Designer Throw Pillows.

*Image above via the ultra-talented Cameron Ruppert.

One of my favorite ways to elevate or refresh a living space is to add a couple of throw pillows in a designer fabric. Much less expensive than reupholstering an entire sofa or chair in the fabric, which I currently find wanton given the age of my children (home decor has a life span of a couple of years with small children around), but still roundly capable of packing a dramatic and high-end punch. (And most of the Etsy sellers below will make the pillows one-sided with a solid fabric on the back, cutting the price further. You can also buy a few of the designer pillows and then mix with simpler solids, like this honeycomb style, this linen style, or this velvet.) This is also a great way to upgrade simple, affordable white bedding — add a bolster pillow in a designer fabric.

If you take nothing else away from this post, though, please note that when buying the insert for a pillow cover, you should buy one 2″ up in size from the dimensions of the pillow cover — e.g., if you buy a 20″ pillow cover, buy 22″ pillows. Trust me. It will work. You will remove the pillow from the box and look at me with suspicion — this will never fit! — but trust, trust! This is the secret to full, happy pillows.

Also, while not for everyone, this flutter slipcovered sofa from CB2 looks ultra high-end/custom to me, especially paired with a couple of the pillows below.

A few designer patterns worth considering:

COLEFAX + FOWLER’S BOWOOD FLORAL PRINT (01. BUT ALSO SEEN IN CAMERON RUPPERT PHOTO AT TOP) HAS BEEN ALL THE RAGE THE LAST YEAR THANKS TO THE GRANDMILLENNIAL TREND

SCHUMACHER’S CHENONCEAU (02.)

LISA FINE’S MUGHAL FLOWER MONSOON (03.)

QUADRILLE’S BALI HAI (04.) IS CURRENTLY AT THE TOP OF MY LUST LIST

THIBAUT’S HONSHU (05. — CURRENTLY IN OUR LIVING ROOM)

SISTER PARISH’S DOLLY PRINT (06.)

KATIE RIDDER’S BEETLECAT (07. — MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE FOR A BOY’S ROOM)

KUFRI’S REX JADE (08.)

SCHUMACHER’S CITRUS GARDEN (09.)

And a handful of others not pictured above…

PIERRE FREY TOILE DE NANTES

SISTER PARISH SERENDIPITY (PLAYROOM, NURSERY, OR BREAKFAST NOOK)

JP&G BAKER’S NYMPHEUS (WE USED TO HAVE THIS IN A FAMILY ROOM IN OUR CHICAGO HOME — SO FUN)

PENDLETON WOOL PLAID (LIBRARY/BASEMENT/FAMILY ROOM)

RIFLE PAPER BOTANICAL LATTICE

BRUNSCHWIG & FILS’ LES TOUCHES

My other strategy? Keeping an eye out in the sale section of home furnishing shops I like. You can often find really great deals on pillows for some reason — it seems like sale-section furniture is always only a modest price break, but pillows? You can find outrageous discounts! Consider, for example, these great S&L pillows for $34.99!

P.S. Great bath mats and cute picks for a little boy’s bathroom. (Still can’t get over this gingham shower curtain for $20!)

P.P.S. Traditional pima cotton/knit outfits for littles.

P.P.P.S. If you want an escape…