Quick Ways to Mix and Match Your Sofa Pillows
A sofa full of pillows brings comfort and style to any room. However, haphazardly tossing every pillow onto the couch rarely achieves that Instagram-worthy look. With a bit of forethought and some easy styling tricks, you can effortlessly mix and match pillows like a pro.
Pulling together a pile of pillows on your sofa seems simple, but achieving harmony requires attention to size, color, texture and pattern. By thoughtfully combining complementary pillows, you create a custom look that reflects your taste and complements your interior.
Assess Your Current Sofa Pillows
Start by taking stock of the pillows currently on your sofa. Make note of the different sizes and shapes, along with the primary colors, patterns and materials used. Gather all your extra throw pillows and future pillow possibilities to mix and match.
Consider the overall aesthetic you want the arrangement to achieve. Do you prefer a more modern or traditional style? Monochromatic, vibrantly colorful, or neutrally toned? Eccentric mix or subdued match? Determining the look you desire guides the pillow pairing process.
Benefits of Throw Pillows
Before delving into pillow placement, consider the benefits of throw pillows beyond basic cushioning:
- Adds style personality reflecting your tastes
- Brings in color and contrast
- Increases sofa comfort with lumbar support
- Creates visual depth and dimension
- Offers versatility in frequently changing interior decor
Vary Pillow Sizes for Visual Interest
A common trick designers use is combining a range of pillow sizes. Limit yourself solely to standard pillows and your sofa lacks dimension. Mix in a few oversized pillows with some small square decorative pillows up front.
Start by piling some large euro pillows across the back sofa row. Euros come in 26 to 30-inch squares to span the full width. A couple medium rectangle pillows staggered in the mix also adds nice depth. Finish up front with a small collection of colorful square and round pillows about 16 to 22 inches.
Use Complementary Sofa Pillow Colors
Matching pillow shams precisely rarely creates an inviting vibe. However, clashing wildly disparate colors also fails to soothe. The best practice marries complementary colors in the same tonal family for cohesion. Combine shades of analogous hues transitioning from darker to lighter values.
The key is determining the right number of dominant colors for your scheme. Designers often recommend selecting three colors from the existing room palette. For example, pull your palette from artwork hangings, area rugs and other decorative items sharing the space. Distribute the three colors evenly among the mixed pillows to connect the dot.
If the sofa resides in a red and green Christmas wonderland, buying six new purple pillows probably misses the mark. Instead stick to red, green and white - perhaps even adding hometown sports team logos on a couple shams for personal flair.
That said, even firmly established color schemes still need a little "pop" of the unexpected. Add in one or two bold accent color pillows for that design impact. Just don't let the stand out pillows overwhelm the main three colors tying everything together.
Mix and Match Pillow Textures and Patterns
Another key mix and match element lies in varying pillow textures and patterns. Too much uniformity looks flat and lifeless. The indulgent mix introduces lavish linen, cozy chenille, smooth velvet, nubby tweed, plush velour and more. Shop for new pillow covers to freshen things up cheaply.
When combining patterns, try to ensure each pillow relates but doesn't exactly match the next. Pair together complementary patterns like organic shapes and geometric diamonds. Textured solids help highlight neighboring decorative patterns. Attempt inserting a solid textural pillow between two to three patterned pillows.
Incorporate Contrasting Textures
Explore contrasting textures for big impact. Combine lightly textured linen and cotton prints with ultra-plush velvet or velour solids. Introduce a shimmering satiny pillow next to flat matte finishes. The greater the texture variance, the more pronounced dimension each commands.
Separate Patterns with Solids
While patterns can certainly harmonize as complementary pairs, solids help pace the arrangement. Dropping in solid color pillows allows the eye to reset between dizzying pattern combinations. Whether incorporating sheens like satin or flat matte velvet, solids balance chaotic mixes.
Repeat Colors to Pull Patterns Together
If juggling too many patterned pillows causes hesitation, simplify by repeating a color thread between them. Maintain cohesion choosing two pillows with a navy background and one predominantly brown. Just alternate pattern, solid, pattern. The brown pillow separates the similar navy patterns.
This color repetition guidance applies to the sofa pillows mixes overall as well. Repeating your three dominant hues throughout the patterns unifies the space visually. That singular bold accent pillow keeps things lively against the backdrop of order.
In the same vein, don't overlook pulling pattern inspiration from nearby artwork and decor. Echo geometric shapes from printed canvases or organic floral motifs from area rugs in corresponding throw pillow patterns. The common design threads connect rooms together stylistically.
Arrange Sofa Pillows in Balanced Layouts
With plenty color, pattern and texture options to pull from, constructing the pillow composition remains. Maintain balance in the arrangements, allowing each pillow its moment while enhancing the whole. Map out pillows symmetrically so one side mirrors the other.
Create a Structured Back Row
Larger lumbar pillows pile up across the sofa back to provide comfort while enabling you to lean back without sliding down awkwardly. Stack two or three substantial rectangles across the top. Make sure they measure at least 26 inches wide to comfortably span the back of most standard sofas.
If your sofa back runs shallow, consider incorporating a structured bolster pillow instead of standard rectangles. The cylindrical shape offers lumbar support without pushing you uncomfortably forward. Density and length combinations accommodate all body types.
Stagger Rows with Medium Pillows
The middle row stakes out the ideal spot for those medium 18 to 22 inch pillows. Center one in the middle, then symmetrically place two more turned at opposite diagonal angles. The staggered row adds dimension while allowing the pillows to wedge in place once you sit.
Finally create a structured yet playful angle for pillows resting out front. Angle four same-size 16 to 18 inch pillows with pointed corners all rippling out from the central focal point.
Alternately, lean just two pillows together at a gentle angle. Offsetting with different angles and sizes from left to right also proves interesting. Just make sure to maintain balance so both sides share equivalent visual weight. Symmetry brings order to the eclectic mix of colors, patterns and textures on display across oddly-shaped sofas.
Fluff, rearrange and enjoy your freshly styled sofa pillows. Preplanning pillow placement based on objective principles removes the guesswork and anxiety from the process. Before long you can easily mix and match pillows on a sofa like a pro every time the furnishings mood strikes.