Personally, we think any naked sofa or armchair is a prime opportunity for layering in more character. Think of the best throw pillows as icing for any drab interior design situation—all of the tough work of shopping for the big investments (couches, coffee tables, media consoles, area rugs) is behind you and now you get to have some real fun.
From square pillows to round designs, textural spheres, down pillows, and even classic square or rectangle silhouettes (that are anything but square, design-wise), the world is your oyster. Whether you’re going monochrome or mixing and matching, there’s no shortage of retailers with best-selling designs that will lend your space the extra oomph it needs to really shine.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up several of our favorite places to shop for throw pillows, whether you’re shopping on a tight budget or guided by a no-holds-barred attitude. There are comfy memory foam picks, sustainably made surfaces, and even luxe fabrics like chenille and jacquard for the absolute pillow aesthetes. Some of these are even large enough to use as floor pillows if you mostly need support for your bottom.
Our Top Picks for the Best Throw Pillows
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The Citizenry is another one of our go-to sources to find the very best throw pillows. They have a timeless collection of gorgeous pillows, each of which is available in multiple sizes and colorways. From suede lumbar pillows to alpaca wool picks, there’s a good chance you'll find the pillow of your dreams in their boho lineup. We're big fans of their pillow pairings section, which takes the guesswork out of layering different patterns and hues together. They also have a great selection of neutral throw blankets to mix and match beautifully with the pillows. Flemish tapestry not in the budget? Their Jangal Jacquard takes notes at a one-hundredth, if not one-thousandth, of the price. The tight weave and muted colors get the spirit of the wall-hanging just right, and the botanical print makes a great value-add against more modern colors and textures (dark brown chenille or white linen are coming to mind, for example).
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Known for their beachy, laid-back California style, Serena & Lily offers a seemingly endless array of pillow covers in their distinctive coastal aesthetic. Shoppers who know what they’re looking for can sort by color, size, price, and indoor or outdoor use to efficiently find the perfect accents for their home. We laud their ability to achieve coastal without going full “Salt Life” with it—no framed sand-dollars here, just rich textures, thoughtful palettes, and playful passementerie.
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Wayfair has throw pillows—and, seemingly, every other home decor object you can think of—in any shape, size, color, and style you might desire. You can even surface designer collabs on the site, like the fetching options below from fashion designer Jason Wu and LA-based interior designer Amber Lewis. Our two contenders feature this silk number with a careful pleat design (does far more legwork than any performance velvet throw in the same shade). In short: a lavish pick for those who’d like to translate their sense of taste, down to the very last detail. At 48” across, our second pick, the wool lumbar pillow, makes a smart statement across your bed or along a broad couch. The Moroccan-inspired print relates a groundedness and warmth in its style that communicates to your guests: relax, have a glass of red wine on my white couch.
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The ever-changing stock at Crate & Barrel (with new designer collaborations dropping all the time) makes it a great place to sprint to for inspiration. The move here is to act quickly before that pillow you’ve been eyeing sells out, and luckily, the prices don’t fall into “investment” territory often. Not only are there ample options for your living room, but the outdoor pillow options are the real gems here. Patterns run the gamut from cabana-inspired stripes and floral motifs to ultrasoft shearling and rich velvet.
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Oprah- and AD-approved retailer Cozy Earth has a small, curated selection of pillows, but we think they’re still worth a mention for their texture and soft hand-feel (especially since the brand’s bedding are so beloved by our editors). Choose from a buttoned-up pinstripe look that means business, or a plush faux fur bubble pillow that pays homage to the matching throw blanket. Just imagine how heavenly it’ll feel to cuddle up with one of these on your next movie marathon.
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Our love for Quince is well-documented, and the brand has a surprisingly robust throw pillow selection that ranges from cozy cashmere to airy linen fabric and even meanders into wildcard textiles like alpaca and suede. For a subdued coastal vibe, we like this chunky wool cover from the brand (Quince’s pillow inserts are sold separately FYI). Alternatively, a suede pillow cover like the one you see here easily blends into earthy colored upholstery (take a cue from Devin Booker's home, where textured pillows in monochrome hues match his custom sectional).
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It should come as no surprise that Etsy—a beacon for home decor obsessives—platforms a global network of makers and artisans. So if you’re having trouble sourcing the exact colorway or print you want at a big box store, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to unearth a rare fabric here (like the Kelly Wearstler serai print below) or, even better, order something completely bespoke to your tastes and sizing preferences. Whether you’re looking for a minimalist linen pillow, velvet shams in a wide range of different colors, or wildly patterned cushion covers, there is at least one seller on Etsy ready to meet you in the middle.
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Pottery Barn has hundreds of throw pillows. You'll find classic hues, high-quality fabrics, and neutral patterns among their 400+ selection. In addition to everyday best sellers, they also have a solid selection of seasonal pillows—all of which are tasteful and never tacky.
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If there’s anything we can count on, it’s the selection at West Elm. Given their wide variety of throw pillow sets, covers, and inserts, chances are you’ll find everything you need right here. In the mix, you’ll find a fair amount of modern shapes, fetching colorways, and designer collabs, like the colorful print by Leah Singh below.
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Always reliable for a little something special in any furniture or decorative accent category (macramé, tie-dye, tufted—you name it), Anthropologie offers a wide variety of pillow colors, shapes, sizes, fabrics, and textures.
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How much do we love Lulu & Georgia’s throw pillows? Let us count the ways (or rather show you a couple of our favorites). Several shams were designed by AD100 designers like Sarah Sherman Samuel and fabric savants like Scalamandre, which makes picking out just one or two among the robust selection of textures, shapes, and materials a lofty task. For farmhouse flair, look to the retailer’s range of sweet, embroidered florals and wallpaper-esque prints. And if you’re opting for thoroughly modern silhouettes, Samuel makes a couple fun shapes, from the clover seen here to orbs and discs in sumptuous boucle and velvet fabrics.
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Fans of rich textures and ’70s design will be perfectly in their element scrolling through the collection at Soho Home. Details like eyelash fringing, subtle embroidery, and embossed velvet designs are an easy way to dress up a mundane sectional or lackluster white couch. Compared to other shops serving up heirloom-worthy pillows, there’s a lot to choose from here, though prices skew slightly higher—starting at $200
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CB2 is one of our go-tos for all things home decor and furniture—and the pillow section is a sleeper hit. From furry shapes and textured patterns to striped pillows and boucle beauties, this is the place to be if you aren’t quite sure what you want (sometimes scrolling through all of the options can help inspire a moment of interior genius, after all). Our favorite part about the CB2 throw pillow section are the shapes though: tubular lumbar designs, spheres, basket-woven cushions, and so much more. It really pushes our definition of what a throw pillow can be.
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GreenRow
GreenRow is for the maximalist looking to layer amongst their already patterned-packed interiors. Cotswolds-inspired plaids and bohemian florals mix with textured embroidery and tufting to create statement throw pillows. Think of this retailer’s selection as for the estate sale enthusiast who hates waiting in line.
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Nordstrom’s home decor section is punctuated with classic pieces in solid colors and under-the-radar artisans like Mungo. Elegant home staples mingle with funky finds that let you take a walk on the wild side, though be aware that stock for some of these pieces isn’t the largest. So if you take a hankering to anything, don’t hesitate to pop it in your digital shopping cart.
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You might know Article as a solid brand to source your next sectional sofa, but the retailer also has a nice selection of both indoor and outdoor pillows that’ll pair quite nicely. From furry rounded designs to woven covers, there’s much to consider. We’re particularly fond of the indoor and outdoor compatible Iver pillow that can handle the rain and the knitted Criss pillow that’ll add a layer of texture to your bed spread or couch.
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Bloomingdale’s
While Bloomingdale’s is more well-known as a fashion destination, they also happen to have a well-stocked home department. Their throw pillows in particular, span high-end options from Burberry and Ralph Lauren to designer-beloved staples like Sferra and Yves Delorme. The selection leans more traditional and sophisticated, with more solid and textured options than playful prints or patterns.
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Parachute’s not just a haven for bedding essentials: The brand stocks a great selection of decorative and throw pillows that give any sofa or bedspread set-up a well-rounded feel. (Take a peek inside founder Ariel Kaye’s home if you don’t believe us!). A lumbar pillow like this natural linen design marries very now colorways with lower back support—especially if you suspect you’ll be lounging awhile on Love Island viewings. The more subdued whip stitch pillow cover features graphic contrast stitching for some minimalist detail that’s not too in-your-face.
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No trip to Target (virtual or physical) is complete without a peek at their furnishings. Their lineup of throw pillows gets us every time. Want colorful and vibrant? Look to Opalhouse Designed with Jungalow. Want farmhouse chic? Check out their collection of Hearth & Hand with Magnolia. Or, check out the always-reliable Threshold brand for classic prints and patterns.
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Design Within Reach is our go-to spot for iconic furniture, but there’s also a solid variety of home decor—and throw pillows. From super bold knotted designs in bright colors and neutral bouclé pillows to patterned lumbar pillows, there are plenty of options to brighten up a corner of your space. If you’re looking for more than one pillow, this is a good site for having some fun: mix and match shapes to level up your decor situation.
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Abask features pieces from celebrated makers such as Japanese textile maker Suzusan, quilters Kate Owen and Pemberton Qwilts, along with The Elder Stateman (the brand spinning cashmere into all kinds of luxe accessories). The retailer also collaborates with design studios like Studio Shamshiri, which is why you can expect to spend extra on the high-end design materials and exquisite craftsmanship. We’d suggest beelining here for the kinds of accents you can’t find anywhere else, ones that will help you elevate your living spaces without calling in an interior designer to curate everything.
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Where To Buy Throw Pillow Inserts
When shopping for throw pillows, pay close attention to whether or not you’re purchasing a pillow and cover as a set or just a standalone sham. In cases of the latter, many of the brands we highlighted, like West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel, sell matching pillow inserts that are guaranteed to be a fit. Bulk deals on pillow multi-packs can also be sourced from retailers like Amazon and Wayfair, where you’ll find no shortage of both down and down-alternative options in just about any dimension you could need. (You’ll just want to be extra thorough about the measurements you're buying for.)
FAQs
How can throw pillows add color and texture to a room?
First, consider what vibe you’re going for—farmhouse? Cottagecore? Modern and minimalist, even? And then try to navigate what sort of textile might remind you of such—for cottagecore, maybe that’s a tartan plaid or an old-fashioned floral; for minimalist, that could be boucle or a solid color chenille. For coastal, a stripe is most definitely in order. Remember that texture can be created with both feel and visuals—plaid offers texture in a different way than velvet, but both communicate dimensionality. Once you have your inspirational textile in mind, come back to us.
What are the most popular materials for high-quality throw pillows?
In this writer’s opinion: raw silk. Nothing feels more luxurious, offers such interesting visual texture, or communicates a high price-point without breaking the bank. Linen pillows also land in a high-ticket category—these always feel polished and sophisticated on a couch, a chair, a bed, and create a relaxed and lived-in vibe that still feels put-together.
How do I match my throw pillows to my sofa?
There's a few different ways to pick out shams that will coordinate with you couch. You'll want to nail down a distinct color palette (hopefully you've already established one when first building out your space). Neutral tones can maintain a modern, streamlined interior style, especially in fabrics like velvet, linen, or bouclé. However, a splashy color or a pattern with clean lines, geometric patterns, or a mix of both can also bring a throw pillow into this century. For classic sofa silhouettes like a Chesterfield, something with a vintage feel—brocade textiles, statement tassels, luxurious velvet—would make an excellent complement.
