One of the main focal points in any bedroom design is the bed and decorative bed pillows help add to the design. You've probably even seen design shows on TV or pictures in magazines with those inviting looking beds that have the plumped up pillows, haven't you?
You might have even looked at your own bed and thought how great it would look with some decorative pillows - maybe you even tried this yourself but couldn't quite achieve the look that you see in the designer rooms. Luckily, it isn't that hard to get this look -you've probably just been going about the wrong way.
Decorative
The first thing is you need to buy the right kinds of pillows. Chances are the regular bed pillows that you sleep on every night aren't going to do the trick. You want decorative pillows that have interesting fabrics and designs. Now that's not to say that a plain cotton pillow case with a nice stripe down by the end or a a layer of lace on the edge won't look fabulous because they will with the right design. The key is to pick pillows with fabrics and patterns that go with your overall look.
You don't want to have too many different patterns in the pillows, maybe some with a pattern and some that are plain but have a color that pick up the pattern. You can use interesting fabrics like silks, brocades and velvets as well as interesting accents on the pillows such as tufting, fringe and embellishments. What you choose really depends on your bedroom design.
The key to the plumping is that you have to set up the pillows in layers. You can't lay them down flat like you do when you're sleeping or you'll just end up with a big pile of pillows! You have to arrange them standing up on their edges and in rows.
The back layer of pillows should be a bit larger than the rest. You want to have either three or five pillows for this back row depending on how large the bed is and the size of the pillows. Stand them up on the edges and lean them against the headboard.
The second layer of pillows should be a little smaller than the back layer because you want to be able to still see the decorative back pillows. You'll also want less of them as you want the pillow arrangement to extend out from the headboard in sort of a triangular shape. So if you used three pillows in the back row try two in the row in front of it. Set those on their edges and lean them against the back row pillows.
Now you could make more layers, but three layers is pretty standard you don't want to many pillows or your whole bed is just going to be layers of pillows. For the last layer I like to use a bolster pillow - one of those long rounded tubular pillows that has a fancy fringe or tassel on the end. If you don't want to do this just use some smaller pillows for the front. These probably wouldn't be bed pillows but little decorative pillows that are smaller than your second row pillows and simply place those leaning against the second row pillows on their edges.
Viola! Now you have perfectly plumped decorative bed pillows that will give your bedroom design a professional look.
Bedroom Decorating - Using Decorative Bed Pillows For A Professional Look
Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs And Decorations where you can get more decorating ideas and see photos of how to arrange your decorative bed pillows.