Contemporary Throw Pillows: The Basic Types

You might think that contemporary throw pillows are just that – pillows that make your sofa or your bed or your couch look pretty and inviting. But there is so much more to throw pillows than them being just a pretty face. Throw pillows are quite useful and help in supporting your back and your neck when you are reading or just lounging and having a family discussion. They have a personality which distinguishes one throw pillow from another, and this personality is what makes your home look beautiful, inviting and just so YOU.  There are many different kinds of throw pillows and knowing about them will help you in decorating your place much better and according to your personal taste. It will also come in handy if you are getting your throw pillows custom made.

1. Bolster

This pillow is shaped like a cylinder. These come in many different sizes with different styles. Sometimes their ends are flat while at other times, their ends are gathered and tied with a ribbon or a cord just like the ends of a wrapped candy. These pillows are used for support, and the short bolsters are specifically used for neck support. That’s why they are commonly called as “neck rolls”.

2. Box Pillow

A box pillow is like a 3D quadrilateral. Its sides are flat, and it has tall edges which help in giving it a box-like appearance. Box pillows are also made into contemporary throw pillows by placing them on chair seat or sofa and filling them with foam or some other kind of filling. The sides of the box are styled in different ways by making it from flat or gathered fabric (like below the chihuahua).

3. Knife-edge Pillow

This is the most basic type of contemporary decorative pillows. Simply put, it is just two pieces of fabric that have been sewn together at the edges, forming a simple but sharp seam. Knife-edge pillows can be round, square or rectangle. One example is of ‘lumbar’ pillow which supports your lower back i.e. your lumbar area.

4. Flange Pillow

The flange pillow has a flat fabric band throughout the edges of the pillow. This is called a flange. It can either be made of the same fabric as the pillow, or it can be made from another contrasting fabric to give an interesting look.

5. Welted Pillow

Also called as a ‘corded’ pillow, the welted pillow is basically a knife-edge pillow but additionally it has a decorative cord at its seam. To bring more depth and color, sometimes the cord or welt is made with a contrasting color rather than an exact match. Exact matching gives a subtle and simple look, while contrast conveys more interest. If the fabric of the body of the pillow is used for making the welt or cord of the pillow, then such a pillow is called a ‘self-welt’ pillow.

Buying Contemporary Decorative Pillows

If you wish to decorate your home with the different kinds of contemporary decorative pillows, check out Thomas Collection. They specialize in contemporary throw pillows and are proud owners of a versatile collection. All their products are 100% hand-made in USA. For buying their products, visit their website: www.pillowsanddecor.com