Menu
Bedroom / Coastal Decor / Design / Living Room / Spring

How to Mix & Match Throw Pillows on a Bed or Sofa

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know I love throw pillows!  And this is the perfect time of year to freshen up your spaces by introducing a new mix of throw pillows to your home. 

Adding in various patterns, tones , colors, and textures with pillows makes it easy to transition your bedroom and living room from season to season.

If you’d like to learn how to combine pillows on a bed or couch in the easiest possible way, today I’m sharing a few simple guidelines to help you mix and match pillow combinations for a cohesive, balanced look.

 

Love this light and airy modern living room design with a large sectional, round wood center coffee table, and neutral furniture and decor - living room ideas - living room furniture - living room table ideas - living room decor - modern coastal living roomPure Salt Interiorssimilar coffee table

First, how many throw pillows should you use on a couch or sectional?

For a sofa, most interior designers recommend using a maximum of three pillows in each corner, for a total of six pillows. 

For a sectional, add an additional three pillows in the center corner, for a maximum of nine pillows. 

However, for an extra-large sectional, you can easily add as many as six pillows in each corner.

Love this beautiful modern living room design with a large sectional, round ottoman, and neutral decor and furniture - living room decor - living room furniture - coastal decor - modern coastal style - coastal grandmother - beach house decor - pure salt interiorsPure Salt Interiors

How many throw pillows should you use on a bed? 

I recommend a maximum of five pillows for a queen size bed, or six throw pillows for a king size bed. 

Feel free to lower that number to achieve the look you’re going for.  I also love the look of one long lumbar throw pillow on a bed.

Freshen up your home's interior with these swoonworthy neutral fall pillows, featuring modern, classic and global-inspired finds for the bedroom and living room! These beautiful pillows match any style of interior and Check out my curated collection of beautiful mix and match fall pillows for the home! jane at home

House of Jaderear pillowssimilar middle pillow – lumbar pillow

How to mix and match throw pillows on a bed or sofa

  • On a couch or sofa, begin with a foundation of one 24″ square pillow in each corner.  For a sectional, add an additional 24″ pillow in the center corner.
  • For a queen-size bed, start with a foundation of two 24″ square pillows.  If you have a king-size bed, you might want to use three 24″ square throw pillows instead of two.
  • This is a great spot to incorporate a pillow with a printed fabric, such as a floral, fleur de lis, or leaf pattern.  If you’re not a fan of organic prints, you can also go with a solid color or something with a subtle stripe or pattern.
  • Next, add one 20″ or 22″ square pillow in each corner of the sofa or sectional.  For a bed, add two 20″ or 22″ square pillows in front of the foundational pillows.
  • This is a great place to use pillows with a geometric pattern, such as stripes, diamonds, or repeating patterns.
  • Finish off your pillow combination with one rectangular lumbar pillow in front.  Here, you can use a pattern that contrasts with the other two pillows–it can be either a larger or smaller print or a pillow in an interesting weave or texture.

 

Love this beautiful modern living room and open concept kitchen and dining space, with a large sectional, round wood coffee table, and neutral pillows and decor - living room ideas - living room decor - living room furniture - living room tablePure Salt Interior Designsimilar coffee table

Mixing Pillow Colors and Patterns

The colors you use for your pillow combinations should be pulled from the other colors in the room. 

Try not to use too many colors, though.  Three colors, drawn from the surrounding area, such as the walls, headboard, rug, artwork, or bedding, will create a nice, cohesive look.

Finally, don’t be afraid to mix patterns and textures — mixing and matching is what gives a pillow combo your own personal look!

To give you some ideas for mixing and matching pillows in different patterns and colors, here are a few pillow combinations I put together:


click on any pillow for details

Beautiful Mix & Match Throw Pillows for the Bedroom and Living Room

The following throw pillows are made for mixing and matching — and best of all, they work with any decorating style and in any season!

Here are a few favorite places to find beautiful, well-made pillows, inserts, and pillow covers:

SERENA & LILY

SUSAN CONNOR NY

POTTERY BARN

MCGEE & CO

HOUSE OF JADE

ETSY

TJ MAXX

Have a wonderful day! xo Jane

For more decorating ideas, here are a few popular posts from the blog:

Modern Bedroom Design Ideas for a Dreamy Master Suite

Modern Living Room Design Ideas

Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas

How to Choose a Design Style that Feels Right for You

Guest Bedroom Ideas: 8 Essentials to Create an Inviting Guest Room

 

 

   

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click a link and purchase something, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, please read my full disclosure here.

No Comments

    Leave a Reply