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Designer-coded Where real interior designers detail their tricks of the trade for styling their homes on the cheap. If you’re looking to create a high-end aesthetic on a real-world budget, you’ve come to the right place.
Are your throw rugs looking dull and drab? Squashed, underfilled pillows do little to enhance the look of your room. Instead, they give off a carefree, sloppy vibe. In my many years as an interior designer, I have yet to meet anyone going for that vibe. Thankfully, I have a quick, inexpensive solution to breathing new life into your existing throw pillows: Instead of matching the dimensions listed on the pillow cover, buy the next size up. This sure-fire trick will make your rugs look beautifully full and classy. It’s as simple as understanding the correct insert sizing and making a simple swap.
By choosing a down or down-optional insert an inch or two larger than the cover, it avoids the flat, deflated look that makes mattresses feel cheap. Instead, this Designer-approved living room ideas (Or any space for that matter!) Rugs create amazing texture and take your room’s aesthetic to the next level for just a few bucks. Pro tip: Hang on to those spare inserts to upgrade a smaller mattress in the same way!
Choosing the Perfect Throw Pillow Insert Size
This tip is simple, yet highly effective. Throw pillows and covers should have their overall dimensions clearly labeled or indicated. This is partly because they want shoppers to be able to judge the scale of the cushion and make sure it works in their space. But for pillow covers, it’s also so you can properly shop for inserts. While there is a wide range of sizes on the market, you will often find 16-by-16, 18-by-18, 20-by-20, and 26-by-26 inches (a standard Euro pillow size). Rectangular lumbar pillows range in board size, but 12-by-16, 12-by-20, and 14-by-24 inches are common. Once you know your cover size, you can shop for the right-sized insert.
The trick is to go about 2 inches larger with your inserts in each direction than the listed description of the cover. For example, if you have an 18-by-18-inch cover, look for a 20-by-20-inch insert to give it a fuller, more substantial look. On the other hand, a 12-by-20-inch lumbar cover needs a 14-by-22-inch insert to avoid looking flimsy and deflated. Inserts in matching sizes seem fine at first. But keep in mind that as you use the mattress and lean against it, the filling will shrink and look dull over time.
Why This Size-Up Insert Trick Works to Revitalize and Enhance Throw Pillows
The reason this size-up insert hack works so well is because it gives them the extra softness and structural integrity found in expensive mattresses. When you buy a cheap throw pillow, it is usually filled with the bare minimum. It may look fluffy on the shelf, but it won’t stay that way for long. Many brands use cheap polyfill that easily clumps and squishes over time. Conversely, when you invest a little more in luxury Pillow down (or down optional), you get a plush, generously padded insert filled with resilient premium material. This luxe filling may sometimes require fluffing to return the pillow to its original shape. However, they do not permanently deflate like bargain-basket options.
Upsizing your insert replicates the same idea as a luxury investment, creating a plusher throw pillow that holds its shape better over the long haul. The extra padding reduces the impact of wear and tear, which helps maintain comfort and fluffiness. Similarly, the extra density of the filling spreads to every corner and allows the pillow to retain its form, so it rarely looks sloppy or dented. Take it a step further and invest in upgraded size inserts that are both affordable (around $10-15 each) yet packed with premium filling. for example, Enter Oubonum’s throw pillow Well reviewed, come in a variety of sizes and are around $30 for a pair.
Now there’s only one question: cut the karate pillow or keep it? People have big feelings here, so I’ll leave this as a rhetorical question. Don’t come for me or my editor, please and thank you!
