This post about decorative pillows for the bed was updated in October 2022.

Bedrooms can be a tough place to decorate — especially when it comes to making a beautiful bed. There are just so many options for bedding and so many ways to make your bed! One aspect of bed making that we’re ready to demystify is the bed pillows. There really aren’t many rules, but we do think certain arrangement of decorative pillows for a bed work better than others. See our suggestions below for how to arrange your pillows:

 

When picking out your pillow arrangement, the size of your headboard is important to consider. You never want your pillows to come up over your headboard, so a lower headboard requires arrangements with a shorter profile. Likewise, taller headboards most likely will need euro shams or at the very least standard shams with a thick flange.

We typically like for pillows to come up two-thirds of the headboard, leaving one-third of the headboard exposed at the top. You’ll also want the pillows to stretch the entire length of the bed.

Now, which one do you like best?

Sleek & Simple Pillow Settings

Let’s talk about the simplest option. If you’re the type that doesn’t like having a ton of decorative pillows on the bed to arrange in the morning, go the hotel route, and stack four standard pillows horizontally for a sleek, simple arrangement.

We typically think this looks nicest when you have a lower headboard. Our beautiful  Isabella Bed has a pretty tall headboard, for instance, so we wouldn’t love this look on this bed. It would look great on our Camden Bed, though, which has a lower profile.

Classic & Minimal Bedding Designs

As we mentioned above, if you have a tall headboard, laying pillows horizontally will feel disproportionate. We like pillows stacked vertically on a bed with a tall headboard. The two outer pillows can have standard shams that match the duvet at the end of the bed, and the standard pillows in the back can be simple sheeted pillow cases.

Classic Pillow Décor With Style

For this arrangement, we’d choose standard shams with a matching  quilt. That sham makes more of a statement than the coordinating shams in the duvet collection, and the stitched flange at the edges means it stands up a bit taller. Use these for a tall bed. We’d also add a simple boudoir for a touch of personality.

The Timeless Pillow Balance

This arrangement of decorative pillows for a bed works for nearly any room. Choose two euro shams to create height in the back, then add two standard shams in the front. Try shams in different (but complementary) bedding collections to balance and add dimension to the arrangement. When we’re mixing bedding collections on a bed, we like to use equal amounts of both collections. Balance is always an important part of mixing and matching, so it’s a good rule of thumb to keep in mind when you’re shopping!

The Tasteful Tall with Toss!

On a bed with a tall headboard like our Isabella, we like using extra tall shams like euros. Euros are also great for beds that don’t have an upholstered headboard because they’re great for reading and sitting up in bed. For this, we’d simply use two large euro shams and add a toss pillow in the front.

Simple & Symmetrical Decorative Pillows

When ordering bedding, it’s only natural to think in terms of pairs. For this kind of arrangement, use two large euro shams and one smaller standard sham and create a symmetrical arrangement. It won’t require a ton of decorative pillows for your bed but fills your entire headboard and feels balanced with the size of the headboard.

The Timeless Style with Toss

As we mentioned above, two euros and two standards make for a timeless bed, but sometimes you just want to add a little more flair. In that case, simply add an accent pillow, and you’re done!

Clean Max — Lots of Nice & Plump

Here’s where things start to get a little more involved. Say you’re interested in lots of pillows on your bed, but you still want things to look polished . . . Consider a symmetrical arrangement that includes height, a variety of textures, and even some pattern. We choose euro shams, coordinating standard shams in a velvet bedding, plus two accent pillows.

Asymmetrical Bedding Lineup

Precision is so overrated. For the very most decorated bed, we’ll go a little over the top. After all, when you’re talking about pillows, is there such a thing as too much comfort? Use three euros and three standard shams and arranged them to create dimension and texture. Now this will be a bed you can seriously relax in!

If you can’t decide where to start, we suggest getting two shams of each size (euro and standard) in coordinating collections and start playing around. Figure out what looks best and you can even try a new arrangement each day. After all, it’s just a bedroom! Decorative pillows on the bed should be fun and not scary.

If you can’t decide where to start, we suggest getting two shams of each size (euro and standard) in coordinating collections and start playing around. Figure out what looks best and you can even try a new arrangement each day. After all, it’s just a bedroom! Pillows should be fun and not scary.

For more bedding inspiration, browse all of our bedding options here to create a mix and match combination that suits your personality! Or find learn more in the blog posts below:

• 10 Ways to Place Your Bed in Front of a Window
• Vacation-Inspired Bedrooms
• 11 Cozy Bedroom Ideas for Fall
• How to Pick the Best Mattress

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