The New Year brings about passionate intentions to improve ourselves, our relationships with others and sometimes, our interiors. New Years is a time to be honest with our pillow mate and admit our weaknesses. Admit, “I have a pillow fetish.”

One of the most common battles of the sexes involves the pillow.

He says, “Get rid of them! They’re in the way!”

She says, “They’re pretty. They’re comfy. Just move them!”

The designer softly says, “Never underestimate the power of the pillow.”

A great interior is designed with room for future adaptation. The main elements are chosen with congruity and timelessness in mind. Details can be adjusted with trends.

Easy seasonal elements to adjust are area rugs, art configurations, and of course, cushion coverings.

Refreshing a tired interior means keeping the good basics, and adding some current colours and innovative touches.

A perfect pillow is in the eye of the beholder. Individual preferences vary on the fill. Some like the inexpensive $12 to $20 polyester fill that maintains a square profile, doesn’t require fluffing and is hypoallergenic.

Others prefer the $20 to $40 feather fills that are primo for comfort and have a soft, fluff me up image on the sofa or window seat.

The fabrics can vary from plush, comfortable cut velvets to shiny, silk, sexy statements. Any fabric, leather, suede, vinyl or wall hanging can be made into a pillow, provided it can be stitched by hand or machine.

If you can sew a straight line, you can construct a cushion cover. The best ones usually have a zipper for easy transferring. Piping and embellishments add a

professional flair.

European colour combinations and fabric trends have influenced Willow Studio’s line up of pillows for 2009. On the runway are rich, cut velvet brocades set against fine cotton backgrounds to make the perfect winter/summer fabric marriage. Bold stripes combine effortlessly to bring a masculine flavour to the pillow pattern mix. The simple large scale graphics work well with many interiors, and provide an interesting platform for more whimsical and personal punch pillows.

The turquoise, chartreuse and taupe combination is a gorgeous colour combination that reminds us of lush spring green grass and Mediterranean waters.

These saturated brights wake us up from tired taupe interiors. The bold, oversized patterns say, “Eclecticism is in, don’t fence me in!”

Citrus yellow teamed with neutrals brings virtual sunlight into any room. Yellow has been muddied through the last decade and is now reinvented in its purest form. Citron gets a modern twist when combined with taupes and charcoals, it’s a far cry from the

Victorian blue and yellow 1980s combinations.

White and crèegrave;Egrave;me are the perfect backdrops to pop these fresh palettes.

Fuchsia, berry and old school burgundy make a surprise appearance on the design runway. Arm in arm, they provide a jolt of energy to a dull interior with their warm, unexpected monochromatic combination. The pinks are sometimes a harder sell to some pillow mates, but well worth the colour injection.

Remember to pick your battles this year, when engaging in the passionate power of the pillow debate. If you peacefully allow your pillow partner reckless cushion abandon and creative control, perhaps they will let you have your way somewhere else.

Sandra Young is a Calgary designer and owner of Willow Studios. Phone: 403-230-9226 or www.willowstudio.ca