A throw pillow, or toss pillow, is a small, decorative soft furnishing item made from a wide range of textiles including cotton, linen, silk, leather, microfibre, suede, chenille, and velvet. Throw pillows are a commonly used piece in interior design and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and decorative elements such as tassels and piped edges. The most common throw pillow designs are square and range from 16 inches to 24 inches. In the UK, a throw pillow is more commonly referred to as a scatter cushion.
Throw pillows are usually (loosely) placed on sofas or armchairs but are also frequently used on beds, day beds and floors. Throw pillows serve both an aesthetic and a functional purpose. Decorative pillows are commonly used to tie in color accents within a room, often drawing on the colors in drapes, walls or area rugs. From a functional perspective, throw pillows may provide back, neck and head support.
The simplest throw pillows, however, do not have an opening and are often loose filled, meaning there is no insert. These cushions do not feature any additional decoration such as tassels or piping.
