Throw Pillow Styles

A box-edge pillow has squared-off edges rather than narrowed corners. Contrasting piping, or welting, adds definition.

Popular because of their polished look, knife-edge pillows taper into sharp corners with little or no added ornamentation.

A flange is a piece of fabric that extends well beyond the seam, giving the pillow a soft, fluttery effect.

Self-welting―in this case, light blue cotton piping―is made from the same fabric that covers the pillow.

A pillow with an embellished edge has an elaborate trim fashioned from a fabric in a different pattern or color.

Down:

All down requires regular fluffing, so many pillow makers favor a down-feather mix, which holds its shape and gives more back support.

Synthetics: Rubbery stuffers are a thing of the past―today's synthetic fills are as comfy as down and feathers. Synthetic is an especially smart choice for pillows that experience a lot of wear and tear.

Tips for buying: The filling should be encased in a tightly woven fabric, like cotton with a high thread count; this keeps the contents where they belong (and not poking out where they don't). The insert should fill a pillow's corners. If you're buying the pillow cover separately, make sure it's an inch or two smaller on each side than the insert.