Looking to add some instant colour and comfort to your home? Decorating with pillows can get the job done! 

With the help of HomeSense, I've pulled together some easy tips to follow when you choose the shapes and styles of decorative pillows. Remember, pillows do have different uses. Follow these simple guidelines and you won't go wrong.

More than just a pretty fabric:

Adding new decorative pillows to the living or bedroom is an easy way to add colour, personality and comfort to your space. Available in all price points and décor styles, a few new cushy friends are always a welcome change to a tired décor scheme. Treat yourself this winter to a few of these comforting gems.

Pillow sizes:

• The 18-inch square pillow is the standard choice for chairs or on sofas.
• The 20- to 24-inch option is great for the bed.
• The 12- x 18-inch pillow (often referred to as the lumbar pillow) is a great friend to support your lower back when sitting on a tall, tight-back styled seat.
• Larger, 24-inch square pillows offer excellent support for sitting up in bed. They're also great picks for throwing on the floor as extra-casual sitting.

Pillow styles:

Draw on colours and style inspiration from the art, area rugs and other accessories in a room. If you're mixing patterns, try to have curvy-lined patterns like florals, paisley or circles mixed in with straight lines like stripes, plaids and geometrics. The difference in patterns creates a juxtaposition that will allow each pattern to stand out in the room.

If there is no colour or pattern in your room, choose lighter and darker versions of your monochromatic colour scheme for impact. Also, choose textured fabrics to create subtle interest. Knitted textures are very popular for winter. Heavy linen weaves are great for spring and summer.

Pillow fills:

Decorative pillows can look beautiful. But they can be useless for comfort if they are filled with the wrong insert. Foam and feathers are the two basic fills for most cushions. Foam-filled cushions tend to offer more support and keep their shape for some time. Eventually, the foam will break down and the pillow will lose its shape.

Cushions filled with feathers and down are considered the most luxurious pillow picks. They squish down and mold to the body for subtle comfort. They also spring back nice and full when left alone. They're not great for support, but they look oh-so luxurious.

For product information and store locations visit HomeSense.

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