They can serve a purpose of making some one more comfortable while seated on the couch either behind the back or supporting arms, used as a pillow during nap time etc. in addition to being eye candy. Kids love to play with them LOL.

If you can sew, you can make your own which is what I've often done, or you can have them sewn for you. Throw pillows are typically filled with a pillow form. You can buy machine washable pillow forms and have them covered with machine washable fabric - easiest if you have either a zippered closure or a fold over of fabric on the back. You can always buy a large piece of fabric and carefully wrap it around a pillow form but I'm not sure how this would look IRL.

I limit my throw pillows to a small number for accent which works with my modern style. Some people love to layer a large amount and it works with styles like cottage and shabby chic.

Sky who knows what it's like to have allergies and asthma.

We do not have throw pillows at this time. I think that they can certainly add punch to a room but I will be waiting until my two youngest children (1, 3) are at a point where they understand to not play with them. There are some luscious ones out there though.

I keep a MINIMUM of throw pillows because the blasted cluttery things make me crazy, especially when there are so many of them that you can only perch on the edge of a couch or loveseat. All too often they end up tossed onto the floor. If I'm going to nap on the couch I prefer to go get a real sleeping pillow for more comfort. In my previous house I had four 24x24 ones because we had insufficient seating in the LR and when we had friends over at least one had to sit on the floor, and I had a large upholstered bench that served like a chaise and needed some padding against the wall. Although they weren't machine washable, I chucked them in the dryer on high every so often (I also threw a lavender bag in there to freshen them up). I never had enough room in my freezer to put pillows in there, although some people recommend that too. As soon as we complete our seating assortment in this house, those pillows are going away - we are probably going to sell that bench since it looks completely wrong here and we won't need anyone to sit on the floor.

If you can't sew, it actually isn't very expensive to have them made since a good sewer can bang them out fast. This is especially true if you can find someone who sews out of his/her house instead of a workroom with expensive overhead that must be paid. (Sewing machine stores can usually refer you to someone or a whole lot of someones.) It's often quite a bit cheaper than purchasing them at retail - I'm continually stunned by how much stores soak for pillows!

Googling "no-sew pillow" will also generate a lot of DIY projects.

As a practical matter, throw pillows on leather do not always work. The leather is so smoothe that the pillows don't stand up right and, instead, tend to fall over or off the couch. At least that's what happens in our house! So make sure that if you get pillows, they're not slippery too!

I have to second Meg711's comments about throw pillows on leather. I have a beautiful leather sectional from Ethan Allen and purchased 3 throw pillows for it but eventually stuffed the pillows in a closet because they wouldn't stay up on the sofa. They kept sliding down so that they were flat on the seat cushion.

try_hard

I'll 3rd on the comments about leather and pillows. And kids - mine just use them as weapons or carry them all over the house.

I try to keep a couple stored in the ottoman to bring out for an arm rest or back support.

Sometimes you can find pillow covers/cases - ones with zippers so you can remove the cover and wash.

My favorite pillows in a casual room are just regular size bed pillows with a sham. There are lots of different sham colors and designs so easy to find one that works in any color scheme or style. They are great for napping on or could be used as floor cushions. You can get the washable types.

Thanks for all the comments! I hadn't thought about the "slippery" factor of the leather, so that really helps me have more confidence in eliminating accent pillows! I have a feeling my kids would similarly use them as weapons, so it may be best to just bring out bed pillows for comfort/support when needed. I do like the idea of possibly using bed pillows with shams as accent pillows -- a very washable alternative -- may check a few out before making a final decision.

If you have down-filled accent pillows, they won't slip on leather because they conform better to where they are placed. It is the more rigid foam or fiberfilled ones that slide.

I make throw pillows with a down insert and use cotton dinner napkins to make the pillow covers. Buy pretty colors or designs, sew them together. If they are large enough you can even create a flange edge, etc.

If you don't want down inserts, you can do the same with the fiberfill forms. Also a great way to use old pillows that need a fresh face!

LOL! sarschlos remodeler -- your family sounds like mine. I'm afraid they would do the same thing with throw pillows, i.e., just throw them on the ground -- and our dog already cannot be bothered with sleeping in her own dog bed -- our sofa is much more comfortable for her (and all the better to snuggle with us as well)!

Les - the napkins are a fantastic idea! And thanks for the tip about down -- makes perfect sense.

I also have found that pillows do not sit well on leather couches and think you can add some softness and color to your room with a throw. If you do find some throw pillow that work with your space, you can always find pillow covers to replace or change the colors in your room. Until recently, I did not know you could buy them and use to "toss" my toss pillows when they were soiled looking or I wanted a change. Someone recommended the link below and I found some very nice and reasonably priced covers for pillows I was going to get rid of. I am sure there are other sources and would love to know about them as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Pillow Covers

sarschlos_remodeler, that's a very good argument for not using an in-store decorator! :-) (Or being very stubborn if you do!)

valley57, many catalogs sell the pillow covers by themselves and you have to buy the stuffers separately - a couple off the top of my head are Pottery Barn, Garnet Hill, and Restoration Hardware. Todo Es does semi-custom pillow covers. Puffy Pillow Productions has a pretty limited selection but low prices. Etsy.com has some rather interesting handmade ones. There's eBay, too, of course.

For someone who really really wants decorative pillows with leather furniture but finds down too squashy, a little scrap of that rubbery mesh that's used for lining shelves or anchoring rugs tacked with a few stitches to the back of the pillow, just above the bottom seam, will often keep them from slithering off.

Query: Am I the only one on this planet who thinks throws look a bit messy? I feel very odd because it seems like everyone's so "into" throws. Maybe it's a leftover from my stepmother indoctrinating me into never leaving something draped over a piece of furniture instead of putting it away. :-) We have some small blankets (50x72" throws from Land's End) for "nesting" on the couch when it's cold but I keep them rolled or folded up in a basket when they're not in use. Or I try to anyway, DH tends to just leave them wadded up on the couch. *affectionate eyeroll*

I think that pillows and cushions really only work when they are fulfilling a functional purpose. I am resigned to having a small stash of pillows and cushions that are not currently in use... however I wouldn't give away that stash because I know that with a family of four the functional needs of my household are likely to change quite often.

My advice is to buy a range of decent quality cushion inserts with cheap covers and use them until you work out what does the job for you, then get the luxurious, expensive decorative covers you dream of but just for the pillows and cushions you actually use. The others go in a cupboard or to the charity shop if you are short of room. Although I do think storing them is better, as the need for a pillow or cushion is often a fleeting thought, and being able to grab one from a cupboard is quite handy.

Another one that has experienced throw pillows slipping right off the leather sofa. I found a great bargain on down pillows with a silk cover (it was the silk I was after, down gives me sniffles), a pretty cream/golden tan plaid. Anywho, there they sit, off in a closet, because silk really slides off leather. I've found a heavy cotton fabric, suede or faux suede will not slip as readily on leather. I like them for a splash of color or to tie in other things, such as curtains, etc. We do use them as arm rests or DH for his occasional snooze (wish he wouldn't do that, but he's usually fast asleep when I catch him and I can't just yank it out from under his head! ;D )

We only have as many pillows as we will actually use. I have a couple on each sofa because sometimes we lay on the sofa and a pillow is more comfortable than the arm of the sofa. I have a throw blanket because I am always cold! I use it pretty much every day. If you don't have a need for either one, then don't get one. I have a particular weakness for pretty pillows and have to stop myself from buying them because I know they'll end up on the floor! We also have a leather sofa with just one heavy, big (maybe 12" x 24") pillow on it. It's needlepoint on one side and velvet on the other, and I don't have a problem with it sliding around, I think because it's pretty heavy.

How do you lay down on the sofa without a pillow? I agree they're sortof a pain sometimes, but I'm not real particular about the pillow placement unless someone's coming over, and for the 20 seconds that they enter my house and see the room before they sit down and move the pillows, they stay put on the leather.

We do keep a few standard size pillows behind a chair with a larger comforter for major snooze sessions. My teenager likes to sleep on the couch on the weekends, so that stash behind the chair is his "bed".

My LR pillows are always on the floor because my dog jumps up on the sofa and knocks them both off. I guess he wants the entire space to himself and isn't sharing with a some silly pillows. We have a game, I put them up, I walk by a few hours later and they're on the floor....

Yes. They are just eye candy. I'm just scouring the internet for some moral support in getting rid of them.

You have my support, Mary, if it makes a difference. A pillow on the end of sofa is okay but any more than that drives me crazy. I do have a couple (that I will likely get rid of) on chairs that we don't sit on often. I don't think one should have to remove objects from seating in order to sit down.

I'm all for pillows and throws because we actually use them. Especially me)) I'm often chilly etc. Also-it's just more comfortable. Lots of people don't like throw pillows and throws but I'm yet to see one who didn't grab one of mine during watching a movie. It's also great to have them as additional blankets and props for when guests stay overnight.

Now, with years I found out the quality makes a big difference..LOL. I splurge on throw pillows and throws, that I consider beautiful and soft and comfy. I have a couple of throws and pillows everywhere-but not too many, or it becomes overdone and unwelcoming. Now about the sliding thing..My sofas are leather, the pillows don't slide. Maybe depends on the fabric of the sham?..I prefer cotton and velvet. I had one or two that were. ..kinda silky-those I didn't like, at all, and removed them eventually. They were not cozy enough to use.

I always sit on the pillows. I think that's what they're meant for and I feel the most comfortable when I do. Plus, I LOVE the feeling of those big thick pillows getting squashed under my butt.