Fix it
Throw Pillow Troubleshooting (2026)
Fixes for flat inserts, loose covers, lumpy fill, zipper snags, colour mismatch, and outdoor fading on throw pillows.
Most throw pillow problems are fixable in minutes, and most come from the same three causes: vacuum packing, a size mismatch between insert and cover, or the wrong fabric for the room. Work through the fixes below in order, starting with the simplest, before you return anything.
Insert arrived flat and looks too small for the cover
Vacuum packing compresses the fill for shipping. Open the pack, pull each corner out by hand, punch the centre a few times to break up the fill, and leave the insert overnight. Most loft returns within a day. If the cover still looks slack after a day, check the cover size: a 20 inch cover needs a 20 inch insert, and an 18 inch insert will always look lost inside it.
Cover is loose and baggy, with empty corners
The insert is too small for the cover. Swap in an insert one size larger than the cover, or add a second flat insert behind the first to fill the corners. For a quick fix, push the fill toward the corners by hand and fluff daily for a week until it settles.
Fill has clumped to one side after washing
Wash inserts only if the listing says they are machine washable, and dry them fully, since damp fill clumps. Break up clumps by hand while the insert is dry, then fluff it in a dryer on low with no heat if the care label allows it. If the fill has formed hard lumps that will not break apart, the insert is worn out and needs replacing.
Zipper snags or will not close on a cover
A snag usually means the insert is too large for the cover, so the zipper is under strain. Try a same-size insert instead of an oversized one, or press the fill away from the zipper line before closing it. If the zipper teeth are bent, work them straight with your fingers and run the pull slowly; forcing it makes the damage worse.
Colour looks different on the sofa than in the photo
Screen colour and room light change how a fabric reads, especially gold, cream, and blue. Check the cover in daylight and in evening light before deciding, and compare it against the sofa fabric rather than the wall. If it still clashes, swap the pair to a different room before returning it: gold velvet that fights a grey sofa may suit a warm bedroom perfectly.
Feathers poking through the cover
Real down inserts shed the odd feather through seams, which is normal for the fill. Pull the feather out from the outside rather than pushing it back in, since pushing it leaves the quill inside. If feathers escape often, the cover weave is too loose for down: swap to a tighter cover, or switch to a down alternative insert like the Utopia or Phantoscope picks.
Outdoor pillows faded or stayed damp
Even weather resistant fabric fades in constant sun, so rotate outdoor pillows between seats and bring them under cover in heavy rain. Let a damp pillow dry fully in air before storing it, since a stored damp pillow goes musty. If fading is uneven, flip the reversible Pillow Perfect pair to the stripe side and move the faded side to the back.
Questions, answered
My inserts smell after unpacking. Is that normal?
A faint factory smell from vacuum packing is common and fades with airing. Leave the inserts out overnight, and wash them only if the listing says they are machine washable.
Can I fix a cover that shrank in the wash?
Usually not fully. Try stretching it gently while damp and letting it dry flat, but prevention is better: wash covers on a gentle cycle, zip them closed, and check the care label before the first wash.
Why do my pillows go flat by evening?
Daily leaning compresses the fill, especially down and soft microfiber. Fluff each pillow in the morning by punching the centre and pulling the corners out, and rotate which pillow gets the most use.