The Art of Selecting Throw Pillows
Weekly Learnings & Findings: The Art Of Selecting The Perfect Throw Pillows
The Rule of Three
Pillows look best when you follow the rule of three. That means three colors, three patterns, three textures, and three sizes.
Three Colours
They’ve done this quite well in the above living room. Notice how the pale blue is pulled from the artwork on the right, the pale pink comes from the velvet armchairs and the flowers and the white comes from the artwork and fireplace.
PRO TIP: Consider having seasonal color schemes. Changing up your decorative pillows is such a low-effort and hassle-free way to redesign your space without purchasing new and expensive furniture!
Three Patterns
Feel free to get creative with patterns beyond the three colors in your scheme! You can add up to three different patterns as long as each pattern includes at least one of the colors from your chosen palette.
I recommend starting with a primary pattern that includes all the colors from your chosen palette and making sure that that pattern is the largest in scale. This will be your “lead” pillow and dominate while the others will be in the background. For your other two patterns, one should be small to medium sized and the other should be very subtle. Think of a simple pattern like stripes or plaids, and for the other a tonal pattern created from an interesting textural embroidery design. Your secondary and tertiary patterns should only feature one or two of the colors from your chosen scheme. This is to make sure that you have a well-coordinated and layered look without overwhelming the space.
In short, have one big pattern, one small pattern, and one solid textural pattern.
Three Textures
A lot of people focus so much on colors and patterns that they completely overlook subtle details like texture. But texture is where you can elevate your home from ordinary to luxurious so don’t skip out on it!
Choosing three different fabric types is an easy way to get your textures in but you can always use all the same types of fabrics if they have different details like tassels or sequins or embroidery. I also like the combination of different weaves, they are subtle, but you can often see the differences up close and it invites you to touch and interact with those textures.
Notice how the above living room (ignore the artwork, not sure why they do that) is very neutral but it doesn’t feel flat at all because of the large bubble-textured cushions and the subtle texture on the brown and black checkerboard patterned cushions as well.
You might be interested in watching my video on How To Elevate Your Home Through Texture (Rules, Mistakes + Texture In Interior Design).
Three Sizes
One of the easiest ways to create interest in a pillow arrangement is to choose a grouping that features three different sizes. Most people like to vary these by 2-inch increments but you can do larger or smaller depending on the scale of your furniture. So for example, layering a 20-inch cushion with a 22-inch cushion and another one that is slightly smaller or larger.
NOTE: Remember that the rule of three is just a guide and that all rules can be broken in design! Don’t think that you have to stick to three patterns, three colors, three textures, and three sizes. You can have more or less as long as your arrangement feels balanced!
How Many Pillows Do I Need?
Now, you definitely don’t want too many pillows or too few, and as annoying as this answer is–how many pillows you need really depends on the size of your furniture. Are we working with a king-sized bed or single bed; a massive 5-seater or a small loveseat couch?
The general rule is that you should have one to three throw pillows in each corner of a sofa. So for a standard three-seat sofa, you’d have three to five pillows. I personally always layer in a throw, so I prefer less cushion because I find it easier to maintain as well.
As for a queen-sized bed, I personally like to keep it between 2-4 pillows, but will go up to 5 or 6 to make it pretty for a photo :)
How Do I Arrange My Pillows?
When arranging pillows on a couch, the largest pillows should be in the corners and the smaller pillows should be on the inside. Pretty much, as your track your eyes towards the center of your sofa, your pillows should get smaller. You should also put smaller cushions in front of larger ones so both designs can shine through.
The largest brown cushion is on the corner, the second green cushion is slightly smaller and finished with a rectangular neutral cushion. Notice how all three have different weaves and textures.
As for arranging cushions on a bed, go for a triangular arrangement. Have your largest cushions, such as Euro pillows, at the base and then position smaller and smaller ones until there’s only one left that will be the tip of the triangle.
PRO TIP: If you are going for a more modern look, get an odd number of pillows and arrange them asymmetrically. But if you want a traditional feel, get an even number of pillows and arrange them symmetrically.
So there you have it – everything you need to know to choose the perfect throw pillows for your space. I hope you feel inspired to give your space a little refresh.
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