The key to comfortable holiday hosting isn't ugly fold-up chairs, it's chic and practical floor pillows – here are our style editor's best picks

Floor pillows can help solve all of your hosting woes – they make for great extra seats that are not only cozy, but stylish, too

A cozy living room with a large gray couch with many pillows, a white shag rug, two circular coffee tables, two poufs on the left side, and a large mural in the back partially covered by a curtain
(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

As hosting season rapidly approaches, it's time to reevaluate your home's aptitude for entertaining guests. Instead of relying on unattractive fold-up chairs that'll just clutter your closets when not in use, consider this unconventional, grounding, and chic seating choice instead: floor pillows.

Floor pillows aren't a new living room seating idea by any means. In fact, their use in interior spaces can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations across the globe, from Egypt to China. However, the continued use of floor pillows is proof that this seating choice is one that's not only highly functional and practical, but worthy enough to stand the test of time.

Nowadays, floor pillows take many forms – ottomans, poufs, and even bean bag chairs are making a comeback. However, I find the most useful floor pillows are the ones that measure slightly larger and feel slightly firmer than traditional couch pillows. These styles are big enough to serve as extra seating for guests, but small enough to stash under your coffee table when not in use. Plus, they're stylish enough to become living room decor details to enrich the style of your space. And this hosting season, they're a home decor must-have.

a living room with a vibrant orange couch, two floor pillows, a jute rug, and a coffee table with books and decorative objects on top

(Image credit: Deborah French Designs)

You see, floor pillows eliminate the need for clunky, foldable chairs – allowing more room for guests to mingle about when hosting a party. They can make a room feel more comfortable, too. I recently noticed that interior designer Amber Lewis incorporated a floor pillow into one of her projects, and it sparked my interest in this clever yet underutilized seating idea.

Although Amber used the floor pillow in a playroom in this example, the uses for floor pillows in the home are vast. Of course, they make sense as extra seating in your living room (especially as we approach hosting season), but they can also become a key feature in a cozy bedroom, or even a comfortable spot in a reading nook.

Not only are floor pillows a practical choice for seating, but they add a layer of style to a room, too. 'With varied colors, textures, and patterns, floor pillows can introduce personality, contrast, or cohesion in the decor,' interior designer Deborah French tells me.

But the best part about floor pillows is that when they're not in use, they don't look out of place. They can decorate the room in which they occupy by leaning up against a wall or by stacking on top of each other, like shown in this room designed by interior designer Beata Heuman.

Shop cozy and stylish floor pillows

Whether you're looking for a cozy room idea or want to experiment with unconventional seating for your next house party, floor pillows are certainly worth your attention. They'll make your home more comfortable and add a level of style – all while being a highly practical decor detail.

Shop nine stylish floor pillows for your home, below.


Love the idea of floor pillows, but need something a bit bigger? Check out the viral WOWMAX couch bed. This boneless couch is completely rearrangeable – almost as if it were a bunch of floor pillows grouped together to form a cozy and plush couch.

Devin Toolen
Style Editor

Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.