Decorating With Throw Pillows

Craving change? For an instant makeover, add a throw pillow (or three).

If You Want a Modern Look

Pillow number and placement: Go for an odd number, like three or five, rather than more traditional pairs. A few big pillows look cleaner than a jumble of smaller ones, which can seem like "too much punctuation," says T. Keller Donovan, an interior designer in New York City and Miami.

Shape and size: Squares should be 18 to 24 inches across, large enough to showcase a solid color or a pattern. Oblongs are a nice foil, since they're "a little less expected," says Katie Ridder, an interior decorator in New York City.

Fabric: A limited color palette and large geometric prints on smooth, tightly woven fabrics, like cotton and linen, work well in a modern environment. But if you love having lots of colors, take a tip that applies to all settings: "Pull them from a piece of art that's in the room," says Andrew Flesher, an interior designer with Gunkelman Flesher Interior Design, in Minneapolis.

Trim: Most trim is traditional, but if you want to use it, make sure it mirrors the pillow's primary hue to "add interest but retain a solid block of color," says Flesher.