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Pillows can make or break your bedroom décor, no matter whether you’re a Marie Kondo-worshipping minimalist or a proud maximalist. While it’s easy to say that you can throw a couple of pillows on a bed and call it a day, a little bit of effort is needed to level up your pillow arrangement game. And we’re here to give you a few tips on how to arrange pillows on a bed in a way that’s beautiful and also functional.
How to arrange pillows on a bed
Arranging pillows on a bed require a little more imagination coupled with an eye for symmetry than just finding a pillowcase you like and wrapping all your pillows in them. We do realize that everyone’s sense of style and room décor aesthetics are wildly different, so we’ll be focusing more on the symmetrical side of pillow arranging – one that corresponds to your mattress/bed size.
Feel free to use any size pillow you want as long as you follow this rule: biggest at the back, medium in the middle, smallest pillows in front.
Twin bed
For twin bed pillow arrangements, it’s actually best to go with a mix of King pillows, standard sleeping pillows and some accent pillows. King pillows, you might ask? Yes, hear me out.
Because a twin size bed is usually meant for a single person, its size only ever allows for one main pillow hence a bigger pillow like a King pillow – see our Airweave pillow review for a good example – will do nicely as a main piece. Prop up against the headboard and don’t allow to lay flat. Let it assert its dominance, so to speak. If your bed does not have a headboard or is open frame, then you can of course lay it flat but let the following pillows be upright.
Now, if you’re the type who needs a pillow to hug and a pillow between your legs (I am), then add two standard pillows that will act as decorative pieces while also being thoroughly functional.
Now for the proverbial cherry on top, add a round bolster pillow as an accent pillow to round the look out. This look will pop even more if your accent pillow is in a complementary color to that of your other pillows and bedding. Who says twin beds are boring?
Full bed
A full bed can just about snugly fit two averaged-size people very nicely. This bed calls for coziness, and by all means we must give in.
A full size bed can just about fit 2 King-size pillows, 2 Queen-size pillows, two standard-size pillows and an accent pillow like a Euro pillow (or two). During cozy season, I even add a couple of throw pillows into the mix. Source? Me. I have a full-size bed.
If you plan to go the simple pillow arrangement route for your full bed and not go overkill like I did (I like pillow cuddles, ok?), either choose two King pillows or 2 Queen pillows as your main then add either one accent pillow or even two accent pillows as your focal point. In just a few seconds, you have a pulled together bedroom with just a couple of tweaks to your pillow arrangements.
Queen bed
Now, this is where you can really start having fun with your pillow arrangement. With a Queen bed, you have a little more room to play and experiment.
In your Queen bed pillow arrangements, you’ve got multiple options when it comes to pillow combinations:
- The Minimalist – 2 Queen size pillows + 2 standard pillows or 2 Euro pillows
- The Minimalist with a twist – 2 Queen size pillows + 2 standard pillows or Euro pillows + throw pillows or two accent pillows
- The Maximalist – 2 Queen pillows + 2 standard pillows or Euro shams pillows + 2 throw pillows and however many throw pillows as you want and an accent pillow or a decorative pillow
Obviously, these are not the only combinations you can try. You can certainly mix and match your Queen beds pillow arrangements. Some people need a lumbar pillow or a body pillow for extra support and feel free to include them as needed.
King bed
You can cover your King size bed with a ton of pillows and still have a lot of room. In a King bed pillow arrangement, you can follow the minimalist or maximalist’s style as mentioned above in the Queen bed pillow arrangement, but using King size pillows and King sized shams and adding more as you see fit.
But King bed pillow arrangements don’t necessarily only need King size pillows – you can use any size pillows you want as long as you follow the golden rule when you arrange pillows, as mentioned previously.
For example: 2 King size pillows + 2 Queen pillows (see our Nuzzle Pillow review for an example) + Two Euro pillows (or even three Euro pillows) + 2-3 accents such as throw, round or square pillows as decorative pieces.
King beds can fit up to two large Euro pillows or even three European shams and still leave plenty of room to add more pillows on your bed – whether decorative or functional. If you choose to add decorative pillows, choose throw pillows that are larger than average for the best pillow arrangements that will look symmetrical with your King size bed. Again, arrange your pillows with the largest at the back and the smallest at the fore.
Throw pillow arrangements in a bedroom
There are so many throw pillows that come in different sizes and shapes. Be it round, square or rectangular, the choices are totally up to you. Obviously, you need to choose shapes and styles that would go with your current bedroom décor but the rule of thumb is, decorative pillows like throw pillows or accent pillows should always be placed at the very front.
Personally, I usually choose tow or three color coordinated throw pillows in neutral or muted tones and then one colorful accent pillow for a pop of color. But other times, I like bright, contrasting colors all around. It really all boils down to your personal preferences.
How many pillows on a bed?
How much is too much? To be fair, you can put as many pillows on a bed as you want and still be able to sleep in it. Most people just take off the pillows they don’t need off the bed once it’s bed time. But that can be time-consuming and sometimes even unsanitary (especially if you’re someone who just chucks the extra and unneeded pillows onto the floor). Look at some of our pillow storage ideas if you don’t know what to do with the extras.
It also depends on how many people are sleeping on a bed as well as your sleeping partner’s pillow preferences. Usually couples have two pillows on each side of the bed and then decorate as needed.
Singles, depending on their bed size, have a pillow to lay their head on and a pillow to hug or straddle. Yet others are happy with just one standard pillow to lie on. I prefer symmetry, even if it’s just me sleeping on a full or Queen bed, and I must have a symmetrical pillow arrangement. It just makes your bed look full and cozy and inviting that way.
No matter the size of a bed, unless you sleep on a Twin/Single, two bed pillows are key and just add as you go.
FAQs
Depending on your bed size, two main pillows (ones you lay your head on), a standard pillow as an extra and a couple of decorative or accent pillows are usually sufficient. If you go way past 6, make sure you have a bigger sized bed like a King or California King, otherwise your bed would just look to cluttered.
It is better to sleep with two pillows. One beneath your head and one can be used as a body pillow. Sleeping on top of two pillows though is usually not recommended by healthcare professionals.
As accent pieces, 2-4 decorative pillows are more than enough for a full bed and sizes up.
The largest pillows should always be placed next to the headboard for optimum symmetry.
You can color coordinate pillows in a bedroom by matching them to the color of your bedding or the overall theme of your room.
Conclusion
There is so much more to pillow arrangements than just throwing a couple of pillows on a bed. The most beautiful pillow arrangements often are symmetrical and match the color theme of the bed (like the duvet cover and flat sheets) as well as the overall room aesthetic.
There are many way to arrange pillows and it is up to you which sizes and types to choose but the largest pillows must always be at the back and the smallest at the front.
Next step: Read our guide to the best down alternative pillow. Down pillows are extremely comfortable but can also be extremely expensive. Down alternative pillows are a much more affordable option that are just as comfortable as their authentic down counterparts. They fit well in any type of bedroom pillow arrangement.
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