The Perfect Number of Cushions This Bedding Designer Swears By When Making the Bed — "Honestly, It's That Simple," She Says

Image of a bed with a green velvet headboard and white bedding. There are six white pillows on the bed and a sage green throw blanket at the end of the bed.

The 'correct' number of pillows you should have on your bed is an age-old debate. Two feels very minimalist, while stacking anything over eight can start to feel incredibly over-the-top. Of course, it can all work, but what's the best number of pillows when it comes to styling a bed in 2026? According to this bedding designer, it's six.

When I asked Molly Freshwater, the co-founder and creative director of Secret Linen Store, why, she said: "Why have four pillows when you can have six? Honestly, it's that simple." And it's true — while bedding trends are paring back, having six pillows still gives you plenty of flexibility when styling, without cluttering the bed.