Styling your couch with pillows is a simple yet elegant way to uplift the look and feel of the space while creating a comfortable, cozy corner. However, many homeowners get confused about how to style pillows. This is because there are many options for couch pillows in different sizes, fabrics, textures, and patterns.
This blog will walk you through simple ways to style throw pillows on your couch.
Choosing the Right Pillow for Your Couch
The right number of couch pillows hugely impacts the comfort as well as the visual appeal of the space. Here are tips to help you choose the right pillows for your couch.
Decide the Pillow Shape
Throw pillows come in multiple shapes, but the classic square and lumbar pillows are widely used on a couch. Lumbar pillows are rectangular and support your lower back. If you are decorating your kid's room or want a bohemian look, choose round or custom-shaped pillows. However, if you want a classic look, square pillows are the best.
Decide the Pillow Size
The size of square pillows typically ranges from 16” to 24". The ideal size of a square pillow is generally 20" or more. Less than 20” looks a bit unimpressive on a large couch.
Common lumbar pillow sizes include 12″x20″, 12″x24″, 14″x20″, and 15″x32″; some extra-long pillows also come in 16″x42″. You can try decorating your couch by pairing smaller pillows with square ones.
Choose Inserts for Throw Pillows
While choosing throw pillows for the couch, inserts play an important role. Even if you buy expensive pillows, a cheaper insert will ruin the look and feel. High-quality inserts are necessary for pillows. Choose feather pillows for a luxe feel, but if you're allergic to feathers, it could be an issue. The other option is polyester-filled pillows, which are widely used for couches; however, they don't look as good as feather pillows. However, feather pillows soon turn poky.
Decide the Colour Pallette
To decide the color palette for your pillows, look carefully at the colors already present in your room, like the rugs, curtains, art, and other materials. Now, choose two or three core colors that are already present in your space. Among the three colors, one should be dominant and the other two accents. If you're unsure or confused about the color palette, choose pillows that coordinate well with the wall color or upholstery.
Combine Solids and Prints
Using all printed pillows can make the space look boring. Therefore, combine some solid pillows with prints to bring a balanced and strong visual base. For a more subtle and deep look, use solid colors with textures such as linen, velvet, boucle, and even leather. Solid pillows are timeless and are suitable for every season, which makes them an investment worth every penny.
How to Style Pillows on a Couch?
- Pick the largest pillows and arrange them on both ends of the couch.
- Select a few smaller pillows and arrange them in front of the large pillows. Add a lumbar pillow or a contrasting pillow in the middle.
- Make sure that you arrange the pillows in such a way that each pair looks unique and not mixed. For instance, pair a velvet pillow with a linen one, a patterned pillow with a solid one.
- Pairing different patterns makes your couch look stylish and not cluttered.
How Many Pillows Should Be Used to Style a Couch?
The number of pillows you should use depends on the size of your couch and the type of look you're trying to achieve.
Here are different couch types and an ideal number of pillows that can be used to style them:
- Loveseat: You can arrange two or three pillows on a loveseat couch.
- Sofa With Chaise: A sofa with chaise can be styled with two to six pillows.
- Sectional: A sectional couch can be styled using six to eleven pillows.
Symmetrical vs Asymmetrical Arrangement
Pillows can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically, with each style giving your sofa a different look and feel. Both give a different vibe and look to your couch. Here's the difference:
Symmetrical Arrangement
In a symmetrical arrangement, the pillows are matched in terms of texture, pattern, colors, etc.
and placed at both ends of the sofa. This arrangement of pillows gives your couch a formal, tailored, and calm look.
Asymmetrical Arrangement
In an asymmetrical arrangement, the pillows of varying sizes are arranged unevenly on the couch, which feels relaxed and is a favorite among designers.
Common Pillow Styling Mistakes
Here is a list of don'ts that you must avoid while styling your pillows. They are:
- Don't use pillows that match your couch, as it looks boring.
- Don't use a pillow insert of the same size as its cover. The same-size insert and cover will give your pillow a flat look and will not look good.
- Don't use many tiny pillows all over your couch, as it ruins the look of your couch. Instead, get some bigger pillows for a better look.
Styling Ideas for Different Couch Colors
Styling a couch with pillows varies depending on the color of the couch. Here are the styling ideas for different colored couches:
White Couch
A white couch needs some warmth and texture to make the space feel cozy and not stark. Add a pop of color to your white couch using some colorful throw pillows.
Gray Couch
Try styling your gray couch using pillows of warm and rich colors like mustard yellow or rust orange. Use pillows with textures such as velvet or smooth linen to add depth to your gray couch.
Beige Couch
Style your beige couch with pillows in earthy tones like olive green and terracotta to bring in some warmth to the space.
Brown Leather Couch
You can style your brown leather couch using pillows with textures such as linen or velvet and contrasting colors such as sage or olive green.
Navy Couch
Try styling your navy couch with pillows in warm earthy tones. You can also try contrasting pillow colors such as burnt orange or mustard yellow. These colors add warmth to your cool navy couch.
Green Couch
A green couch can be styled using pillows in neutral cream, terracotta, or patterned botanical prints. Using textured pillows such as cotton velvet or woven lines will further enhance the look of your green couch, creating a cozy, layered look.
Conclusion
Styling your couch using throw pillows can be easily done if you choose the right color palette, size, and texture of pillows that suit your couch. Whether you design your couch symmetrically or asymmetrically, the arrangement should feel cozy and inviting and not stark. Using a few simple tips discussed in this blog can bring in warmth and coziness to your space.
