Article Line Long1
Design

Mixing pillows and patterns; 7 different ways

Today we are mixing a bunch of pillows (and patterns) and then you are going to vote for your favorite pillow combo (using our fancy voting poll widget at the bottom). The winning pillow combination will win a helicopter ride to Aruba, and then a chance at one-on-one hot tub date with Prince Farming. They are so excited and have been tanning and highlighting their hair for WEEKS, so please be sure to weigh each combo properly and vote with your heart.

Here’s how it went down: when I was MANIACALLY organizing and cleaning our house over the break I realized that I had approximately 47 decorative pillows, just hanging out in closets, on furniture, etc. That doesn’t even include what is at the studio. So, before I took them all over to the studio (some to keep for future projects, some for our EPIC garage sale that is coming soon) I figured I’d shoot a little pillow post.

We started with two solid 24″x24″ white linen pillows on both sides and just changed out all the smaller pillows. We didn’t have any big solid pillows to help anchor the corners (which is what you need on a bench like this) – but for most sofas you are fine with 20″x20″ or 16″x16″ even, as long as the other pillows vary in sizes.

Lets get into it:

This first one is the ‘Grey Gardens meets Steven Alan, with a side of subtle’. Hilariously enough, this might be the most masculine. And by masculine I mean, like Adam Levine, totally muscular but he would rock a floral shirt. And women across America would faint.

Cream Ruffle: vintage | Blue Floral: vintage | Grey and Yellow Geometric (no longer available) | Teal Blue Yellow Striped | Grey and Yellow Cross | Cream Linen

Pillows_ Bench Midcentury Modern Emily Henderson_Blue Neutrals Creams Whites

Blue, grey and white, with a bit of country. It has texture and pattern, but with that limited color palette it still feels really pulled back and clean.

Cream Ruffle: Vintage | Blue Stripe | Grey and White | Blue Half Circle | Floral: unknown (If you know where this is from please comment) | Cream Linen

Pillows_ Bench Midcentury Modern Emily Henderson_Pinks Blush White Floral

She’s pink and feminine and with enough restraint to make me want to get to know her and not be annoyed by her.

Cream Ruffle: vintage | Pink Woven | Floral: custom | Pink Silk: vintage | Pink Yellow Abstract (no longer available) | Cream Linen

Pillows_ Bench Midcentury Modern Emily Henderson_Metallics Gold White Silver copy

Gold and glam and yet totally calm. We have three different metallic pillows, with three different patterns. Throw some rose golds or copper tones in there and you have a total metallic bonanza, suitable for New Years eve, or just every day if you are a party girl. Again, I love how calm and clean this is while still having a personality and a point of view. It’s not just all white, but it feels that calm.

Cream Ruffle: vintage | Gold Chevron (no longer available) | Gold Woven | Gold Dots: vintage | Gold and White Squares (no longer available) | Cream Linen

Pillows_ Bench Midcentury Modern Emily Henderson_Blue White Cream Striped Pattern

A never fail, always happy, gender neutral blue and white world with both pattern and texture. All different patterns with different scales (remember that if the scales are too similar then they compete and are confusing/chaotic for your eye). Do the blue tones match exactly? Nope. Which is why this person doesn’t look like they are super uptight and instead just looks a little more intentional. Less crazy, more sophisticated but still totally fun.

Cream Ruffle: Vintage | Blue and White Geometric | Blue Pinstripe | Blue Half Circle | Blue and White Woven Stripe | Cream Linen

Pillows_ Bench Midcentury Modern Emily Henderson_Neutrals Creams Whites

This chick is bringing Shabby Chic back, and she is convincing me that I might indeed one day eliminate all color in my house. Its neutral and warm with some simple patterns and lots of washed linen. It might look boring here, but picture a whole room of just wood, worn leather, and lots of washed white, neutral and gray textures. I could get into it.

Cream Ruffle: vintage | Circle Print | Tan and White Striped: vintage | Tan and White Striped: vintage | Cream Linen

Pillows_ Bench Midcentury Modern Emily Henderson_Blue Pink Floral Green White

This is the chick you date but don’t marry. Unless you want to marry the drunk, fun girl at the party who may or may not dance on the table. Its full on ‘Crazy lady; and its seriously wonderful. I wish my house could be like this all the time, I truly do. But if this was EVERYWHERE in my house I would go a bit more nuts than I already do. The thing is that visually I’m so attracted to this pillow combination, and I love all of the pillows individually a lot. There are 5 different patterns, and lots of tones of blues and pinks. It’s so exciting and fun, if not totally lunatic. Sign a prenup. This chick will take you for all your worth or publicly accuse you of something weird.

Cream Ruffle: vintage | Blue and Green Floral: vintage | Multicolored Striped: vintage | Floral: custom | Blue and White Geometric | Pink Yellow Abstract (no longer available) | Cream Linen

Pillows_7-Ways-GIF

We should take this game to Vegas and book bets – because I feel like I KNOW which one you guys will choose. I know that picking a  ‘favorite’ is tricky because maybe there is one you love instantly but another that you would ultimately like to be around the most.

So make it a gut reaction, an impulse – a first impression rose.

Pillows_7 Ways_vote grid_revised

If you are wondering how to style pillows together watch this video I made YEARS ago. The tips and rules still apply, also I still wear that shirt every day. And if you are new to the blog check out my full living room tour and the story behind the blimp. 

So get your vote on, folks.

*All photos by Tessa Neustadt for EHD.

0 0 votes
Article Rating

WANT MORE OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM?

Never miss a single post and get a little something extra on Saturdays.

153 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mary
10 years ago

Number 7!

Erin
10 years ago

7. I can’t help myself. And our new house is turning out 7 all over and I am, surprisingly, loving it. I keep thinking I want to be more sophisticated, but it turns out I just want to be happy and layered. Who knew??

10 years ago
Reply to  Erin

This is my constant struggle, seriously. I WANT sleek and sophisticated, but I can’t resist crazy. Ugh.

Emily
10 years ago
Reply to  Kate

Dude. ME TOOO. preaching to the choir 🙂

Jessica Moran
10 years ago
Reply to  Emily

Why oh why do I see #7 as the laid back, carefree, boho girl who loves to travel, sit and drink coffee while having real conversations and is a lover of all things real. She’s either city or country, and nothing in between.

Lisa H.
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Moran

What Jessica said! Also, I am glad I wasn’t alone in voting for the crazy girl, and surprisingly, my second choices would be 1 or 4–opposite end of the spectrum.

10 years ago

I really love the gold and white mix up. And a trip to Curacao is cooler 😉

Monica
10 years ago
Reply to  Huub Ricardo

I agree! #4 is my favorite! (right now)

Lucy
10 years ago

1, and 5 for a close 2nd!

chelsea
10 years ago

#7. I probably couldn’t live with it all the time but it was my gut reaction 🙂

Lynn
10 years ago

#5

Happiest one. 🙂

Megan
10 years ago

5!

Shenoa
10 years ago

I say #1, Steven Alan masculine with a floral shirt. I’m obsessed with stripes and blue florals, so…this is me.

10 years ago
Reply to  Shenoa

Me too for #1…. swear I have a guy designer inside me.

Sheila
10 years ago

I’m usually indecisive but my gut says #2!

Jody
10 years ago

#1 with #7 as a close second. And I definitely clicked on each numerous times looking for a vote button haha

Emily
10 years ago
Reply to  Jody

Its there now!!!

tmcc
10 years ago

Number 7. In my own house it would be #6 or #4, so this gut reaction just taught me that I should try changing it up to see how more colour looks and feels! Thank you.

BLAIR
10 years ago

no. 5. is my favorite. i love all the pillows individually and together.

Donna
10 years ago

Number 5

rebekah
10 years ago

No. 2!

Elisabeth L
10 years ago

No.1

Bethany R
10 years ago

#1 fo sho

10 years ago

7. More interesting and fun (at least for me) =)

Jess Hartnett
10 years ago

#3 please

Kates
10 years ago

Number 3 in the morning and afternoon…but all number 7 in the evening and late night! Sweet and feminine and yet wild and crazy at heart!!!!

Natalie S
10 years ago

#2

10 years ago

can i do a combo? 🙂

From Left to right
start with #1 – White, floral (love this one! and the blue one)
gold chevron from #4

Blue ½ moon or better, gold small same size (dots), #5 blue pinstripe, #7 blue &white geometric, Large Cream Linen.

or # 5!

Annabel
10 years ago

Yes! I’d love to see the ochre/chartreuse/mustard colour that’s in the vintage floral pillow in 1 with some gold pillows – is that weird? Yellow and gold? I feel like its wrong but I like it!

Laurabeth
10 years ago

5

Molly
10 years ago

#1!!

Rachel
10 years ago

#7 – with maybe one more neutral pillow, this is basically my house!

Jill
10 years ago

Toss up between 5 and 7. 5 is soothing and 7 is FUN.

Gale A
10 years ago

#1is my favorite combo and #7 comes next.

ryan
10 years ago

5!!!

nickie
10 years ago

#2 all the way!! It’s the perfect mix of color, classic and vintage!!

Rachael
10 years ago

I DEFINITELY responded most to #2 when initially reading through the post, but looking at them all numbered next to eachother at the bottom, I love #1.

Gretta
10 years ago
Reply to  Rachael

I shrank everything down too and came up with the same result! #1 is interesting yet balanced. I love it without necessarily loving the individual pillows, which means our girl is magic.

Alexandra
10 years ago

torn between 5 and 6!

jenna
10 years ago

Definitely number 7- it’s the one with the most personality for sure 🙂

kelly
10 years ago

#2 for sure. It’s a great combo of pillows and I like this shade of blues better than the others. I’m a sucker for clean/class and minimal which is the vibe I get from this set.

keeley
10 years ago

#5 – love the blue shades

anissa
10 years ago

7!

idontdobeige
10 years ago

7!

Sara
10 years ago

I love #5

10 years ago

oddly enough … #1! 🙂 i love that blue floral one!

Cheryl
10 years ago

7

Erin
10 years ago

Yep. #7, all the way.

Sarah V.
10 years ago

Number 1!

10 years ago

#5

Krista
10 years ago

#5

Crystal
10 years ago

I vote for #1! The blue/green flower pillow reminds me of my grandmother. She had this as curtain fabric in her living room since the 1950s. After her passing I grabbed some leftovers and put it in a frame hanging in my bedroom.

Joanne
10 years ago

I guess I am a Crazy lady! Love it! Great post!

Tricia
10 years ago

I’m a little surprised by this because I’ve been drawn to neutrals lately, but number 7! Maybe I’m just feeling a little unbalanced this morning.

Jessica
10 years ago

#4 with #5 a close runner up!

Michelle
10 years ago

Lucky #7!

K.fish
10 years ago

7!
then 5
then 6

Amanda U.
10 years ago

#7!

Alicia
10 years ago

2, and then 5