How Many Pillows Should Go On a King Size Bed?

Pillows are the finishing touch on a freshly-made bed and bring so much character and style to the whole room. But how many pillows should go on a king size bed? Let’s discuss.

We all want our bedding to look beautiful, cozy, and polished in a way that looks intentional, but not too overdone. A carefully made bed has a way of transforming a bedroom from neglected and disheveled to tidy and considered in a matter of minutes, so the way you make your bed really holds a lot of power. Walking into a room with a beautifully made bed can really brighten your moment and even make you feel more prepared to face your day and all its challenges. Decorative pillows are definitely the finishing accents on a perfectly-made bed, but are there rules about how many pillows should go on a bed to make it look cohesive and complete? Let’s discuss how many pillows should go on a king size bed and how to choose the right ones when you’re planning the decor for your room. I recently added these beautiful linen pillows from Neutral Curtains to our bed, so I thought now would be the perfect time to demonstrate.

How Many Pillows Should Go on a King Bed? Basic Dimensions to Know

Before you decide exactly which pillows you want to add to your bed, how many you’d like to place there, and how big you want them to be, we need to go over some basic measurements that will help you make an informed decision.

A standard king size mattress is 76″ wide and about 80″ long. You want your pillows to cover the entire width of the bed, and cover no more than 1/3-1/2 of the length of the bed at the very most. This means that your pillows should add up to 76″ in width, and cover about 24-40″ in depth, including sleeping pillows.

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My Preferred Pillow Configuration

Pictured above: 24 x 24 Pillows in Ivory Beige | 20 x 20 Pillows in Oatmeal with Trim | 24 x 16 Lumbar Pillow in Midnight Green | Use my code CREEKLINEHOUSE for 25% off

There are no set rules as to which pillow configuration is correct on a king size bed and it all comes down to personal preference. I love a classic 3-2-1 arrangement, with the sleeping pillows directly against the headboard, then three decorative pillows in front. Directly in front of those I place 2 slightly smaller pillow, and finish off with one single accent pillow right in the centre.

This setup gives a polished, traditional look that is easy to replicate every day and always brings a luxurious, welcoming look to the space. If you prefer something a little more simple, though, you can still follow these sizing guidelines to create a look that is cohesive and complete.

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What Size Pillows to Use on a King Bed

Pictured above: 24 x 24 Pillows in Ivory Beige | 20 x 20 Pillows in Oatmeal with Trim | 24 x 16 Lumbar Pillow in Midnight Green | Use my code CREEKLINEHOUSE for 25% off

If you’d like to follow the same system that I do, here’s exactly what I used:

Across the back, directly in front of the sleeping pillows, I placed three pillows measuring 24″ x 24″. When these are placed down and chopped, they cover the entire back of the bed area, ending just inside of the edge of the headboard. These create the base for your pillow design and usually look best done in solid colors, simple textures, or a subtle pattern.

In front of those, I placed 2 20 x 20 pillows. These can be a little more decorative and bring some personality and style to your bedding with a bit of pattern, a bolder color, or an eye-catching trim detail.

Finally, I finished off with a generously-sized 24×16 lumbar pillow in a deep, saturated green linen fabric to add contrast. A petite lumbar pillow will work fine in this situation as well, but I like how the larger size fills the space nicely on a large bed like this.

Pictured above: 24 x 24 Pillows in Ivory Beige | 20 x 20 Pillows in Oatmeal with Trim | 24 x 16 Lumbar Pillow in Midnight Green | Use my code CREEKLINEHOUSE for 25% off

All the pillows I used are from Neutral Curtains, and can be custom made in the same luxurious, OEKO-Tex certified Linen/Cotton blend in many different colors, sizes, and with so many beautiful trim options as well. These have the softest, fluffiest, easiest-to-chop feather pillow inserts, which is always my favorite option. You can use my discount code CREEKLINEHOUSE for 25% off your entire Neutral Curtains order!

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I’m mildly obsessed with this lumbar pillow in the “Midnight Green” color.

Other Pillow Configuration Options I Love

Truthfully, although I have my preferred way to display my toss cushions, when you’re working with beautifully made pillows, you almost can’t go wrong no matter how you arrange them.

Another method I really like is to use three larger pillows across the back of the bed, with a single, longer lumbar right in front. Something like a 12×48 pillow makes a simple, but impactful statement.

If you have a collection of a few really special pillows, I also like three really basic pillows across the back with an asymmetrical arrangement of two to three boldly patterned or trimmed pillows right in front of the larger ones. This slightly more casual styling brings a bit of a relaxed feel to the space and can give your bedroom so much personality.

Thank you so much to Neutral Curtains for sponsoring this post! To see more of their products in my home, visit this post: How to Use a Regular Curtain as a Shower Curtain.

Use my code CREEKLINEHOUSE for 25% off your entire Neutral Curtains order!

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