Masculine Pillows

I have recently been helping a friend find some pillows to complement his new sofa, and in the spirit of upcoming Father's Day, I thought I’d share some of the looks and sources that help make for a comfortable yet definitely masculine look.

Matte linen

 

Linen with a visible weave is both durable and comfortable, and has an almost industrial look to it. Libeco makes amazing large square pillows made of high quality Belgian linen in solid earth tones. Available at Greenhouse. The medium and dark grays really shows off the fabric texture.

Tonal linen

 

Canvas sells these rectangular pillows in a hand-dyed linen that have a little more variation in tone. The variation gives this fabric a bit more depth, and the different color on the back provides a touch more visual interest.

Subtle pattern

Patterns that look like they belong on a tie tend to look the most masculine. Those that would make for an awful tie will still make an awful pillow. This patterned pillow by Haus Interiors is simple yet striking.  

Stripes

While patterns can be tricky, you can’t go wrong with a stripe. This one from Ikea is simple but not bland. And the price really can't be beat. 

Two-tone

For the pattern-averse, these two-tone options from Rough Linen may be a great compromise. The simple grey and white hardly counts as pattern.

Authentic nautical

 

Sometimes graphics like ships and whales can look juvenile or theme-y. Instead, opt for materials with character, such as these pillows from Reiter8 made from old sailboat sails.

Burlap

There is probably no more rugged a fabric than burlap, likely because it is used for the containment and transfer of very heavy things. Etsy has many options upcycled from things like coffee sacks – this one, this one and this one are great. Burlap looks great with off-white or leather but may be difficult to integrate with some colors or patterns, and is potentially not the most comfortable fabric. Just make sure this isn’t a pillow that will be used to lay a face against.

Velvet

A velvet pillow is like a man wearing colorful socks under a suit. It shows some personality peeking through without being a huge statement. Canvas sells square, rectangular or round pillows made of velvet in muted jewel tones that are beautiful and still subtle.