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A throw pillow, or toss pillow, is a small, decorative type of pillow. Throw pillows are usually placed on sofas or armchairs but are also frequently used on beds, day beds and floors. Throw pillows serve both an aesthetic and a functional purpose. Decorative pillows are commonly used to tie in color accents within a room, often drawing on the colors in drapes, walls or area rugs. From a functional perspective, throw pillows may provide back, neck and head support, although many throw pillows are very uncomfortable.
Throw pillows typically feature a removable cover with a feather pillow form stuffed inside and come in various sizes and shapes. The most common size throw pillow is 16 to 18 inch square. However, rectangular, circular and cylindrical throw pillows, called bolsters, are also popular. Outside the United States, throw pillows are more commonly referred to as cushions.
Throw pillows and decorative cushions are made from a wide range of textiles including silk, leather, microfibre or faux suede, cotton, linen and hemp. In recent years, decorative pillows have been revived as an artistic medium. Fashion designers have become increasingly attracted to the lucrative home textiles or furnishings market and this has led to a wide range of more embellished looks and styles.
Company logos and photos are placed on pillows as well to give a personalized look.
Cleaning and Care of Throw Pillows
Often, home owners are unsure of how to properly treat & maintain decorative throw pillows. Because of their unique appearance and flamboyant styling, throw pillows can include tassels, ropes, intricate stitching, and other materials that may prove to be problematic when it comes time to clean them. If not treated & cleaned properly, throw pillows can easily lose their vibrant colors, delicate lines, and detailed threading.
The first step when cleaning your throw pillows is to check for any tags on the material. In some cases, the manufacturer of the throw pillow will include cleaning details, and specify whether or not the pillow can be cleaned in a standard washing machine; some throw pillows have a removable cover that is machine-washable. If your pillow is made of a delicate material like silk or velvet, you will have to use a special dry-cleaning fluid in order to hand wash your pillow.
Depending on the material of your pillow, the cleaning product may differ (dry-cleaning specific or soap & water), but the general cleaning process is the same. It is important to slowly and gently rub the throw pillow with your cleaning product in small circles, making sure you test out a small patch beforehand to ensure the product dries without any sort of markings or residue. Once you have gone over the entire throw pillow, allow the material to dry fully in a natural setting, don't run it through a drying machine to safeguard the quality & details of the design.