How to Style Accent Pillows on Your Sofa
How often has your husband commented on the amount of pillows in your home? I laugh as I write this because mine comments all the time. I have pillows for every season and in every color, that they are busting out of our storage cabinets and holiday decor boxes!
Why is it that I have so many? Accent pillows are the quickest way to refresh your space. It’s hard to make big changes like a sofa, rug, or wall paint, but a throw pillow to give new life? Easy!
In this blog we will give you all of our pillow tips to make your space elevated and beautiful, along with some of our latest pillow finds we can’t live without:
I love to start with a big pillow, and then find a smaller one or two to layer in front at an angle. My favorite look is two on one side of the couch and nothing on the other side.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE
For a regular-size pillow, start with a 20” pillow. For couches with a lower back, start with 16” or 18” pillows as the starting point.
VARY SIZES AND SHAPES
To add more interest to your couch, vary sizes and shapes by mixing rectangle pillows with square pillows, or square pillows with circular pillows. In this blog, we talk about how circular shapes in the home actually promote mental well-being. How’s that for a convincing argument on why you need more pillows?
TEXTURE, TEXTURE, TEXTURE
Leather, velvet, and faux fur are great opportunities to have fun and bring more dimension to your space. You can even look for more subtle details like roping, fringe, or a textured ribbed pattern.
CREATE A COLOR PALETTE
Keep it consistent with 3-5 colors to ensure cohesiveness. If that feels like you’re stretching your design muscles too much, go back to basics with our How to Build a Color Palette blog.
MIX AND MATCH PATTERNS
This really elevates your vibe! I’d suggest doing one large pattern and one small pattern within your color palette.
USE AN ODD NUMBER OF PILLOWS
It actually looks more balanced not being centered! Odd, isn’t it?
THE “CHOP” TECHNIQUE
To fluff your pillows chop the center part of the throw pillow with your arm for the look you’ll see in retail stores and in magazines!
PRO-TIP: We always make sure that our inserts are 1”-2” bigger than the actual pillow dimensions. Purchasing a 20” pillow? Stuff it with a 22” insert!
Teal prefers to style two 2 large pillows straight on the sofa to keep simple.
Pillows can take time to figure out what looks best. We suggest bringing fabric samples and existing pillows you want to use into stores to see what looks best. Ask the associates for help and for their opinion. If you aren’t sure you want to commit, take a photo and then come back later to decide.
Our favorite pillows we’ve been using in projects lately:
This curated collection by Linen + Cloth would look gorgeous on a colorful or neutral sofa. I’m imagining a dark leather brown sofa or cream-colored linen! Linen & Cloth is our very favorite retail brand because they look and feel CUSTOM. Get 10% off with code: IFPREGFPNP
I love pillows from Rejuvenation, especially when balancing a solid with a pattern and different sizes! The velvet pillows are gorgeous.
The infamous knot pillow from DWR is a personal fave for the shape, texture, fun, and variety of colors.
This bolster pillow from Sarah Sherman Samuel’s collection with Lulu & Georgia.
Don’t forget you can always get your favorite fabric and take to a local upholstery shop!
Are you more of a visual learner? Watch our Youtube to see styling tricks, layering tricks, and more!
From choosing the right sizes and shapes to playing with textures, colors, and patterns, the possibilities are endless. Remember, it's all about creating balance, cohesion, and visual interest. So, whether you're a fan of the "chop" technique or prefer a more minimalist approach, embrace the power of pillows to make your home feel cozy, stylish, and uniquely yours. And if your partner thinks that accent pillows are too extra, tell them they’re good for mental well-being. It is science after all…
Happy styling!
Wendy
Linen + Cloth Curated “Shiloh” Collection
10% off with code: IFPREGFPNP
HELPFUL LINKS
Move your pillow styling from the sofa to the bedroom in our Sleeping in Style and Comfort blog.
Read here if you’re ready to start experimenting to upholstering your pillows! The creativity is endless
Watch our YouTube here for How to Style Accent Pillows
Affiliate Disclosure: Teal and Wendy hand-pick every product they recommend. Some product links are affiliates and may provide a small kickback to T&S at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, they earn from qualifying purchases.
