My social media explore page is currently full of aesthetically pleasing living rooms and I’m always in awe of the way interior decorators style couches … there’s something about fluffed up cushions layered together that makes a couch look dreamy… don’t you agree?! If you’re someone like me who loves to watch and learn new things, then this article is for you 🙂 Today I’m sharing with you 5 Simple Tips to Style Cushions Like A Pro so let’s dive right in!
1. Neutral, Bold or a Mix
First things first, you need to choose a colour palette. Do you want to go for a neutral, calming vibe in your living room, or do you love colour and want to go bold? Once you know what your aesthetic is – minimalist or eclectic, you’ve accomplished half the job!
In my experience, if you are going for a minimal, soft look – choose pillow covers that are neutral in colour… think beiges, browns, greys for example. If bold is your choice, then mix pops of colour, but don’t forget to mix in a neutral for balance.
Tip – keep in mind the surroundings. For example, the colour of your soft furnishings (couch curtains, rug), the colour on your walls and also other pieces of furniture and décor scattered around the room. Match the shades of your cushions to tie everything together 🙂
2. Size Matters!
It’s all about the art of layering. The best trick is to mix and match your cushion sizes. You will be amazed at what a difference it makes when you have cushions that have varied heights layered together! It not only creates visual interest, but also adds dimension and looks more appealing to the eye. In my opinion the most common sizes for throw pillows on a couch are 22×22, 20×20 and 18×18.
Tip – always start by placing the largest size in the back or in the corner. Then place a smaller size in front and layer with a lumbar.
3. The Number Game
Did you know that odd numbers are more appealing to the eye?! There is something called as the ‘rule of three’ in designing and it simply means pairing three things together to make an impact.
When you apply this theory to a couch – pairing 3 pillows together or even 5 (depending on the size of your couch) is visually more appealing than if you were to put only two pillows together.
Tip – do not get carried away with this though! Personally, I would recommend sticking to no more than three throw pillows on one section of the couch and then placing only two (one big 22×22 or 20×20) layered with a lumbar at the other end. Your couch will end up having a total of 5 or 7 cushions in all – again, an odd number!
4. Play with Patterns and Textures
Let’s add some spice to tip number 1, which was choosing your colour palette. Playing and mixing pattern + texture within your colour pattern will help you create drama and flow. This is one of the most important tips to style cushions like a pro.
For example, a striped linen throw pillow layered with a solid velvet and a printed lumbar makes such a statement. The mix of texture and different fabrics makes this pairing very unique. There are tons of ways to add texture with pillows and here’s a few you can choose from – linen, velvet, silk, faux fur, embroidery and knitted pillows. You can also pair a neutral pillow with varying sizes of pattern – floral, checkered, abstract, etc or also mix in texture with covers with pompoms or ruffled edges/fringe, etc.
Tip – another way to add texture and pattern is to pick a throw blanket, but we’ll talk about those in another article 🙂
5. Picking the Right Insert – Always Go Bigger!
Now that you have a colour palette and pattern mix in your mind, it’s time to talk about cushion inserts/fillers. My advice is – ALWAYS GO BIGGER! The secret behind fluffy cushions in magazines is this – pillow inserts should always be at least one size bigger (if not two) than the actual cushion cover.
So, if your cushion cover size is 20×2 inches, use a 22×22 pillow insert. If it’s 22×22 inches, use a 24×24 inch insert. Going one size up with the insert will ensure a fuller, fluffier and structured end result.
Tip – pay attention to the quality of pillow inserts. I would recommend investing in good quality inserts in the first place to make sure they last you for years 🙂
And that’s it -5 tips to style cushions like a pro! These are very simple things to keep in mind and if you get them right, then you can constantly change up the look and feel of your living room by just changing up the cushion covers with seasons or based on your mood. Hope you found this article helpful. If you have any tips or tricks on styling a couch, please leave them in the comments below… I’d love to learn and try them out 🙂
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