Pillows and cushions are both soft goods designed to enhance an interior’s aesthetics and comfort, but they are generally used in different manners.
A pillow is a textile stuffed with a soft fill such as cotton or feathers. Pillows are designed to provide support to the head, neck, or back when sleeping, or relaxing on a seat like a sofa, chair, or chaise. Pillows can be sourced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including rectangular, square, and even bolster or cylinder shapes. They also come in a wide range of fabrics, including velvet, mohair, twill, and patterned cottons.
In contrast to a pillow which is often densely filled with batting or feathers to create a soft, plush item that you want to cuddle with, a cushion is generally a flatter, more solidly filled pad that is designed to be used as a seating pad on a wood or metal dining chair. They are also used on upholstery items like sofas or chairs (i.e. a sofa cushion). Seating cushions for chairs often come equipped with ties to keep them securely adhered to the chair. Unlike pillows, which are available in a wide range of materials, colors, and patterns, cushions are more of a niche item and are generally more limited in terms of fabric and design.