Why I’m Not a Fan of the Pillow-Punching Trend

Pillow Talk - No Karate Chops. A vibrant living space features a deep blue sofa adorned with a bold pink square pillow and a textured round yellow cushion, adding a pop of color and comfort to the room.

Lately, there’s been this trend of karate-chopping (or punching) pillows to create those little "ears" at the top. And while I get that it adds some visual texture or dimension, I’m really not crazy about it.

Pillows already do plenty to elevate a space—they don’t need ears. A pillow is a pillow. If you want dimension, go for a mix of sizes, shapes, or textures that actually take things to the next level. At least then, they still function as pillows—not just sculpture. And once someone leans back, those little “ears” disappear—what once looked styled now just feels like a pillow that gave up.

Unless, of course, you don’t want anyone actually sitting on them… in which case, go ahead and karate-chop to your heart’s content. I’ll be over here lounging on my un-punched pillows, thanks.

Honestly? It’s a lot of pointy ears popping up everywhere. We really don’t need that. Keep it simple. Let pillows be pillows.