There’s no easier way to inject some style into a room than with throw pillows. Perhaps your old but oh-so-comfortable couch needs a new lease of life, or you want to give your new dream sofa a finishing touch.
But with all the pillow sizes, shapes, colors, patterns, and textures to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. If this is how you’re feeling right now, here are some simple steps to achieving the perfect pillow setup!
Stay in Proportion
When styling throw pillows, size is a very important consideration. If you go too big, you’ll crowd your couch, but go too small and your arrangement will look like an afterthought. Remember that decorative pillows are accents to the piece rather than the piece itself, so always choose them in relation to the size of your sofa! It’s often best to start big then work downwards. So perhaps one larger 20″ x 20″ pillow, then add a couple of smaller 16″ x 16″ pillows, and finish with a 13” x 21” lumbar pillow.
Know Your Numbers
In most areas of design, odd numbers tend to look more modern and artful. The same is true here, so if you’re hoping for a fresh and relaxed feel, stick to an odd number of throw pillows – perhaps five for an average couch and three for a smaller one. Also, a smaller number of larger pillows often looks more sophisticated than a bunch of tiny ones. On the other hand, if your style is more formal, an even number of pillows, such as one or two at each end of the seat, will achieve a clean and symmetrical look.
Create a Strong Base
Choosing the colors and patterns on your pillows, and making them work together, can be daunting. But remember, they don’t have to match perfectly and often look more stylish if they don’t! That said, there should be some connection in your arrangement, and the easiest way to do this is to start with a base pillow. This generally has the largest pattern with the most colors in it. The pillows you add alongside should pick out at least one or two of those colors, but have simpler patterns – so to complement rather than compete with the base.
Add Some Texture
Color and pattern are important but don’t forget to vary the textures in your collection too. After all, you’ll be sitting in this space rather than just looking at it, so make it interesting to touch and comfy to snuggle into! As well as classic cotton pillows, consider faux fur, velvet, linen, chunky knits, or even tassels. As long as you stick to your color and pattern base, you can get creative with fabrics and textures. To make your couch even more inviting, add a super soft fleece blanket into the mix!
Include a Wild Card
For a final flourish, why not add an ‘odd one out’ to your arrangement. Perhaps it’s a pillow in a daring color, with a striking monogram, a cool quote, or something covered in sequins! Whatever you choose, it should add a pop of personality. Also remember that pillows don’t even have to be square. Round pillows add an interesting look to any couch and also lend themselves to playful designs – from 8 Balls to donuts complete with sprinkles! If you’d prefer to skip this final step, that’s fine too or just do it at a later date.
In fact, the best thing about throw pillows is that they’re inexpensive and non-committal. If you’re not completely happy with yours, or get bored, it’s easy to move or replace them. So our best advice on how to style pillows on a couch is to experiment and have fun with it!
Matilda is Marketing Manager in the International Team, bringing Zazzle to customers everywhere from Sydney to Stockholm.
