Pillows. You fluff them, put them in their place, and lay your head down on them—seems simple, right? Well, how to arrange pillows on a bed can be a bit more complex than that. And if you’ve ever wondered where, exactly, your throw pillows are supposed to sit on top of your bed, you’re not alone. How to arrange pillows on a bed all depends on your personal style, your bedding choice, and, of course, the pillows themselves.

Aside from your bedding, pillows are one of the best ways to make your bedroom (and your bed itself) reflect your personal style. You can go for a perfectly neat, all-white hotel look, or you can use a throw pillow or a sham to bring in an eye-catching color or pattern. The key—no matter what your personal pillow preference may be—is balance. And it can take some trial and error to figure out what works for your space!

Luckily, Havenly’s interior designers have had plenty of practice—they know how to arrange pillows on a bed to suit all kinds of bedroom styles. So, if you’re looking for an easy and fun way you can refresh your bedroom in just a few minutes, these clever, no-fluff ideas from Havenly designers Toussaint Derby and Heather Goerzen might be just what you were looking for. 

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: Clean & Simple

Don’t particularly want to pile your bed high with pillows? No problem. This styling choice is decidedly unfussy and elegant, especially paired with Interior Define’s Cecilia Bed. Plus, it’s pretty much foolproof to pull off (even when your eyes are still groggy with sleep). 

How to get the look:

• Arrange two sleeping pillows side by side at the head of your bed
• Cover them with a linen bed cover, tucking it in slightly at the bottom seam of the pillows

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: Stacked & Propped

This bed styling is neat and elevated, but still perfectly fun. Keep your sleeping pillows simply stacked and choose small lumbar pillows that bring in a playful pattern, like these beauties from The Inside.

How to get the look:

• Lay four sleeping pillows on top of one another in piles of two
• Prop two smaller lumbar pillows in front

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: Layered Neutrals

If pattern mixing or vivid colors aren’t quite your vibe, consider creating dimension with contrasting textures. Boucle lumbar pillows look especially polished on this neutral slipcovered bed from The Inside. 

How to get the look:

• Prop two neutral-colored sleeping pillows against your headboard
• Layer a textured lumbar pillow in front of each pillow

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: In The Middle

This plush pillow arrangement makes a neutral bed look even more inviting, thanks to its mix of throw pillows. With four sleeping pillows, it’s a great option for the people who like to feel like they’re sleeping in a cloud.

How to get the look:

• Lay four sleeping pillows flat at the head of your bed
• Position two large 26-inch pillows in front
• Prop a 24-inch pillow, in a contrasting fabric, in between the two larger pillows 

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: High Contrast

You might typically bring trimmed pillows to the front of your pillow arrangements, but consider propping them up in the back for a cool detail-driven look. The result is cool and refined. 

How to get the look:

• Prop up two normal-size pillows in contrasting trim pillowcases against your headboard
• Prop two neutral sleeping pillows in front of them
• Lay a long lumbar pillow in a dark color in front

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: Reverse It

Normally, you might think to arrange your smaller pillows in front, and your larger shams in back — but what if you switched things up? This twist on a more expected style creates visual breathing room, and gives a more traditional-leaning space a modern feel. 

How to get the look:

• Stack four sleeping pillows in piles of two at the head of your bed
• Add two regular shams in front of those pillows
• Add two larger shams — ideally in a contrasting color or pattern — in front of the smaller shams

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: Back to Basics

When your bed itself is statement-making (like this one from The Inside), it can feel more natural to keep your pillows as simple as can be. Skip the throws and simply stack your sleeping pillows! 

How to get the look:

• Arrange four sleeping pillows completely flat, in piles of two, at the head of your bed
• That’s it!

How to Arrange Pillows On a Bed: Easy Breezy

Arranging pillows on a bed doesn’t have to require following a strict formula. Keep your sleeping pillows simple and get a mix of different complementary throw pillows to accessorize. The result is visually pleasing, without looking too “done.”

How to get the look:

• Lay two sleeping pillows flat at the head of your bed
• Toss three throw pillows in a mix of colors, patterns, and sizes in front

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Luxe Layers

If you’re looking for a grand look fit for a main bedroom suite, you can’t go wrong with this layered, symmetrical pillow combination. While it requires roughly nine pillows give or take, it’s timeless and allows for a lot of different color and pattern combinations.

How to get the look:

• Stack four standard-sized sleeping pillows on top of one another
• Layer two queen or king-sized shams to cover the width of the bed
• Add two large 20-inch square pillows in front  
• Finish with one long lumbar pillow in front 

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Relaxed Refinement

There’s something so relaxed and refined about a double or triple sham situation. It’s clean and easy, but still visually appealing. You can play with solids or patterns for the Euro shams, but we like something with a little bit of texture—bonus points for tassels or subtle fringe. 

How to get the look:

• Stack four standard-sized sleeping pillows on top of one another
• Layer two queen-sized or three king-sized Euro shams in front

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Effortless Minimalism

If you’re looking for no-fuss, pared back elegance, skip the shams and lean into well-crafted linens for your pillowcases. This look, which pairs four standard-sized sleeping pillows with two small lumbar pillows, is minimal and even a bit utilitarian, giving off an effortlessly beautiful Wabi-Sabi feel.

How to get the look:

• Rest four standard-sized sleeping pillows vertically against your headboard
• Layer two smaller lumbar pillows in front

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Hotel-Inspired

This look is inspired by the beautifully polished bedding at your favorite boutique hotel. These “bedscapes” almost always feature white Euro shams layered with a more playful pattern or luxe velvet pillow. The look is crisp, luxurious, and undeniably classic—especially when you give each pillow a clean chop. 

How to get the look:

• Rest two king-sized sleeping pillows vertically against the headboard
• Layer three crisp white Euro shams in front 
• Add two large 20-inch square pillows spaced evenly in front

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Pattern Play

If you love a more layered vibe that embraces color and pattern, this look is for you. It’s a traditional layered look, but with a hint of warmth, character, and whimsy. Work within a cohesive color palette, but feel free to mix and match textures, prints, and colors.

How to get the look:

• Rest two standard-sized sleeping pillows vertically against the headboard
• Layer two queen-sized or king-sized Euro shams to cover the width of the bed
• Add another layer of two queen-sized or king-sized shams in a contrasting pattern
• Bring in two or three 18-inch square pillows in front, in yet another hue and texture

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Asymmetric Elegance

For those who truly embrace eclectic and carefree design, forget symmetry altogether and mix an assortment of pillows in varying sizes, colors, and prints. Just make sure that there’s some sort of cohesive palette or style to bring the look to life. 

How to get the look:

• Stack two or four standard-sized bed pillows on top of one another.
• Mix and match four to five different pillows in a variety of sizes with complementary colors and patterns. 
• Try mixing one 26-inch square pillow with two 22 to 24-inch squares, one 20-inch square, and a lumbar in front.

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Peekaboo Color

While this bedroom is, by and large, fairly minimal, it gets inventive when it comes to pillow arrangements. The Euro shams take a backseat to three smaller white pillows. This is a great option for neutral lovers who want to bring just a touch of color into their space—the small peek of blue here is just right.

How to get the look:

• Start with two 20-inch Euro shams in a bold color or pattern
• Arrange three 18-inch Euro shams in front, creating a peekaboo effect

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Sweet Simplicity

Still not sure how to arrange pillows on a bed? Sometimes, the simplest option is the best. Ample amounts of pillows aren’t for everyone, and just because your Instagram feed may be filled with all kinds of throws doesn’t mean you need to put any on your bed. A simple and neat arrangement of sleeping pillows can, and does, look effortlessly chic—especially when they’re stacked directly on top of one another. 

How to get the look:

• Stack four standard-sized sleeping pillows on top of one another
• That’s it!

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Solitary Standout

Tried the simple look and felt like it was missing something? Consider this your proof that a single lumbar pillow can completely transform your bed. Because the stacked white sleeping pillows are so clean and minimal, the pretty patterned accent pillow really gets pride of place when set in front.

How to get the look:

• Stack four standard-sized sleeping pillows on top of one another
• Prop a long lumbar pillow in front 

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: All Propped Up

The height of your pillows—or, how you prop them up—also plays a big role in your overall bed design. The sleeping pillows and throw in this bedroom are fairly simple, but when leaned against a more maximalist headboard, they help to create an interesting balance. When arranged this way, these pillows create a sense of harmony between the blue floral headboard and the more subtly patterned bedding. 

How to get the look:

• Lay two standard-size sleeping pillows directly against the headboard
• Place smaller square pillows, in a contrasting color or pattern, in front

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Layered Leather

Sometimes, a bed just needs a touch of texture to feel complete. Rather than opting for the standard cotton or linen throw pillow, consider an ultra-soft leather lumbar for something really unique. The above pillow from The Citizenry adds a pop of rich texture and color to an otherwise simple bedscape. Pair it with stripes for a slightly equestrian look.

How to get the look:

• Lay two standard-size sleeping pillows directly against the headboard
• Lay a large leather lumbar pillow across the front for contrast

How to Arrange Pillows on a Bed: Perfectly Imperfect

The effortlessly undone look isn’t going anywhere, as evidenced by the above bedroom. To get that perfectly imperfect je ne sais quoi in your bedroom, literally throw four throw pillows across your back pillows and tweak accordingly. Go with one light brown pillow, one bouclé pillow in sand for texture, and two oatmeal gray pillows for a little cohesion, and stick to a muted, complementary color palette (you can get them all at The Citizenry!).

How to get the look:

• Lay two standard-size sleeping pillows directly against the headboard
• Scatter two matching throw pillows and two additional throw pillows in tonal colors across the front

Want expert advice on your actual home, straight from an interior designer? Start with our style quiz to work with a design pro one-on-one.