How Many Bed Pillows Is Too Many?

Are you getting ready to set up your new bedroom? Maybe you are looking to get creative with your bedspread and pillows to add some style to your room. You will need pillows to sleep with and some decorative throw pillows to solidify the ambiance of the room. Are you wondering exactly how many pillows you will need and how to set them up? Lucky for you, we have done the research and have found these answers and more. 

The number of pillows that is considered too many will depend on the size of your bed. The larger the bed, the more pillows you can throw on it. Even with a king-sized bed, the cap for pillows is eight. Over eight pillows is too many. You will end up having more pillows than bed space. 

Your pillow selection should be made up of sleeping pillows, bed shams, and accent or throw pillows. We will touch on the difference between these styles of pillows, how many pillows you'll sleep with, and where to put your pretty pillows when it is time for a night's rest. Keep reading as we break down the ideal makeup of pillows for your specific bed size.

Eco cotton linen and blanket on a bed in nature loving family guest house for spring and summer vacation, How Many Bed Pillows Is Too Many?

How Many Pillows You'll Need For Your Bed Size

Bed maid-up with clean white pillows and bed sheets in beauty room

Each bed will be a little different when choosing your desired pillows. As a general rule, each person should have 1-2 standard sleeping pillows for an optimal slumber. What about the other types of decorative pillows? The size of the bed will be the number one factor in deciding how many of each style pillow you will need.  Let's take a closer look at the different sized beds. 

Twin Bed

A twin bed should require only one sleeping pillow. You can get a standard sleeping pillow or go with the recommended king pillow that spans the width of the bed.  Only 1-2 accent pillows will be needed for your twin-sized bed. 

You can find a king-sized sleeping pillow here on Amazon.

Full Bed

Two standard sleeping pillows will be needed for a full-sized bed. You can decorate with two shams and 1-2 accent pillows for a creative look. There are endless styles and designs of accent or throw pillows. It is fun to stick to a theme or color scheme with your bedding and pillows. 

Check out this gold themed set of throw pillows on Amazon.

Queen Bed

Having a larger bed, you have more space to work with. For a queen bed, you can easily have two larger sleeping pillows, two shams, and 2-3 accent or throw pillows. You can utilize a single bolster versus the throw pillows if you like that look better. 

Amazon offers a triangular bed bolster here.

King Bed

The largest bed can naturally hold the most pillows. The standard for a king bed is up to three sleeping pillows and two shams. You can play with your bed design by adding three accent or throw pillows. You have the option to place a bolster on the bed as well. 

Check out these floral designed pillow shams here on Amazon.

How Many Pillows Does The Average Person Sleep With?

The amount and style of sleeping pillows you have on your bed directly affects your sleep quality. The average person sleeps with two standard sleeping pillows. This number can change based on the individual's needs and with whom you are sharing your bed. 

The National Sleep Foundation completed a study on the average amount of sleeping pillows. Their data showed an average of 2.2 sleeping pillows per person.

How Do You Put A Throw Pillow On A Bed?

A throw pillow can be called a toss or accent pillow. The purpose of a throw pillow is to add style or aesthetics to your room. They play a large role in bringing the room together and creating a comfy feel. 

Throw pillows should be in the front of your pillow arrangement. Sleeping pillows and bolsters will be laid against the headboard, followed by your shams. The throw pillows will be placed next, with the smallest ones at the front. 

Watch this short video for five styles you can create with your pillow arrangement:

Where Do You Put Throw Pillows At Night?

While throw pillows are known to be aesthetically pleasing, they are not the most comfortable to sleep on.  You probably spent time and money picking the right throw pillows for your bedroom, so you don't want to be throwing them on the floor overnight. There are many creative options when it comes to storing your throw pillows. Let's take a closer look at just a few. 

2-In-1 Bench

A 2-in-1 bench is a great way to add storage and design to your bedroom. You can find bedroom benches in all styles and colors.  Use this bench to relax by day and store your throw pillows by night. These benches look great at the foot of the bed or under a bedroom window. 

Amazon offers a storage bench for your bedroom here.

Vintage Trunk

A vintage trunk may speak to your bedroom design directly. These trunks look classy and are highly functional. You may even have an old trunk that can be refurbished for throw pillow storage. 

You can find a vintage trunk with a floral design here on Amazon.

Upgraded Bed Frame

To get the most out of your bedroom space, you can choose a bed frame that has drawers underneath for storage. This hidden storage is ideal for storing throw pillows and blankets overnight. Enjoy this out of sight, out of mind storage idea. 

View this upgraded bed frame here on Amazon.

These are just a couple of ideas for throw pillow storage. The most important thing is that they are off your bed when it is time to sleep. We encourage you to get crafty with your storage. Something simple can add a lot of value to your bedroom design. 

Need storage ideas for your extra blankets? Read our blog post "How To Store Blankets [5 Easy Methods]. 

Do You Sleep On A Sham?

Bed shams are decorative pillowcases that add style to your pillow collection and overall bedroom design. If you are buying shams, you'll be purchasing ones that are color-coordinated to match your covers or comforter.

While you could sleep on a sham, you will not want to. Shams are made for decoration and can contain textile fabrics, making them uncomfortable. You can remove pillow shams when it is time to sleep and store them with your throw pillows. 

Check out this 3D rose bed sham here on Amazon.

Read more about bed shams on our blog post What Is A Sham In Bedding? [And Do You Need One?] 

Time To Organize Your Pillows

Eco cotton linen and blanket on a bed in nature loving family guesthouse for spring and summer vacation

Now that you have a breakdown of the types and amounts of pillows you can use for your bed, it is time to start picking out your designs or themes for your bedroom. We hope you found this article helpful when selecting the pillows that will bring your bedroom together and create a welcoming ambiance. You will love walking into your bedroom with its completed look. 

Choosing a color for your bedding is a great first step when designing the style of your bed. Read our blog post How To Choose Bedding Color? [11 Color Schemes Reviewed] 

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