3 quick tips for selecting/styling sofa throw pillows

The fastest way to keep your living room styling from falling flat is to avoid using the pillows that come with the sofa that you purchased. But don’t fret, you do NOT have to throw them away. Meet my interior design best friend: the throw pillow cover. Some of these tips may require you to purchase a new throw pillow itself, but once you have the basic pillow sizes on hand you can constantly switch your pillow covers to go with ever-changing seasons and styles.

1. mix color and pattern

2. mix texture

3. mix size

1. Mix colors & patterns

In all aspects of design (pillows, bedding, hardware, window coverings…) using only one color makes your space feel visually boring and flat. I know it is the easiest way to furnish and decorate, but I promise you that your space will TRANSFORM when you start to mix colors and patterns. Here are some easy guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for pillow covers:

• Use at least 3 but no more than 5 different colors

• Mix one patterned pillow into every grouping

2. Mix texture

Maybe pattern scares you. Or, maybe you have patterned wallpaper or even patterned pieces of furniture in your living room and you don’t want to worry about clashing patterns. How do you bring variation into your space?? Use texture. Bringing in additional textures to your already colored pillows will round out the space beautifully. Here is a list of easy textured pillow cover options you can rely on:

• Knitted

• Boucle

• Satin

• Leather

• Fringe- edge

My favorite thing to do is change the textures I use with the seasons. In the spring and summer, I pull for the satin or fringe edge to keep my sofa light and airy. In the fall, I pull for leather and a boucle. And in the winter, I go as cozy as can be with the knitted or continue with the boucle from the fall!

3. mix size

The last way that you can give an instant designer look to your sofa is by mixing throw pillow sizes. The easiest way to do this is to group a 20x20, 15x15, and lumbar pillow. The rules above still apply, just vary the size of the pillows. I usually abide by the rule never pair two pillows that are the same size (on a sofa that is).

Want a cheat code that combines all three quick tips?? Use a plain linen 20x20 throw, with a textured 15x15 throw, and wrapped up with a patterned lumbar. People will SWOON over your pillows and it didn’t even take a lot of brain power or trial and error.

Have fun with your pillow arrangements and always remember: interior deign truly has no rules - do whatever makes your heart happy!