By Cherie McGee
Photography by Julie Hunter

TIPS FOR USING PILLOWS TO CREATE A SPACE YOU'LL LOVE!
From the bedroom to the living room, pillows will not go unnoticed. And why should they? When displayed creatively, pillows make a beautiful statement by magically tying together the elements of almost any décor. Striped, buttoned, quilted, or beaded, the opportunities for style are endless.

Live It Up!

Don’t hold back! Add instant color and style to your living room with a festive grouping of pillows. Now that Old Man Winter is upon us, snuggle up and get cozy by the fireplace. You can make this space even more inviting with a generous sprinkling of pillows. Even if your furniture is more than sufficient and comfortable, throw some floor pillows on the hearth to make it irresistible to curl up there. Adorn your chaise lounge with decorative pillows in a range of sizes and shapes that suit your mood. Be it high-brow or low, fun or serious, classic or modern, pillows can stack up style and comfort.

Style that Sizzles

Heat up your kitchen with cheery and trendy chair cushions. Use pillows to transform your kitchen into a hot spot for menu planning, late night snacks and good conversation. If you have a free corner, place a space-saving bench snuggly against the wall. Plump it with a seat cushion and a heaping of pillows. Also place pillows on stools and chairs throughout the kitchen. Patchwork pillows are perfect projects for using up fabric scraps.

Dinner is Served

Grace your dining room with delicious food and delightful pillows. Make your dining room more than just a tasty and comfortable space to enjoy dinner. Just one pillow in the right spot can make a powerful design statement. A small, soft pillow in every dining chair is an elegant and warming touch for those who love to entertain around the table. As you plan your dinner party, remember to place a pillow on every chair or even display on a bookshelf. Then relish, as they become the pièce de résistance of the evening!

Sweet Dreams

Bed pillows are a natural conversation piece in a bedroom. Pile on the pillows! Stack them two or three deep against the headboard. Use the ones hidden in the back for sleeping. If your dream bed is king-sized and plumped with patterns, stand a trio of European pillows behind a pair of king pillows. Place a standard pillow in the center and flank it with two small toss pillows and a rectangular toss pillow on the front. For smaller beds, remove one European pillow and reduce king pillows to queen or standard size. Mix patterns and colors to accentuate the size and scale differences.

Pillow Pointers

ß Look in the attic and see what unusual items are currently not serving a purpose, such as an old wedding dress. Cut it into a pillow shape and cover a form so that some of the pretty lace is showing on the outside.

ß Interesting prints and fringes add texture and movement to pillows. You can add rich-looking fringe and other finishes to pillows. But beware! These can be expensive. Here’s a tip: Many times fabric stores have remnants left over from their customer cuts. Ask for those. Chances are they will be more than happy to sell them at bargain prices.

ß Dress up plain pillows with tassels, decorative cording, buttons, wire-edged ribbon or doilies.

ß Texture in a room is essential, and needlepoint pillows are an easy way to add that textured look.

ß Coordinate stripes and prints in the same pillow.

ß Quilted pillow tops add a country element.

ß Pillows are portable. Don't be afraid to move them from room to room. A pillow can take on a new look in a different setting. This will keep things interesting without spending extra money.

ß Pillows can lend another look to a seating area for each season.

Pillows are one of the fundamental staples of decorating and you don't have to spend a fortune to get expensive looks from inexpensive choices. Visit flea markets and thrift stores or explore your attic for unusual finds. You’ll be surprised. Items that were used for a particular function in the past can now be transformed into the perfect pillow.

Birmingham View Redecorating Joyce Lewis' Living Room

Birmingham View magazine arrived just in time to redecorate Lewis' living room.

She had been in a bit of a funk, and decided it was time to change the look of the room when Birmingham View knocked on her door and unexpectedly, providentially came to her rescue!

Ms. Lewis was randomly chosen from a group of our readers who filled out an entry card inside Birmingham View magazine and registered to win a $500 makeover of a room in their homes.

Designer Jan Fields of Savvy Spaces is taking on the living room makeover. Her company specializes in "fast, fearless and frugal" decorating by re-arranging a client's existing decor and accessorizing with items from clearance counters, thrift stores and the occasional garage sale.

"My clients are always shocked at how quickly a room can be completely changed into an exciting new look with very little time and money," Fields says.

So stay tuned to the website for periodic updates on Ms. Field's progress with Ms. Lewis and her living room!