To Chop or Not Chop that is the ?

Photo Courtesy of conceptsandcolorways.com

By Susan Rivera, Design Consultant

 
For those who aren’t familiar with the term “pillow chopping,” it describes a way of shaping pillows. A chopped pillow is achieved by fluffing a feather or down pillow and using a karate chop motion to create an indentation in the top.
 
 
This debate has been going on for years now. Is karate chopping throw pillows a trend, or does it actually make pillows look better? Believe it or not…There is no right or wrong answer when making the decision whether not to chop or not chop? It’s simply a personal style preference. Truly, the secret to a nice-looking pillow has more to do with the fabric used to cover it as well as the quality of the insert. The higher the fill, the better your pillow will look — chopped or un-chopped.
 
If you have silky pillows or pillows with a sheen you can really show off the fabric with a slight chop. The soft dent enhances this luxurious fabric by creating shadows and allowing light to hit the pillow from different angles. Chopping can also make some prints look less uniform and bold as well as give you a more casual look. If that’s the look your going for?
 
 
The type of insert your pillow has may help you decide if you want to chop or not.  A feather or down insert with a high fill count will look full and plump with or without chopping. 

A foam insert is definitely not a good contender for a pillow chop. Pillows with foam filing tend to be more rigid and usually look good without frequent fluffing. If you over manipulate them, in fact, they can get lumpy.
 
Give it a try, plump up those pillows and give them a nice karate chop right through the center. If you like it, keep it. If you do not like it, just give it a shake and plump it right back up again.
 
Happy Chopping… or Not?
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