5 Types of 20x20 Decorative Pillow Covers Worth Buying

The best 20x20 decorative pillow covers combine a fabric that fits how you live, a hidden zipper so you can swap inserts, and a pattern scaled for a 20-inch square. Hand block printed linen suits you if you want character. Indian wool suits cozy rooms, plain linen anchors a sofa, washable cotton handles family rooms, and velvet dresses up formal spaces.

The problem is that search results show pages of near-identical squares. The photos hide what matters: the fabric on the back, the closure, and how the cover sits on an insert. This guide sorts five types, with what you get, how each fits and closes, who it suits, and what it costs.

Koredecor makes handmade Indian textiles, so the first two types come from our own catalog. We know how they are woven, printed and finished. The other three are fabric choices you will meet in any shop, with the trade-offs stated plainly.

1. Hand block printed linen covers

Hand block printed linen is the pick when you want one cover that carries the whole sofa. It is also the type we make ourselves.

What you get

Koredecor's hand block printed linen covers use pure linen on the front and original Kala cotton on the back, with the print on both sides. Artisans stamp each motif by hand, so no two repeats match exactly. Designs run from florals to geometrics in teal, rosedust, forest green, slate and neutral tones, all with eco-friendly dyes. Printing on both sides means the cover looks finished whichever way it lands.

Fit, zipper and care

Each cover closes with an invisible YKK zipper, so the edge stays clean. Many of our block print designs are lumbar, so check the dimensions on the product page before you add a square to your cart. Then pick the insert for the look you want:

• 20x20 insert: a relaxed fit with softer corners
• 22x22 insert: a fuller, tailored look with sharp corners
• Measure the insert seam to seam, not by the label

Check the care notes on the product page before washing.

A cover that is 2 inches smaller than its insert looks plump instead of tired.

Who it suits and what it costs

Block print covers suit boho, farmhouse and earthy rooms, and they work best as the single printed piece among solids. Prices run about $50 to $75. You can browse the full range of hand block printed pillow covers in one place. If you source for clients, our Designer Trade Program gives 10% off all products and early previews of new collections.

2. Indian wool covers

Indian wool covers are the right choice when texture matters more than print. They turn a plain sofa into a layered one.

What you get

Indian wool pillow covers give a square pillow real weight and surface. Ours pair a pure Indian wool front with a Kala cotton back, in square and lumbar shapes. Motifs, checks, stripes, tassels and fringe do the decorating, and the range includes Bhujodi wool pieces. Many 20x20 decorative pillow covers look flat in photos, but wool shows its depth in person.

Fit, zipper and care

Wool has less give than linen, so keep the insert no more than 2 inches larger than the cover. Tassels and fringe add visual width, so measure the body of the cover and not the trim. Confirm the closure on the product page before you buy. Skip the washing machine unless the care label allows it, and spot clean first.

Wool covers earn their place in cold months, when texture beats pattern.

Who it suits and what it costs

Wool suits living rooms, reading chairs and cabin-style spaces where you want warmth you can see. Prices run about $50 to $95, depending on the weave and trim. A matching tone in one of our Indian wool throw blankets draws the whole sofa together.

3. Plain and textured linen covers

Plain linen is the quiet workhorse among 20x20 decorative pillow covers. It fills the gaps between your statement pieces.

What you get

Solid linen covers come in oatmeal, cream, gray, sage and charcoal. Weight varies a lot. Heavy, slubby linen looks rustic, while fine linen looks crisp. Pure linen softens with every wash, and linen blends cost less and wrinkle less but feel less natural.

Fit, zipper and care

Look for a concealed zipper in a color that matches the fabric. Choose pre-washed linen, which shrinks less after you launder it. A 22x22 insert in a 20x20 cover keeps the corners from slumping. Follow the label for water temperature and drying.

Wrinkles are part of linen's look, so buy it only if you accept them.

Who it suits and what it costs

Plain linen suits anyone building a layered sofa. Use two solids and one pattern, and the arrangement looks planned. Plain linen usually costs less than hand-printed linen, but heavyweight pure linen is still a real purchase.

4. Cotton gingham, stripe and ruffle covers

Cotton covers are the practical option. They are light, washable and cheap enough to rotate with the seasons.

What you get

Cotton is where you find gingham, ticking stripes, florals and ruffled edges in 20x20 decorative pillow covers. The fabric is lighter than linen and feels casual. Prints are usually woven or machine printed, so the colors stay even across a set.

Fit, zipper and care

Closures vary here. A hidden zipper gives the cleanest edge, while an envelope closure is fine on budget covers but can gap along the overlap. Buy a set of two to flank a sofa or a set of four to fill a sectional. Check that every cover in the set is the same size. Most cotton covers tolerate a gentle machine wash, but read the label.

For rooms with kids or pets, washability beats every other feature on this list.

Who it suits and what it costs

Cotton suits family rooms, rentals and anyone who changes decor each season. It is the lowest-cost type here, and sets lower the cost per cover. The trade-off is that cotton has less depth than linen or wool.

5. Velvet covers

Velvet is the dressy choice. It reads as formal even in a simple room.

What you get

Velvet's pile catches light, so one 20x20 cover shifts between shades as you walk past. Jewel tones, rust, olive and deep neutrals show the effect best. The fabric has a soft hand and a slight sheen that linen and cotton lack.

Fit, zipper and care

Use a hidden zipper matched to the pile color, and fill the cover with a plump 22x22 insert so the surface stays smooth. If you buy a set, make sure the pile runs the same direction on every cover. Keep velvet out of direct sun, which fades it, and brush or steam crushed spots back into shape.

Velvet looks its best when you pair it with something rough, like linen or wool.

Who it suits and what it costs

Velvet suits bedrooms, formal living rooms and winter styling. It sits in the middle on price, above basic cotton and below hand-crafted pieces. Use one or two velvet covers against textured neutrals, not a whole sofa of them.

Choosing your 20-inch covers

Pick the fabric first, then the closure, then the pattern. Block printed linen gives you craft, wool gives you warmth, plain linen gives you calm, cotton gives you easy care, and velvet gives you polish. Whatever you choose, look for a hidden zipper and measure the insert seam to seam.

If you want a cover with real hand work, start with our hand block printed linen pillow covers. Check the listed size on each design, and email us if you want help choosing.