Pillow Talk

Just like accessorizing with the right or wrong piece of jewelry can make or break an outfit, using the wrong throw pillows (or not using them at all) can have the same affect on your sofa.

Here are some tips about how many, which size and what type of throw pillows you could use based on your particular design style...

For a traditional look, try using an even number of large pillows that measure between 20 and 22 inches across. Position them on each end of a sofa to inject a very intentional sense of symmetry. As far as fabric goes, try layering an equal amount of textures, patterns, and colors. Keep your heavily-patterned pillows from looking too fussy by pairing them with an equal amount of subtly-patterned ones. For instance, you could use a simple stripe next to a large floral- or a small print next to a coordinating solid.

For a modern look, use an odd number of throw pillows that measure between 18 and 24 inches across. A few big pillows, with a focused color palette in solid or bold prints, tend to work very well in modern aesthetics.

For an eclectic look, create asymmetry by using two pillows on one end of your sofa, and one pillow on the other end. Have fun with your fabric choices, but choose similarly-sized pillows to help tie together your random collection. It's okay to use three pillows covered in three different fabrics, but make sure they all have at least one color in common to give the ensemble some unity.

Here's a link to an excellent blog post Maria Killam wrote about decorating with throw pillows:

How to Decorate with Throw Pillows