How to Style Couch Pillows So That They Elevate Your Space!

It’s time to talk about how to style couch pillows! Having perfectly curated throw pillows can make your space feel elevated & expensive (even though it doesn’t need to cost you)!

In this post, we are diving into:

• How many throw pillows are needed on your couch
• How to choose them
• How to know what pillows are best for what couch you have
• How to style couch pillows
• And where to buy them

Why are throw pillows a thing?

This question came up a lot when I was doing my research on all things throw pillows (I was surprised but it also made me giggle). So why are throw pillows ~even~ a thing? Ultimately they are used for functionality and style!

Their #1 purpose is to set the vibe of the room. They help to make your aesthetic seamless. When paired together intentionally with your couch shape, curtains, decor, or rug – throw pillows can help pull the entire room together!

How many throw pillows are needed on a couch?

Another big question about throw pillows is just how many pillows should be on a couch? Well, that answer is going to vary from person to person and from space to space!

The first thing to take into consideration is that most interior designers recommend styling your pillows in odd numbers.

You should aim for 3-7 pillows on a couch.

3-5 pillows on a small couch
5-7  pillows on a large couch

This is a good rule if you are just starting to build your pillow arrangement and aren’t sure where to start.

However, there are always other things to take into consideration. For example, do you have pets? Do you have an L-shaped couch? How often are you using your couch? Are you a couch potato like me? Are you going for a symmetrical or asymmetrical look? Ask yourself these questions when styling your couch pillows.

What size pillows do I need?

• A standard square-sized throw pillow is about 20 inches.
• An oversized throw pillow (my fav) is about 22-24 inches.
• A smaller-sized throw pillow is about 18 inches or less.

Start with a 24-inch pillow in the back, move to a 20-inch pillow in front of that, and a lumbar or small pillow in the front. This is a classic combo that you can’t go wrong with!

This is exactly the combo that I am using on my couch and I love it!

Should my pillows be taller than the couch?

The short answer is no, most of the time. Couch pillows should hardly ever be taller than your couch. Just as you wouldn’t want pillows that are too small for your couch, you also don’t want pillows that are too big/tall for your couch.

However, the exception would be if you have a couch with a small back and are wanting to add some visual height to your couch.

Should my couch pillows be the same size?

The reason you may not want all of your pillows to be the same size is so that you can add visual interest and dimension to your couch and room.

If you are going for a more organic or minimalistic look, having the same size pillow on either side of your couch would look great!

Tip: Try arranging pillows in odd numbers. It’s a popular trend right now and can help elevate your space.

• Having an odd number of pillows in your arrangement will help make your space look more modern.
• Having an even number of pillows in your arrangement will help make your space look more traditional.

There is no right or wrong way to arrange pillows. Follow some of these rules and ultimately do what YOU want to do.

How should I arrange my couch pillows?

Before we dive into how to arrange your couch pillows, you first have to take into consideration what type of couch you have. If you have a sectional or L-shaped couch, this is going to need to be styled differently than if you have a small sofa couch.

Sectional / L-shaped Couch

There are three corners in a sectional or L-shaped couch so naturally, that is where we will place the majority of the pillows. It’s common to start by adding a 22-24 inch pillow in the middle corner to act as your base. Continue adding a slightly smaller 18-20 inch pillow to the other two corners of the couch.

From there you can start filling in the corners with smaller pillows that surround the base pillows. These filler pillows can be about 18-20 inch pillows or smaller depending on how large your base pillow was to start with.

Below you can see two corners of a sectional. One corner has three pillows in various sizes and the other corner has two pillows in different sizes. I tend to lend for a more asymmetrical look when styling sectional couches.

Sofa / Loveseat

When arranging throw pillows on a sofa or loveseat, you have a couple of different options:

Place two pairs of pillows in both corners of the couch (one larger pillow behind a smaller pillow).

You could do a grouping of three in one corner and a grouping of two in the other corner. You should still keep in mind to vary the heights. This will create an asymmetrical look.

You can have two pillows in total – one pillow in one corner and one pillow in the other corner. This would be great for a more minimalistic/modern look. In this case, the pillows could match & be the same size.

You could place two pairs of pillows in each corner with a lumbar in the middle of the couch.

How to choose the right throw pillows for your sofa? (Things to Consider)

You choose the right throw pillows for your couch by selecting a color palette that works for you and that you love, mixing up the shape of your pillows, mixing up the size of your pillows, and varying the textures of your pillows.

1. Color Palette

When selecting your pillows, the first thing to do is choose a color palette that you love. This will set the tone for the whole couch and will make it much easier for you to select pillows that feel cohesive.

The best piece of advice I have ever gotten about picking a color scheme is to stick to 5 colors in your design. This is amazing advice for when you are selecting pillows but also good advice for when you are designing any space. Just remember that your couch color does count as one of those 5 colors in the palette.

Out of those 5 colors, I tend to think it looks best to have at least some neutrals – like a soft beige, white linen, or muted greens. You can always add your splash of color on top of those.

2. Mix Patterns / Textures

To ensure your pillows have some dimension, you can add a mix of patterned pillows. The big trend I have seen recently is to have muted and soft patterns. For example, you can mix an organic pillow with a straight line or solid pillow.

For reference, I have a big pillow in the back with stripes going horizontally. In front of that, I have a pillow with an embroidery texture. Then I have a solid copper pillow as my pop of color!

These mixes of textures and patterns help to pull the design together. Imagine if all of these pillows were solid, they would not flow as seamlessly from pillow to pillow or have visual interest.

3. Mix Shapes / Sizes

Earlier in this post, we discussed styling your couch throw pillows by arranging them by height – tallest in the back to smallest in the front. This is so we can layer them appropriately and be able to see all of them at once.

My favorite advice for selecting pillows is to try mixing up the shapes. It can be easy to select pillows that are the same square shape (I often fall victim to only going with square-shaped pillows). However, mixing up the shape of your pillow will add dimension.

The types of pillow shapes are:

• Square
• Round
• Bolster / Cylinder
• Lumbar

How do you pick a pillow combination? (My favorite throw pillow color schemes!!)

When selecting the perfect pillow combination, it’s important to take into consideration the aesthetic of your home and your preference. Below I have highlighted common color schemes I typically see when people are styling throw pillows.

• Coastal
• Neutral
• Warm
• Colorful

Best places to buy throw pillows!

I had to list my hands down favorite places to buy throw pillows.

One little tip I found is to purchase pillow covers & then buy pillow inserts for them. This can often save you money and allow you to pick the best inserts for your pillows. I do this pretty much every time I think about how to style couch pillows unless I find the perfect pillow (which is hard to do)!

My favorite, I repeat FAVORITE pillow inserts are from Amazon. With over 75,000 reviews, you know they have to be good. They have a good amount of fill and are a great price considering you get 4 for relatively cheap. They come in multiple sizes (12×12″ up to 22×22″).

TIP: Buy a pillow insert that is one size bigger than your pillow cover. This will make your pillows extra full & fluffy!

CB2

Target

Serena and Lily

Ultimately, the most important rule of all when styling couch pillows is to EXPERIMENT & HAVE FUN! This is your home and you want it to be a reflection of YOU.

If you are in the pillow styling mood and are wondering how to style pillows on a king bed, check out my post, Ultimate Guide on Styling a King Bed.

When thinking about how to style couch pillows, let your creativity flow! There are so many colors, patterns, and shapes out there to give you a truly unique style.

Now that you know a thing or two about styling couch pillows, it’s time to go pillow shopping!

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