I shared a couple of days ago that I was going to make some custom pillow covers for the family room sectional. It came with pillows, but they weren’t my style/colors. Making pillow covers in fabrics that tie my style and colors with the sectional is a great way to make something feel a little more custom and cohesive.
I already had the checked blue pillows, so I kept those and made some more out of antique linen tea towels with blue embroidery and Waverly’s Country House Linen Cameo Toile.
(I was going to add the gray linen in there as well, but decided against it.)
Kriste made the piping, cut out the fabric, and pinned the pillows and then I sewed them together (more tag-teaming on this project!) We worked together to get them all hand-stitched closed. I know I should put zippers on my pillows, but I just don’t take the time to do that. Sometimes I’ll make ties or something, but most of the time, I just sew them on. I have found that pillows are something I change out pretty frequently, so I make them simply and then make a new cover when I’m ready for a different look.
And they look great. As intended, they really tie everything together.
The quilts really bring things together, too, and we actually do pull them off the back to snuggle up in. I purchased the snowflake/ feathered star quilt on Etsy and the nine-patch/chain at the Raleigh Flea Market.
We made a couple of pillows for the chairs that flank the window behind the sofa as well. Again, it just repeats a design element I used on the sofa, tying things together.
I love the pattern on these pillows.
I shared the cross-stitch pattern for them HERE, if you want to make your own…
If you’re interested making pillows like the ones I made in this post, here is a tutorial…
Simple Pillow Tutorial (with piping)
24 Responses
I like that you added some other colors besides blue into your rooms. It gives the room more depth and character. Always lovely pictures to look at – you are truly a talented photographer.
I, too, love the added colors to your favorite blues & whites. The gold, green, and brown truly warm up your home. Looking more like some of your Instagram pics that I’ve enjoyed!
I love the pillow combination. Part of me wants to hop through the picture and swap the pillows on the armchairs to see i like it that way better! Of course i like it your way too though 🙂
lovely and inviting. I envy not only your sense of style but your get-it-done attitude.
It’s so pretty! I am loving blue and yellow lately. You’ve probably shared this somewhere else, but can you tell me the paint colors on your light blue wall and wainscoting?
Adore the way you use different fabrics here…there’s enough contrast yet its all so cohesive. I’m in love with the colors and the atmosphere of this room!
I also struggle with everyday styling (or really any styling at all) and I would love to hear some specific tutorials or tips from you as you are working on it! The more specific, the better in my book! Thank you–I sure enjoy your blog!
Marian, Love your pillow you made. They add so much to the overall scheme of things. After seeing you post the Darjeeling Blue Stone fabric I fell in love with it. I went online and found it and ordered enough to make drapes in my great room. Really love the colors in this fabric. I have a brown leather couch and it blends and brightens up the space so much. Love looking at your home and all things you create. Have been trying my hand at chalk painting too.
That’s one reason I love the fabric. it ties into the brown sofa and floor and still works well with blue & white. (I’m actually making drapes for my family room as well out of it and I’m moving the cream linen drapes to the living & dining rooms.)
It looks so lovely and the sofa and fabric are perfection! Love it!
If you come downstairs one morning and find that French daybed missing….
Kidding! It’s all very pretty.
I too love the addition of your pillows. The rich brown, gold and taupe colors really make everything else look so inviting. I am no designer but I would love to see some of that warmth transfer to your walls. It seems to me that a very soft taupe on the walls would really make your ironstone, curtains and upholstered pieces just pop! It would make your wood floors and the wood on your settee and armchairs really shine. I think that your blue fabrics and blue bench would steal the show!
hmmm that is what I was thinking also. But these pillows do warm it up .
wow! what a difference. Really warms the room up, the blue striped with…. tan or gold? Is very warming and cozy, yet a pop of color. It is hard isn’t it, to get the feel you want and finish the “look”. I have a warm light golden tan on my walls that make me feel cozy in the winter and sunny in summer. However I have jewel tones for accents..teal etc. I am enjoying your new way of doing things, via workshop, so you have time at home to do other things for just you and family!
Very soothing, love it all!
Pillows are such an easy way to change the look of a space! I love your choices……you always pull off everything you try and give us so much inspiration!
The choices of fabrics are really a great addition to your room. Marian, I hope you don’t mind a small suggestion that will give your pillows a much fuller and more finished look. I notice the corners on most of you pillows are collapsed and empty. If while sewing your pillow covers if you sew some quilt batting into each corner, the corners will no longer be empty and give you a much fuller looking pillow once the pillow form in placed inside the cover. 51Hope you find this helpful.
I have always been a “warm” person…wood tones, burnt reds, yellows, brown, black. Often in the name of “neutral.”
I am starting to add more “cool” tones to my home…bright reds, whites, blues, teal. I have discovered that too much of either is not good…too much warm and you can find yourself in a “dark and dank” world…too much “cool” and you tend to be too sterile.
Balance…I still love the warmth of wood and the perfect warm color…but I am loving the addition of vibrant colors!
Personally, I love the changes…before it seemed a little “washed out” to me…this seems a little more balanced!
Great post! I hear you on the “how do I decorate now that we’re well past the babyproofing stage”? I remember feeling devastated having to put my precious decorations away when the boys were babies. Now I’m glad we sold a lot of that stuff because my style has changed SO much since then. It’s fun being able to rediscover your style as the kids get older!
Love the pillows as well.
Is that the Pottery Barn rug I see a little of in the picture at the bottom.
Which one is it and is it holding up well and is it soft?
So, so beautiful! What an inviting room. I’m the same way with “finishing” – get to good enough then lose some steam. Trying to be better about that!
The pillows look gorgeous, my favourite colours..blue and white 🙂
Lee
the couch is so amazing…pillows are a great splash of color…
The pop of yellow in the pillows is just perfect for the room… and there is no way to even tell you how much i love the gingham settee…. The whole room is just so charming and yummy…
Cindy