Pillow Talk

Three designers go behind the seams to share their pillow principles. Their strong (and sometimes conflicting) ideas reveal that, as always, an object's beauty depends on its beholder.

John Robshaw says, "I like opulence and more! more! more! Some people use only two pillows on a giant sofa, which I think is too fussy and precious, but I'll put them in a big pile on the floor—it's much more sculptural that way. Try odd-shaped and big pillows. And if you can't find what you're looking for, then make your own or ask your dry cleaner to make you one with your favorite fabric. Have more pillows than you need so that it's not as if you're trying to draw with only three colors. Overbuy and mess around."