How to Match Cushions to Your Sofa?
Posted by Luxo Living on 5/11/2024
Have you ever considered that there is a right and wrong way to use cushions in your living room? Not only will perfectly placed and selected cushions make your couch look fantastic, but they’ll also make it appear more inviting and cosy, too. If you need some guidance or inspiration on how to match cushions to your sofa, we’ve compiled some of our top tips to help you style like a pro.
With more than 20 years experience in the provision of impeccably made and affordable furniture and decor for Australian homes, the team at Luxo Living is ready to help you create a perfectly styled home you can be proud of. Browse our range online or in our Sydney showroom today.
The Colour of Your Sofa
The colour of your sofa will play a pivotal role in what colour cushions you should use. You wouldn’t choose the same colour cushions for a grey sofa as you would a green one, after all. Choosing cushions in different colours than your sofa gives the space a more organic and less ‘decorated’ vibe – bold hues pop against a lighter canvas, and vice versa.
Just because you have a lighter-coloured sofa, however, doesn’t mean that you cannot build a cushion collection that is also lighter in hue – you just need to ensure they’re in a complementary colour palette or, if they're in the same colour as the couch, that they’re in a variety of patterns and textures for a more tactile experience.
What About Texture?
Cushions are a great way to add some texture to your sofa and living room as a whole. Don’t be afraid to layer multiple textures together, from velvet and silk to fur and boucle. If your couch is made from heavier textures, opt for pillows in lighter ones (and vice versa); the combination will ensure that your home has a cosy yet modern feel.
The Style of Your Sofa
The style of your sofa will also determine the cushions that you ultimately choose. A traditional or more structured sofa, for example, should have cushions with no more than two different patterns to prevent it from becoming too busy. An alternative is to choose pillows in solid colours with embellishments (such as a fringe) to add some flair.
If you’re going for a more eclectic or retro style, on the other hand, choosing pillows in lots of coordinating colours and patterns is a good way to go.
The Style of Your Space
Don’t forget that cushions can also help to pull all the other elements of the space together. Be inspired by and take cues from other items in the room, such as light fixtures and artwork. If there’s already a lot of pattern going on (such as in the curtains or rug), don’t go dramatic with your sofa cushions and use them to tone the space down. Pull colours from surrounding soft furnishings and decor to give the space a cohesive look.
The Size of Your Sofa
The key to getting the right arrangement is to prevent the sofa from feeling overcrowded; instead, it should look effortless and spontaneous.
Some people prefer to use an odd number of pillows. We recommend three for a smaller couch and five, seven, or even nine for a larger one (depending on how many seats it offers). Others prefer to use an even number. Four is great for a minimalist look, eight can create a more balanced look, and ten or more can be used in a symmetrical arrangement.
How to Choose Cushion Size and Shape?
The shape and size of your cushions are equally as important as their colour when it comes to styling your sofa.
Large cushions (more than 60cm) make great throw pillows and provide a great foundation for your arrangement. Just be aware that their size may overwhelm a smaller two-seater sofa, so may be left off in this case. Square cushions (usually 45cm or 50cm) make great scatter pillows and help introduce colour and texture to your arrangement. Small rectangular cushions (sometimes known as lumbar or breakfast pillows) make great accents and create visual interest. They should be included in odd numbers, such as one for a small couch or three for a larger one.
How to Arrange Cushions?
Once you’ve got your collection of cushions ready to go, it’s time to arrange them on your sofa just so. Larger pillows go on the outside and they can be overlapped with smaller throw pillows (either square or rectangular) in different colours and textures. One or two should be accent cushions, which offset the others and create some visual interest.
Don’t forget to give your cushions a ‘karate chop’ in the middle top; this creates a crease that gives your home more of a ‘lived in’ feel. It can also help to break up all the uniform shapes and give your arrangement a sense of cohesion.
There are Cushions to Suit Every Space
At the end of the day, interior styling relies on the correct choice and arrangement of cushions. Knowing how to perfectly match cushions to your sofa will go a long way to giving your home that styled magazine look you’re going for. One final tip – invest in some high-quality cushion inserts and covers so that you can swap them around for an instant refresh of your space.
