“Throw pillows are such a fun way to accent a room,” says Decorist designer Katy Byrne. “They’re a great source for color and holiday decorating. With that said, they are easy to over-accumulate!” We asked for a few experts to weigh in with their suggestions on where to store our excess pillows when not in use, and we were thrilled to find that there are a variety of solutions we’d never really considered. Just remember that, whatever placement options you’ve considered, the floor should not be one of them. If you’re reading this and thinking you’re fine tossing your pillows on the floor, we beg you to reconsider. “Keeping pillows off the floor is important for several reasons,” explains Judy Williams, creator of the Stow + Stack Pillow Rack. “Allergens [in] pillows create acne and can make us wake up with stuffed sinuses. Pillows on the floor can be tripped over, especially on tile or wood floors, which are slippery. [Plus,] to wake up in a well-organized bedroom and go to bed in a peaceful spacious bedroom is a wonderful feeling!”
Buy Some Beautiful Baskets
“[The question of where to store pillows] corresponds with another question we get a lot: how to use these beautiful woven baskets we carry at our store,” say Tanya Willock and Temidra Willock-Morsch of Hidden Gem, a home design shop. “Baskets are a perfect alternative to more traditional storage and a great place to store pillows! [They’re also] great for filling empty spaces in a room … they keep pillows neat and tucked away but also look very stylish.” Louise Wicksteed, design director for Sims Hilditch Interior Design, agrees. “[We often] place wicker baskets in choice spots around the home to ensure any errant pillows or throws can be placed neatly within, to avoid clutter and mess.”
Look for a Bench With Storage
“The key to maintaining your pillow addiction is hidden storage,” says Byrne. “There are so many great benches, ottomans, and even sectionals now with hidden storage. I personally utilize ottomans with removable tops for throw blankets and pillows. It’s an easy way to keep your space from feeling cluttered.” If your throw pillow problem is primarily in the bedroom, Willock and Willock-Morsch suggest looking into a furniture piece that doubles as a storage solution. “Some rooms have space for benches, like bedrooms with benches at the foot of the beds or under windows. Find a bench that matches your aesthetic and has space for storage.”
Invest in a Specialty Solution
“If you have extra floor space or a space in the closet, some companies sell a fixture that holds pillows,” note the Hidden Gem sisters. “Most are very sleek and streamlined and make storing pillows easy. These are perfect for any room and would make an excellent solution for pillows displayed in the kitchen or dining room.” “My pillow racks are used in guestrooms frequently,” says Williams. “When guests arrive to an often space-challenged guest-room, they bring luggage to store and use in that guest-room, leaving almost no room for extra bed and decor pillows.” And if you’re worried a single-use storage solution is unnecessary, Williams has suggestions for other short-term uses. “I use a Pillow Rack near the front door to hold winter coats when I entertain,” she says. “That way, guests can store and collect their coats when closet space is not available, and they don’t need to leave their coats thrown on an upstairs bed, out of sight … [they’re also great for] family rooms, laundry rooms, and bathrooms (for towel stacking).”
Dedicate a Drawer or Cabinet
Decorist designer Ashley Mecham suggests dedicating space specifically for the extra cushions. If space is particularly tight, think outside the expected places. “Consider an extra cabinet in the kitchen to store extra pillows,” she says. “A chest of drawers presents a great option for storing throw pillows,” agrees Nia Rossiter, interiors expert and director of Penderyn Antiques. “To get the most from storing throw pillows in a chest of drawers, it’s important to ensure the drawers aren’t overloaded. For further compartmentalization or a different look, you could take the bottom drawer out and put baskets in their place.” If you do opt to use a chest of drawers, Rossiter has some tips. “Drawers don’t need to be lined, [but] it is always good practice to do so, as it can avoid any musty smells getting into your fabrics,” she says. “[This] can sometimes be released from the wood. [Lining the drawers also helps] with avoiding any potential snagging from roughness.” “The key to getting the most out of chest of drawer storage for throw pillows is to consider which drawer you plan to use for the storage,” explains Rossiter. “For example, an antique chest of drawers will usually have graduating drawers. As such, the bottom drawer will be the deepest [and best for storing pillows]. When sourcing an antique chest of drawers, ask for the internal height of the bottom drawer. Anything over 20cm [nearly 8 inches] will work for throw and pillow storage.”
Shop Vintage
Antique chests of drawers aren’t the only vintage storage solution. If you want a storage option with a story and some charm, Rossiter suggests looking at antique items that might have served another purpose in a previous life. “Antique trunks and coffers are a great alternative for storing throw pillows,” she says. “These can go in any room—at the bottom of the bed, which can also be used as a seat, [or] in the living room, which can also be used as a coffee table.”
Work With What You’ve Got
Before you run out to stock up on pillow storage, know that buying something new isn’t a requirement. Willock and Willock-Morsch note that there are plenty of pre-existing places that should work just fine. “You can always find somewhere clear to toss your pillows—like a window bench or neatly displayed by the fireplace,” they say. However or wherever you end up storing your pillows at night or while using your sofa, as long as it’s clean and out of the way, you’ve got a solid storage spot—but a few extra baskets won’t hurt anything.
