturally inspired designs from multiple backgrounds on throw pillows to honor different world cultures.
“Ethnic” Textiles Inspiration
The word “ethnic” refers to designs that come from a wide array of world traditions. Sometimes these textiles are created by the culture itself, and sometimes they are simply inspired by these cultures. From Aztec to Navajo, from Balkan to Kashmiri, and even exotic animal print, there are thousands of different fabrics to choose from. It all depends on how you want to arrange them.
Respecting World Cultures
When using multicultural items around your home, it’s important to respect where they came from. For example, if you have acquired a Middle Eastern prayer rug, it’s simply discourteous to use such an item as a bath mat. Simply put, do a bit of research and know the histories of these items. On that note, it’s always respectful to contextualize your décor. Don’t simply refer to an object as “exotic” when you know its specific place of origin is Guatemala.
Arranging International Interiors
Multicultural elements can be juxtaposed together as the focus of your interior, or they can simply be used to emphasize chic, modern furniture and accessories. Internationally made dolls and small sculptures are perfect accents for bookshelves, while throw pillows are a great way to incorporate both comfort and multicultural flair. Try the traditional kilim design in this throw pillow against a muted background to make the pattern pop. Or, if you want a more local piece of culture, consider a tasteful southwest Native American inspired pillow.
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