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I have a beautiful, smooth leather couch, chair and bench. But I find that pillows slide off and slip around. I've had people give me advice that ranges from using Velcro to secure the pillows to buying plastic inflatable pillows that will supposedly stick to leather. Is there a solution that would still look attractive?

A plastic inflatable pillow should come with the same hazard warning as a plastic inflatable doll: Beware of any clothing or belts with spikes! When a leather sofa is constructed, the underside of the seat cushion is always made of a different breathable material to allow for air circulation. But when it comes to the top portion's buttery leather surface, sticking on a cushion with Velcro is not an option. (We don't Velcro our shoes any more, so why would you Velcro your pillows? It's laces all the way - even all the way up to the knee in Christian Louboutin's case!) The material that the pillows are covered with is key to avoiding slippage. Brushed cotton and plush velvet, for instance, will help provide traction. My perfect pillow has a different material on either side, so try two. Welt it with grosgrain ribbon and make it 22 by 22 inches - because we all know size matters.

Architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace is the president of Taylor Hannah Architect Inc. in Toronto. Have a design question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.

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