How to Style Throw Pillows on a Couch

For years, my couch didn't have a single throw pillow on it. Not one!

Now? I get a little giddy every time I order new pillow covers. Swapping a few covers changes the whole look of a room in about five minutes, and that's my kind of decorating.

So I'm sharing everything I've picked up along the way: how many pillows to use, how to mix sizes, patterns and fabrics, which colors work with your couch, and how to fluff them so they look full and happy.

Grab your coffee. Let's style that couch!

Three pillows is my favorite starting point for a standard sofa. Odd numbers give your eye a little path to follow, the same trick I use when I create a vignette.

Put two at one end and one at the other, or one in each corner plus a lumbar in the middle. Both look relaxed and pulled together.

So easy!

Think of your pillows in layers. The biggest ones (22 or 24 inches) sit against the back of the couch.

Medium pillows (18 or 20 inches) go in front of those. Then finish with something small and fun, like a lumbar, a round pillow or a bolster.

Layering sizes gives your couch depth, and it looks styled from every angle.

Mixing patterns is easier with a little recipe. Pick one solid, one bold print (a big floral, a wide stripe, a chunky plaid) and one tiny print (pinstripes, little dots, a small check).

Keep all three in the same color family, and they'll look like they were made for each other.

Here's a combo I love: a sage solid, a big sage-and-cream floral, and a skinny cream-and-sage stripe.

Fancy!

Even if every pillow is the same color, different fabrics keep things interesting.

Try velvet for a little sheen, linen for a relaxed look, chunky knit for winter, and bouclé for that nubby, plush look everyone loves right now. A pillow with fringe or tassels adds a playful edge.

My favorite trick: three ivory pillows in three fabrics. It's simple, soft and so pretty.

A grey couch loves warm colors. Mustard, rust, camel and cream bring it to life right away.

If you'd like something calmer, try blush and ivory, or soft navy with white. For more ideas, see my grey living room styling tips.

Cream and beige couches are the easiest to style, because almost every color looks good on them.

For an earthy look, go with olive, terracotta and oatmeal. For a coastal look, try dusty blue, white and natural linen. My beige living room ideas have even more color combos.

Brown leather looks amazing with soft, matte fabrics next to it. Cream knit, oatmeal linen and deep green velvet are all winners.

A black-and-white stripe or a cognac plaid looks great here too.

Yes, please!

For a classic look, style both ends of your couch the same: one big pillow and one medium pillow in each corner.

For a more relaxed look, put a stack of three on one end and a single lumbar on the other.

Both work! Pick the one that suits your room.

A loveseat looks best with two pillows, one in each corner. Add a lumbar in the middle if you want a little extra.

That way there's still plenty of room to sit down with your coffee (and maybe one of these coffee quotes from Vibrant Life Oasis).

Sectionals need more pillows, usually five to seven. Group them in the corners and at the ends, with a big pillow anchoring each spot.

Keep the middle seats open so everyone has a place to sit on movie night. Hosting a crowd this season? These Friendsgiving games from Serenity in Sayings keep everyone laughing on that sectional.

Full pillows look so much better than flat ones. The secret is an insert one size bigger than the cover: a 20-inch insert in an 18-inch cover.

Down and down-alternative inserts are the softest, and they'll hold that little karate-chop dent on top. I'm team chop all the way. It makes a pillow look like it's ready for company!

Oh, and by the way! Day 4 of my free 30-Day Home Styling Playbook covers fluffing and fixing your sofa, so this is a great place to start.

• Use three pillows on a sofa, two on a loveseat and five to seven on a sectional
• Layer sizes: big in back, small in front
• Mix one solid, one bold print and one tiny print
• Use two or three fabrics
• Pick two or three colors that work with your couch
• Use inserts one size bigger than the cover

Throw pillows are the easiest way to give your living room a fresh look, and you can change them as often as you like.

Start with a trio, play with colors and fabrics, and swap covers whenever the mood strikes. And if you love the look of this blog, you can grab my template right below.