Tips on styling your sofa with throw pillows, like a Pro!
- Arushi Malhotra
- Aug 29, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 30, 2020
Some throw pillows, an accent pillow piece and a few tricks are all you need to turn your home into your cozy heaven.
Decorative pillows are every designers 'secret potion' that can instantly turn your basic sofa into a one of a kind piece of furniture in turn creating stunning vignettes of your living room. They are one of those decor items that not only increase comfort, make the space cozy and inviting; but also instantly transform it from a utilitarian to a 'warm' and 'lived in' space.
Do you find it difficult to style your throw pillows? No matter how you try to mix and match them, something or the other always looks off. Do you often ask yourself questions like how do I pick the right size and shape of the throw pillow for my space? How do I group them? Do I mix colors or add patterns? Do I keep it simple and minimal or should I make it bold?
Sounds familiar?
If so, read on and I will help you put together a vignette that will instantly make your home insta-worthy!
Whether you are looking to add a pop of color to a room, elevate soft furnishings, bring in bold pattern or adding a theme/style to your space; using throw pillows for decor is an easy, quick, inexpensive and fun technique that can make all the difference. With a few simple tips and tons of inspiration, I will help you create your ideal look without much of a hassle. So, lets get started!
Pillow size
The first and the most important tip is to determine the right size of the pillow- if your pillow is too big it will take up your whole sofa and if it's too small it will look diminutive! Depending on the height of your sofa or furniture piece, chose the largest pillow size first. Personally, I like to start with a basic 24 inch or 22 inch pillow followed by an 18x18 inch or 16x16 inch pillow and a smaller accent pillow.
Pro Tip: Always try to vary the heights and layer your pillows.
Number of pillows
Unlike other furniture pieces the rule of odds does not always apply to throw pillow styling. The number of pillows required to complete your look depends largely on the size of your sofa and the style or look you are aiming for. For a more modern, electric and minimal look rule of odds will come into play, but for a more traditional look you would want to use even number of pillows on both ends of your sofa.
In case of a longer or sectional sofa you might want to work in sets of three (one additional set in the middle) rather than the standard two sets (one set on each end).
Color Scheme
It is vital to give a forethought on your desired pallete for the throw pillows- it should definitely be something which goes with the rest of your living room's decor. Just ensure that all of the pillows belong to a similar color tone irrespective of the color that you chose. Try having throw pillows that have different hues of the same palette (either in base color or pattern) to keep things interesting and yet in sync.
The key is to strike the right balance of cohesion and contrast. If you have a light colored sofa start with a dark color large pillow first and then layer the setting up with lighter hues and vice-a-versa.
Pro Tip: Use vibrant colored accent pillows in the forefront and balance them out with a neutral color base in the background. This acts as a focal point for your vignette and elevates the entire setup.
Patterns and textures
After you have successfully established the color palette for the pillows, the next step is to throw in some patterns and textures to the mix. Floral, stripes, solid, or dots - find a pattern (or two) that speaks to you. Adding patterns and textures are a great way to personalize your space.
Don't shy away from experimenting with different patterns and try to vary them in scale so that they don't compete with each other. Mixing larger and broader patterns with smaller ones helps to maintain balance.
Pro Tip:1. In case you have bold prints, try going for a more neutral palette.
2. While mixing patterns, ensure that you have at least one color in common to tie the whole thing up.
3. Chose Silk, velvet and ornately decorated pillows for a classic theme.
4. Clean and limited palette with large geometric prints or no prints at all works best for a more modern or electric set up.
5. Beyond patterns and colors, embellishments help in adding essential texture and luxury to the visual landscape. Try having elements like embroidery, tassels or screen-printed fabric to add richness to the set up.
Borders
Boarder styles add an additional layer of luxury to the throw pillows. Choosing pillows with different border styles like contrasting welt, knife edge, double flange, cigar corner cap or flat welt instantly lifts up the design stride.
In the end, don't shy away from experimenting, keep the space clutter free and happy styling!
Let's make it insta-worthy!
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