Add color, pattern, comfort, and style to your space with throw pillows.

Love the idea of throw pillows to help pull the decor together, but not quite sure how to make it happen? Read on for some easy tips for how to mix and match throw pillows to make your space comfy and stylish.

Ideas for Mixing and Matching Throw Pillows

1.Stripes and Prints

Image: Pottery Barn

The first rule of pillows is: don’t be afraid to go for it and mix and match stripes and prints. Whether going for the classic dots and stripes mix or mixing stripes and bold florals, go for the drama of mixing and matching boldly.

2. Fun Color Combos

Image: Mod Cloth

Your living space should reflect you, and if you are a wild and fun loving, then your space should mirror your qualities. Love turquoise and bright yellow? Go for it. Think bubble gum pink and mint green are a match made in heaven? Then make it happen!

3. Big Scale, Little Scale

Image: Anthropologie

One lovely way to mix and match the prints and patterns of your throw pillows is to vary the scale of your prints. Adding smaller scale prints is a great way to temper the overwhelming effect that can happen with larger scale prints.

4. Monochromatic

Image: West Elm

When in doubt, go monochromatic. It’s easy enough to mix patterns when you keep to the same color. It also can make a dramatic and elegant impact.

5. Complementary Colors

Image: World Market

If you want to introduce more color into a room, consider going with complementary colors. Complementary colors are opposite one another on the color wheel and usually go well together. Reference a color wheel if you forget which colors are complementary.

6. Pillow Sizes and Shapes

Image: Crate & Barrel

Alternating the size and shape of throw pillows is another easy way to mix and match decorative pillows in any room.

7. Prints All in the Same Family

Image: Anthropologie

Pick a print theme and replicate that throughout your room. Choose a pattern like floral, tribal, chevron, and others and mix and match colors and sizes along that theme for a truly stylish look.

8. Vertical and Horizontal Patterns

Image: West Elm

Mix and match vertical and horizontal patterns for the ultimate in visual interest and to really help bring a room to life.

9. Matte and Metallic

Image: West Elm

Using different textures is also a great way to mix things up and one perfect example is mixing matte and shiny metallic throw pillows in the same color family or of similar a pattern.

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Image: West Elm

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Ready to learn the best methods on how to wash comforters and pillows naturally? You’re in luck. But first, we’ll touch on the importance of choosing the healthiest and most effective cleaning products.

Dangers of Conventional Detergents and Fabric Softeners

It has become common knowledge that laundry detergents and fabric softeners contain a slew of unsavory chemicals. The residue and scents left behind can be toxic to our skin and allergies, but an alarming fact that many of you may not know is that our dryers actually emit more than 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when scented detergent and dryer sheets are used.

Other need-to-know facts involve detergents containing petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances, even though they’re labeled “fragrance free.” Most companies are said to also add optical brighteners to detergent formulas, creating the illusion of brighter whites through blue light emitting chemicals that have the potential to cause skin irritation. (To learn more about which chemicals to avoid, check out this comprehensive list.)

Alternatives to Conventional Detergents and Fabric Softeners

A few ways that you can avoid harmful chemicals in your detergent and fabric softener is to look for the EPA’s Design for Environment logo, substitute for fabric softeners by using a ½ cup of vinegar in the rise cycle, try recycled wool dryer balls in lieu of dryer sheets, use baking soda as a brightener, or just make your own detergent instead.

Here’s a great detergent recipe from Mother Earth Living to get you started. And if you’re not the do-it-yourself type, or just don’t want to be bothered by making your own detergent, then we’ve got you covered with recommendations from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) on what to buy and what to avoid on your next trip to the store.

The EWG bases its product ratings on the probability that the following could be caused or may occur as a result of exposure based on the product’s ingredients: asthma/respiratory problems, skin allergies and irritation, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cancer, and environmental effects.

Safe Detergents & Fabric Softeners

Safer detergents may not be plentiful, but they’re much easier to obtain than you may think. In fact, many of these can be purchased from your local grocery or health food store. These received a rating of “A” from EWG, the highest rating on their scale:

• Planet Ultra Powdered Laundry Detergent, Hypo-Allergenic (see updated ingredients list)
• Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent Powder, Citrus & Wild Lavender
• Green Shield Organic Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear
• Martha Stewart Clean Laundry Detergent
• Green Shield Organic Fabric Softener, Lavender Mint (the only “A” rated fabric softener listed on the EWG site)

Unsafe Detergents & Fabric Softeners

Although there are far more unsafe products than there are healthy, we’ve still provided a handful of brands to avoid. These received a rating of “F” from EWG, the lowest rating on their scale:

• Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergent
• Meyer’s Clean Day Laundry Detergent (variety of scents)
• Green Works Naturally Derived Laundry Detergent, Original
• Sun & Earth Fabric Softener Sheets, Fresh Citrus
• Legacy of Clean Fabric Softener, Original

How to Wash Comforters and Pillows

Now that you know what to use, here is how to use it on your comforters and pillows:

When it comes to comforters and pillows, advice from the queen of housekeeping and all things perfect, Martha Stewart, has a variety of suggestions on how best to keep your comforters and pillows squeaky clean.

Wash

Per the website, it is recommended that comforters and pillows have covers to help shield from allergens, as well as guard against oils that can break down fabric and cause filling to leak. If you have a comforter cover (duvet), it should be washed weekly, or monthly if you use a top sheet, but you won’t have to wash the comforter itself unless you spill something on it.

On the other hand, pillow covers should be washed weekly or bi-weekly and the pillows themselves should be washed every 3 to 6 months. Both comforters and pillows are best cleaned in a front loading machine.

You may also wash comforters and pillows according to the label’s directions, but if they won’t fit in your washer, the next best thing is a roomy machine at the Laundromat. Depending on the soil level and the instructions, “warm” and “delicate” may be the highest settings you should choose. And remember, don’t go overboard on the detergent, a small amount of an all-natural laundry soap is all you really need.

Dry

Removing moisture is crucial for both comforters and pillows, so be sure to thoroughly dry your covers, comforters, and pillows in a heated machine dryer – and don’t forget your tennis or recycled wool balls to speed up the process. Avoid putting anything with foam in the dryer – it will surely melt!

To refresh your comforter every few months, it is suggested that you hang it on a clothesline on dry, breezy day.

Down

Down comforters and pillows can be washed in much the same way, so long as you use the Laundromat. Just be sure to dry the comforter on a low heat setting, bring your dryer balls, and a lot of magazines to keep you busy while you wait. If it’s still not dry after several hours bring the comforter home and lay or hang it out to dry immediately. Avoid letting the down clump together and repair any tears or rips with a needle and thread before laundering.

Now that you’ve gotten the scoop on how to wash comforters and pillows, we want you to share your experiences. Did you already know about the hazards of detergents and fabric softeners? What are some of your favorite eco-friendly laundering supplies? Have you ever or would you ever make your own detergent? Say hello and share your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Bedding via Shutterstock

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Fab floor pillows you can buy or DIY!

Floor pillows and poufs are in. Okay, they have been in, but I’m slow to catch on. They make perfect alternative seating for informal dinner parties, game nights, patio garden parties, or just kicking back to watch the latest on Netflix. Lots of home decor shops from West Elm, One Kings Lane, IKEA, and many others, are offering up plenty of options to suit your style and budget. There’s also a plethora of DIY pillow tutorials around the Interwebs if you are the type who likes to get your hands crafty.

Back in my day, floor pillows were just for kids. It was my parents way of not feeling so badly about the fact that they got to hog the couch on TV nights. Fast forward to the present day, and floor pillows aren’t just for kids. Many discerning grownups are choosing to get lower to the ground. And I say, why not be more informal? It’s what we all really want anyway.

Whether to have extra “seating” on hand for entertaining, or just for hanging out, choose from this roundup of our favorite floor pillows.

Floor Pillows and Poufs to Buy

Cowhide Pouf from West Elm – This geometric patterned pouf is made in Argentina from patched pieces of cowhide leather using hand-guided sewing machines.

Herringbone Pillow from Wayfair – Here’s another stylish and versatile geometric print pillow to add a bit of pattern.

Corduroy Tufted Pillow from Urban Outfitters – Love this soft corduroy tufted pillow. It comes in four different colorways and stacks perfectly for storage.

Black and Pink Pouf from World Market – This is embroidered vibrant pouf in black and pink is a pretty and exotic choice.

Moroccan Style from One Kings Lane – Choose this Moroccan-style floor pillow to recreate the form and function of the Moroccan floor pillows.

Floor Pillows and Poufs to DIY

• Giant Chevron Pillows – Bring color and pattern into your living room by making your own brightly-colored chevron floor pillows.
• DIY Floor Cushions – Turn two bed pillows into an easy to make and inexpensive floor cushion with this project.
• Quilted Floor Cushions – If you like a more traditional look, consider making your own gusseted and quilted floor cushions.
• Jelly Roll Cushion – This floor pillow project for a jelly roll cushion involves a little more advanced sewing skills than the other projects.
• Floor Pillow Pouf  – Finally, make your own pouf, which can double as a ottoman.

Related on EcoSalon

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Image: Colorful Pillows via Shutterstock

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A pillow and throw that tell the people in your life what you need.

If only the men (and women) in our lives were as expressive as this blanket and pillow. Like the pillow(talk)cases we lusted for in the fall, we are once again depending on our linens to convey amorous desires. 

This pairing from VivaTerra is made from soft lamb’s wool, appropriate given the vulnerable nature of their communiqués: “HUG ME,” and “WRAP ME AROUND YOU.”

Love me. Want me. Buy me for $39 and $129, respectively.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

The post Lustables: Hug Me Pillow & Wrap Me Throw appeared first on EcoSalon.

A sleep well-traveled.

These bright and worldly pillow cases are handmade by artisans in Southwest India using Batik, the traditional Indian art of creating patterns on fabric. A set of three pillows spans the globe from the Americas to Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. At $95, that’s a much better bargain than an around the world ticket, in coach.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

The post Lustables: Continent Pillows appeared first on EcoSalon.

Lounging on these is like escaping on your own personal lily pad.

These pillows, designed by Jenny Lee-Katz, are consciously printed with environmentally friendly pigment inks, hand cut and sewn in Pennsylvania, and available in linen, organic denim or a combination of hemp and organic cotton.

Lee-Katz says on her site: “My fascination with textiles, my love for color and cloth and the enjoyment and satisfaction I experience through working with it, has always been a big part of my life.”

These pillows will bring her love for design into your home.

Prices range from $140 on up, depending on the fabric.

The post Lustables: Turtle Pillows appeared first on EcoSalon.

1. Reface Rather Than Replace Cabinets

Innovative companies can work with your existing wood and reface those cabinet doors with sustainable woods rather than trashing and starting anew. Read this post for more tips for the kitchen cabinet facelift.

2. Swap Decor with Family and Friends

You don’t need a piano and I don’t need that daybed in the TV nook, so let’s trade and recycle our stuff and get what we really need. It’s a match made in eco heaven when it doesn’t cost you a dime to swap decor, especially with people who have a good eye like you do, and are low on storage space. It’s how they did it in the olden days before widespread consumer waste and climate change. Here’s more.

3. Baby Steps Can Equal Full Grown Changes in a Room

Rearrange the furniture, buy a few new pillow covers, paint a wall. These easy fixes will refresh your pad without sinking lots of cash. As you’ll discover in this handy how-to post, it can all be done for under $30.

4. Repurpose Excess Upholstery Materials

Those fabric rolls are not doing anyone any good just sitting in the closet. Cut them up and redirect them to your interiors for pillow covers, framed art, bedding, even wall coverage like the picture shown above, if you have enough for adequate padding. See these great ideas for repurposing your excess.

5. Clean Before You Replace

Perhaps that rug can come clean with eco spot remover techniques. Why rip it out if it’s still useful? Another option is to cover a damaged section of the carpet by layering with a small, affordable area rug, one made of eco fibers that won’t cost the same as new carpeting or a large are rug. Go shagging for answers here.

6. Seasonal Accents Make Great Distractions

A collection of seasonal organic blooms and greens from your garden, lanterns, greeting cards, photos and tablecloths – they all can act as happy distractions in a room that is begging for a redux. Don’t have a garden? Head to the farmers’ market, the flea shop, the vintage shop in your hood, and spend little to stage your spaces with renewed charm. Head over here for inspiration.

7. Paint can Perk it Up

Even a dingy clawfoot tub can look ultra modern and cool by finding the right low VOC paints and giving the bath a new coat. You will find sprucing up furniture with paint can be a great cheap fix that refreshes your spaces.

8. Be a Thrift Shopper

It’s no wonder second hand shops in cities nationwide do well during hard times. These are outlets that actually offer discounts while more upscale sights like 1st Dibs are peddling vintage treasures that cater to those with lots of spare cash. Do some research and check out the shops in various neighborhoods to find out where nifty castaways are being parked.

9. A Room of Her Own

Sometimes just carving out one room of your own in your dwelling can suffice until you have a bigger budget to fix up the place. Are you craving that Project Runway sewing room? How about a closeted dressing room out of a spare bedroom? Having a blast doing just one space for yourself can be very rewarding, even if it is a multi-use corner for working, painting and reading. Own it with visuals on the walls and a fun rug that speaks to you. Experts say you will accomplish the most in a space you gravitate towards.

10. Spa Makeover

So you can’t afford to tear out the old tile and tired tub to make way for stone and steam. Use zen decor touches and nurturing elements to turn your blah bath into spa bath: Ideas include indulgent, organic towels; sensuous beeswax candles in an array of holders; yummy creams and oils displayed in a vintage tray; and my favorite Nob Hill Day Spa element – a large pitcher of spring water filled with sliced cucumbers or lemons and a pretty glass.

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. The original post can be found here.

Image: Elle Decor

The post 10 Easy & Inexpensive Decorating Tips appeared first on EcoSalon.

Much as we love colors and textures inspired by Mother Nature, we also can’t resist industrial-inspired forms like the recycled steel chandelier pictured below. Why not get the best of both worlds by mixing and matching the earthy and urban? Here’s what’s on our wish list this week.

1. Felted Wool Outdoor Stones from VivaTerra ($395-695, pictured above)

   We’ve covered wool-covered stones in the past, but nothing on this scale. VivaTerra, our sister site, suggests using these felted stones as outdoor seating. And when they’re not in use, they’ll blend in seamlessly with your backyard.

   

2. Teak Root Basket from Redefine Home ($89)

   We love the versatility of this teak root basket, which is made from reclaimed wood. Whether mounted on a bathroom wall or resting on a hallway table, this basket creates an instant conversation piece.

   

3. Birdie Doormat from Chia’sso ($38)

   With its cheerful colors and modern design, this doormat welcomes you and your visitors into the space. It also features a recycled, non-slip rubber backing.

   

4. Amenity Cove Pillow in Cream and Moss ($93)

   We’re borderline obsessed with the calming, earthy colors found in Amenity’s pillows. This one comes in three different sizes and is made from organic cotton blended with hemp.

   

5. Shaken Dining Chandelier from Varaluz (price not listed)

   Recycled steel and opal layered glass create a strikingly modern piece that’s part sculpture, part chandelier. We totally picture this baby illuminating a glass-top dining table and a set of black leather parson’s chairs.

Which piece(s) make you drool? Anything you’re not so keen on? We’d love to know!

The post Friday Five: When Earthy Met Urban appeared first on EcoSalon.

No matter how cozy and inviting the rest of your bedding is, you won’t get a good night’s sleep unless you’re resting your head on a comfortable pillow. There are all kinds out there to choose from, so let’s take a look at the options so you can find the best cradle for your noggin.

Foam – Memory-foam pillows are a pretty cool concept. They mold to your head and momentarily retain their shape when you move around, so you kind of feel like you’re sleeping on a custom-made headrest. On the other hand, they don’t have the immediate pliability of down or cotton-filled pillows, so if you squirm around in your sleep, they might drive you up the wall. Foam pillows are typically made of synthetic filling and give off a chemical smell that some people find irritating. Shop around to find ones that are made of natural, plant-based ingredients like soy, latex or rubber.

Down – From an allergen standpoint, goose down is your best option if you’re looking for a feather-filled pillow to snooze on. They’ll set you back a lot more than pillows filled with chicken or turkey feathers, but are also less likely to cause an allergic reaction to those with sensitivities.

Kapok – This tree-based fiber fill is reminiscent of down, but without the potential allergy problems associated with animal feathers. Kapok is harvested in rainforests, so if you go this route, make sure you’re buying from a company that’s committed to environmental responsibility.

Organic cotton – Cotton pillows are comfy, firm, and can withstand nightly use for a long time without needing to be replaced. Available in a wide price range, you should be able to find a good chemical-free, organic style to fit your budget without sacrificing your commitment to live responsibly.

Buckwheat – Made from buckwheat hulls leftover from the milling process, this is the perfect choice if you’re always flipping your pillow back and forth looking for the cool spot. Beware, though, all those hulls rattling around next to your ear all night are kinda noisy. Millet hull pillows offer the same benefits as buckwheat but don’t sound like a thousand Mexican jumping beans moving around under your head. Or, if you can’t bear to part with buckwheat, get a thick pillowcase to muffle the sound a bit.

Hemp – If you want to catch 420 winks on a hemp pillow, look for 100 percent hemp fill, not just a standard pillow with a hemp cover. The weight of your head will tamp down the filling over time so this is the way to go if you like a slim, flat pillow over a cushier alternative.

Wool – Most wool-stuffed pillows are made from sheeps’ wool, but alpaca wool is becoming a hot trend as well. Alpaca wool is more breathable that it’s sheepy counterpart, and therefore cooler to rest on during a hot summer night. It’s also softer and won’t mat as easily as sheeps’ wool, so give an alpaca-stuffed pillow a second look if you like wool filler but have had issues with it in the past.

Image: quinn.anya

The post Choose the Right Pillow for Your Best Slumber appeared first on EcoSalon.

We have choices. When buying a stunning pillow or quilt for our nests, consider going the route of a company like Gianna Fair Trade – which literally rescues artisans in India, Laos and Thailand from a destitute life of poverty, prostitution or being sold as mail-order brides. Filling our homes with the stylish fruits of their labor takes decor to a deeper level, don’t you think?

Feast your eyes on the exotic bo-ho products they lovingly craft. Our favorite: the neckroll pillows ($58) in soft earthy shades and patterns, studded with swirls or embroidered with cotton leaves.

The founder, Gianna, knows from a challenging life, raised by a mother who was a mail-order bride from the streets of  Manila. After a brief marriage to a cattle farmer Texan, her mother moved to a women’s  shelter where Gianna spent her childhood. Her workshops offer artisans a way to make a living and thrive, and the products are responsible, hand-crafted of organic cotton and other good fibers.

Other fetching finds at the site: metal serving bows and platters, naturally-dyed quilts, spun cotton navy print napkins and rings and woven place mats. Think wedding and housewarming gifts! It’s a gift that goes a long way.

The post Gianna Artisans: Home Decor That Provides an Escape from Slum Life appeared first on EcoSalon.