Best Decorative Throw Pillows by Style

I've curated the best decorative throw pillows across 9 categories — from classic florals to trusty stripes

Decorative throw pillows on my sofa include: Robert Kime Tynemouth ticking, GP & J Baker Thornham, red ikat, and a Suzani throw pillow

Decorative throw pillows can transform a space by adding character and visual interest through color, pattern, and texture. As an interior stylist, I’m constantly sourcing unique decorative pieces for projects, including every type of throw pillow imaginable. There are SO MANY throw pillow options out there, so I’m going to help you narrow them down.

I find that I return to the same types of throw pillows over and over again because they always look good in a range of spaces. A pleasing grouping of throw pillows typically includes a mix of prints and solids (unless you’re going for a neutral assortment and in that case, a variety of texture is super important). As a rule of thumb, pair small-scale prints with larger prints and solids within the same color palette. Don't be afraid to include a stripe or geometric pattern to complement the small-scale print. When choosing sizes and shapes, go for variety: oblongs next to squares, big and small. You can find more tips and examples in homes in the Sense of Spencer Guide to Styling Throw Pillows.

In this guide, I've curated my favorite throw pillows across nine categories from romantic florals and trusty stripes to solids in a range of colors and fabrics. Each pillow here is something I'd confidently use in my own projects or home. Whether you're refreshing a sofa, styling a chair, or adding the finishing touch to a bed, you'll find options that bring personality and polish to your space.

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sense of spen• cer 

noun [sɛns, əv, ˈspɛnsər]

1. Reflecting one’s identity through their interiors

2. A home with character and soul

3. When a house becomes a home

Best Striped Throw Pillows

There’s nothing more versatile than a stripe which is why they are common to find in almost any pillow combination. There are stripes to suit all different styles and design needs. A ticking stripe has a classic feel while a broken stripe, especially one with varied colors, skews more contemporary and fun. Stripes with more organic lines or artistic variations of lines (zig zags, floral patterns, etc) have an artful quality that makes them great for mixing with other prints.

MICHAEL SMITH | Jasper Dutch Stripe. SOUTHERN TICKING CO | Brown Ticking Stripe. FERMOIE | Hertford Stripe Grey. ROBERT KIME | Tynemouth Ticking Blue.

Best Solid Throw Pillows

Solid throw pillows are foundational for any pillow grouping. Especially when mixed with prints, a solid throw provides balance, but that does not mean it should be boring. When choosing solid throw pillows, you can add visual interest with a color that picks up on one of the colors in the prints, fabric with some texture like wool, velvet, and linen, and design details like fringe and piping.

LO DECOR | Mongolia Mustard. PEPPER HOME | Velvet Custom Pillow. Sage Green Linen Pillow. LO DECOR | Wool Green Cushion.

Best Floral Throw Pillows

Floral throw pillows bring life and romance to any space, but they can be interpreted so differently depending on the style and scale of the print. Large-scale blooms make a bold design statement, while smaller, delicate prints feel more traditional and cottage-inspired. Florals with a slightly faded or vintage quality feel collected, and of course a classic chintz emulates the relaxed elegance of the English country style.

Red and ivory floral. JASPER FABRICS | Malmaison - Fontaine. LEWIS AND WOOD | Hindi Rose. Floral chintz pillow cover.

Best Global Throw Pillow

Global throw pillows, like ikats, suzanis, and kilims, fit nicely with eclectic, bohemian, or traditional design schemes. You’re just as likely to find a kilim throw pillow in an English country-inspired room as in a Haute bohemian Parisian apartment. Because of their bold designs, global pillows work best in small doses either standalone, as a single pillow on a chair, or as the finishing touch in a grouping of more toned down prints and solids. For a bold statement, you can arrange several global pillows with the same print together.

Silk Ikat Pillow. KIT KEMP | Lost and Found. Suzani Pillow Cover. Vintage Kilim Pillow.

Best Small Print Throw Pillows

When mixing and matching patterns, a small print throw pillow is essential because it provides valuable contrast with larger prints and stripes. Along with solid throw pillows, the small repeating patterns, which often are inspired by nature or classic design elements, help to seamlessly blend all the other throw pillows.

PIERRE FREY | Le Grand Corail Vermicule Positif. GP & BAKER | Thornham. SISTER PARRISH | Bruma. GP & BAKER | Seed Pod.

Best Geometric Throw Pillows

Geometric throw pillows are a variation of a small print, and as such, they mix really nicely with larger scale prints. Unlike small print pillows, which typically are softer and more organic by design, geometric prints are bold and graphic, and thus have a more modern sensibility.

l'OPIFICIO | Gold Carrè Cushion. ANNA KIRK | Broken Stripe. SCHUMACHER x RITA KONIG | Ronnie. WALTER G | Condessa.

Best Throw Pillows for English Country Style

Decorative throw pillows are a key element to achieving the cozy, layered, and slightly rustic aesthetic of the English country style. You’ll see a mix of patterns inspired by nature, especially floral throw pillows, classic stripes (see above), and global motifs like ikats, suzanis, and kilims (see above).

SOANE | Karun Thakar. SUSAN DELISS | Artemis. SOANE | Scrolling Fern. ROBERT KIME | Indian Pear.

Best Ruffled Throw Pillows

A ruffle is simply a design element that can be added to any pillow, but a ruffled pillow tends to be made with a small print or stripe (sometimes with a contrasting print on the ruffle) that feels charming and whimsical. A ruffled pillow can be a perfect finishing touch on a feminine bed or grouped together with a mix of other ruffled pillows in a seating area.

OTTOLINE | Improvisation. SANDERSON | Truffle Damson. IAN MANKIN | Devon Stripe. COUSIN HOME | Blooming Truffle.

Best Check Throw Pillows

Check throw pillows is another type of small print throw pillow. Like stripes, checks are considered a classic and timeless print and can often be used interchangeably with them, pairing well with florals and solids or standing alone as a simple yet effective decorative element.

CHELSEA TEXTILES | Rust Check. MAISON DE VACANCES | Vichy Cottage Washed Linen. COLEFAX & FOWLER | Langham Check. COLEFAX & FOWLER | Minack Check.

Want more ideas on how to mix and match these throw pillows? See our throw pillow styling guide for combinations that work, tips on arranging pillows, and real examples from stylish homes.

Remember, the most important thing to keep in mind is variety — vary the design, shape, and size of the pillows. A harmonious blend of throw pillows comes from mixing scales, textures, and a bit of unexpected contrast. Pair a floral with a check and a solid in a bold color; add a lumbar pillow to break up the squares; opt for fringe on one of the pillows for a little texture.

It’s a lot, I know! Hopefully, these throw pillow options give you a better sense of the possibilities. If you're overwhelmed by choices, start with 2-3 pillows in a cohesive color palette — you can always add more later.

Looking for even more throw pillow options? Stay tuned for Part 2 of this guide, where I'll be sharing animal print pillows, chinoiserie styles, neutrals that are anything but boring, and many more.