- Tasseled pillows usually have a tassel at each corner, and sometimes one in the center for added dimension and detail. They have an elegant look that suits a more formal room.
- Fringed pillows, depending on the fabric they are made from, can be at home in either a formal or a casual room. Silks and velvets might be found in a living room, and microfibers and cottons in a den. The fringe's length and thickness varies from pillow to pillow.
- Tapestry is a richly woven fabric, usually with pastoral or classical themes reminiscent of antique wall tapestries. Hand-woven tapestries, even in pillow form, are beyond many budgets, but machine-made pillows are ubiquitous and inexpensive. Floral designs are perhaps most common for this type of pillow.
- Quilted pillows feature decorative stitched patterns. Some quilted pillow tops are the genuine article, joined from small pieces of fabric like a patchwork. Others are a single piece of fabric that is quilted for show only.
Needlework hobbyists can make pillows using any of a number of techniques, such as cross stitch, needlepoint, candlewicking or silk ribbon embroidery, among others. By creating the pillow themselves, needleworkers can choose not only the subject matter but also the color scheme. - Tufted pillows have indentations that are usually marked by a button. The number of tufts can range from one in the center of the pillow to multiple tufts covering the entire top.
- Corded pillows have a decorative, often braided, cord on all four sides. Cording is sometimes used in a contrasting color to provide more interest, and it may be combined with other features, such as tassels, tufting or quilting.
- Bolster pillows are cylindrical and are usually found in the bedroom. Decorative bolster pillows can be quite short, but those that are designed for support are usually long and placed at the head of the bed, where the user can recline against them.
Husband pillows are large and also provide support for reclining. They have short armrests and are often used on the floor.